Jim Harbaugh may be heading to the University of Michigan, after reportedly reaching a verbal agreement to leave the San Francisco 49ers and join one of college football’s most prominent programs.
Sources say that Harbaugh’s agent has been in contact with Michigan since November, and that a number of alums have been reaching out to Harbaugh to encourage him to take the job.
The report that Jim Harbaugh took the job came from WNEM (via Chatsports ), though the story did not appear to be listed on Chatsports on Friday afternoon.
But there was a link from ESPN’s NFL insider Adam Schefter, who posted an update on his Facebook page saying that Harbaugh is torn about the decision.
“49ers HC Jim Harbaugh’s family and friends have been encouraging him to take the Michigan HC job, but he is torn because his heart is in the NFL, per sources close to the situation.
“Harbaugh first would like to see what head coaching opportunities come available – and he is likely to be a top choice for a handful of teams – before getting back to Michigan with an answer, per sources.
“Harbaugh also is aware of the fact that Michigan might not be able to wait for him, especially when it might not even land the coach who is believed to be the school’s top choice. Plus, college football recruiting is in full swing, and the longer a school waits, the more of a disadvantage it can be. It leaves both sides, Michigan and Harbaugh, in a tough and delicate spot, even though they have mutual interest in each other, per sources.
“Harbaugh would like to finish coaching this season, go through the players’ getaway day on Monday, Dec. 29, and then make his decision as quickly as possible. As another source said, Harbaugh’s agent, Dave Dunn, already “has a good sense of realistic NFL options already.”
“But as one Michigan source wondered Friday, “If he wants to stay in the NFL, who will pay him $8 million per year?”, an indication that Michigan is prepared to go hard after Harbaugh.”
Sources had previously indicated that Michigan was offering a six year, $48 million contract to Harbaugh.
Jim Harbaugh has not commented on the report that he has reached a verbal agreement with Michigan.