While the Las Vegas Raiders are still gearing up for their Wild Card matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday, there are already many speculating about who the team’s head coach will be next season. Jon Gruden was forced to step down after emails came out during an NFL investigation. Could Jim Harbaugh end up being the long-term head coach for the Raiders?
As of right now, the Raiders have played very well for interim head coach Rich Bisaccia. However, very few believe that the team will keep him on past this season. A guy like Harbaugh could come in and be an instant impact coach to help take Las Vegas to the next level.
Count sports analyst Colin Cowherd among those who want Harbaugh to end up with the Raiders. He thinks that would be the right fit for both parties involved.
Cowherd did make a good point about the Raiders. He stated that they need a cultural change, which is exactly what Harbaugh is good at. Las Vegas has had a lot of off-the-field issues and that needs to stop immediately.
Harbaugh would also be a good fit for quarterback Derek Carr. He is the kind of coach that can work with and mentor a quarterback. Carr may be a veteran, but he would still be good with a quarterback’s head coach like Harbaugh.
During his last stint in the NFL, Harbaugh found a ton of success with the San Francisco 49ers. In fact, the main reason he was let go was due to a falling out between him and management. Harbaugh racked up a 44-19-1 record and took the 49ers to the Super Bowl, where they ended up losing to his brother John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens.
Since taking over as the Wolverines’ head coach, Harbaugh has led Michigan to a 61-24 record. He also took them to the College Football Playoffs this year.
A long track record of success and building winning teams would be a good fit for the Raiders. Jim Harbaugh may not end up in Las Vegas, but the idea makes perfect sense. This could be something to keep an eye on in the offseason.