Every offseason, rumors swirl about the possibility of Jim Harbaugh coming back to the NFL as head coach. He has been the head coach at Michigan since 2015, but that hasn’t stopped teams from trying to pry him from his alma mater.
While no franchise has been successful to this point, the 2024 offseason will present another opportunity to do so. Given what has occurred with the Wolverines this season, as Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the season after the NCAA investigated alleged sign stealing by the program, the time to leave could be now.
Returning to the NFL is something that has appealed to him in the past. During the 2022 head coaching cycle, Jim Harbaugh actually interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings and was under the impression he would get the job. But, Minnesota went in a different direction, hiring Kevin O’Connell.
Following that failed pursuit, Jim Harbaugh said it was the last time he would try to land a job in the NFL and signed a five-year extension with Michigan. You can never say never in these situations, as teams are expected to show interest in him again.
According to Mike Jones of The Athletic, the Las Vegas Raiders and Chicago Bears are two teams emerging as potential suitors who would appeal to the former San Francisco 49ers head coach.
The Raiders cleaned house a few weeks ago, firing general manager Dave Ziegler, head coach Josh McDaniels and offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi. From that perspective, they are appealing as Jim Harbaugh could have full autonomy over the roster.
The Bears should be appealing as they have a nearly clean slate. With a ton of cap space and two first-round picks in the 2024 NFL Draft that could be within the top 10, many candidates will be applying for that job, should it open up.
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