Michigan Football Coaching Candidates: Jim Harbaugh’s Family is Not Steering Him Toward College Job
ByJim Harbaugh's next football coaching job could take him nearly across the country, or he could stay (relatively) put, but his family is apparently not in on the decision.
According to the Columbus Dispatch, John Harbaugh, the Baltimore Ravens' head coach and Jim's brother, told Cleveland media personnel on a recent conference call that his family members have not been encouraging him to go to Michigan.
The school has made their interest in making Jim Harbaugh the highest paid coach in college football. However, the coach may not want to leave the NFL. Regardless, all indications seem to spell the end of Harbaugh's tenure in San Francisco.
"The report that said his family is encouraging him to go to Michigan is absolutely incorrect," John Harbaugh told reporters. "There has been no family that I know of that has given him any advice at all, because that's a personal decision. It's his to make, and that's just absolutely false. I don't know where that came from, but it didn't come from the Harbaughs.
"My dad and I both said, 'Hey, don't tell us. If something gets out, we don't want the finger pointed at us. Just leave us out of it and don't tell us what you're going to do.'"
ESPN and other new outlets have indicated since the 49ers were eliminated from playoff contention that Harbaugh was perhaps focusing a bit more on his next position. Some reports say he wants to stay in the Bay Area and would be a fit for the Oakland Raiders, while other say he wants to help re-establish Michigan, his alma mater, has a college football powerhouse.
The 49ers have added incentive to try and trade Harbaugh to another NFL team and get something in return, but they would need to do it quickly since Michigan reportedly put a six-year, $48 million offer on the table.
49ers general manager Trent Baalke has also confirmed that Michigan contacted him regarding Harbaugh. Baalke did not elaborate, but said the school did it "the right way."