Jim Harbaugh coaching odds: If Harbaugh done at Michigan, Lions, Jets, Chargers are betting favorites for 2021 NFL job
Has Jim Harbaugh coached his final game at the University of Michigan?
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The hugely disappointing Michigan football season is apparently over after the Wolverines' regular-season finale Saturday at Iowa was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns with the Michigan program. It was UM's third straight game called off and the Wolverines finished the 2020 season at 2-4 – they won't take a bowl bid, according to reports. Has Jim Harbaugh coached his final game at his alma mater? That remains to be seen, but SportsLine offers odds on which NFL job he would take if he decides to jump back to the pro ranks for the 2021 campaign as has been rumored.
The last time Michigan finished with a losing record was at 5-7 in 2014, which led to the firing of Brady Hoke and hiring of Harbaugh from the San Francisco 49ers. The former Wolverines quarterback would be heading into a lame-duck 2021 season with no contract past next season; Harbaugh is the only Power Five coach with just one year remaining on his deal. Extension talks between Harbaugh and athletic director Warde Manuel have yet to bear fruit.
Harbaugh on Tuesday did reaffirm his commitment to the school, but that could have been simply to reassure recruits ahead of today's National Signing Day. Incidentally, four-star linebacker Branden Jennings flipped from Michigan to Maryland on Wednesday. Might Jennings know something?
"Yeah, that question does come up (about leaving) and I tell the (recruits) my plan is, (I'm) committed to Michigan," Harbaugh said. "I have been, am and will remain. Warde and I will talk at the end of the season on the current contract and that's the truth. That's where it stands."
That's not exactly a 100 percent guarantee Harbaugh will stay put, and he tends to burn out quickly. He spent four years at the University of San Diego, four at Stanford, four with the 49ers and now six at Michigan – with nary a win over Ohio State or Big Ten division title to show for it.
An NFL team could offer Harbaugh a lot more money (and power), even though he's scheduled to make around $8 million again next year. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported less than two weeks ago that "per multiple sources, Harbaugh is believed to be eyeing a return to the NFL, as a head coach." He was hugely successful for the most part with the Niners, and is well aware of how successful his brother John has been with the Ravens. That surely burns Jim Harbaugh, who is as competitive as they come.
Author and Michigan insider John U. Bacon recently reported that "at least five NFL teams have expressed an interest in hiring him – per usual – though not clear if any have made firm offers yet."
Currently, there have been only three NFL head coaches fired this season but there will be a handful more over the next month. Harbaugh would be a natural fit up the road from Ann Arbor with the Detroit Lions, but franchise QB Matthew Stafford is starting to break down a bit at age 32.
Harbaugh had his most success in California with San Diego, Stanford and the 49ers and the Chargers have a young franchise QB in place in William Hill Sportsbook NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite Justin Herbert. The Jets should soon have a young franchise QB in place in Clemson's Trevor Lawrence, assuming they pick No. 1 overall. Jets ownership reportedly has made overtures to Harbaugh before.
Jacksonville also should soon have a young franchise QB in place in Justin Fields if the Jags pick second. They also have a ton of draft picks in the next two drafts and Harbaugh could perhaps get full personnel control there.
The Chicago Bears job isn't open yet, but Harbaugh was drafted in the first round by Chicago in 1987 and played for seven years there. The McCaskey Family reportedly is a big fan of Harbaugh and had a hand in drafting him. Chicago doesn't have a QB in place, though.
As for Houston and Atlanta, both could keep their current interim coaches (not likely), and Harbaugh really has no ties to those franchises or parts of the country.
Via SportsLine oddsmakers: If Jim Harbaugh is coaching in the NFL in 2021, with which team will it be?
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