Harbaugh Gone to NFL ???
- Thread starter eidolon21
- Start date
Indeed.
Reports are that he's Number One on the Broncos list and that he's ready to jump if made the right offer.
Personally, I think (and hope) he's history at Michigan.
Not to get too far ahead, but they got a bunch of (quality) portal kids - would they be able to enroll in different schools if a change in head coaching impacts the decision?
I don't understand the infatuation with the NFL. He's making tons of money and has more job security at Michigan than Paul Brown had in Cleveland.
His brother has a super bowl ring and he doesn't and it eats at him.
On the other hand, no pun intended, his brother doesn't have an NCAA championship ring. Then again, Jim doesn't either and I happen to think it will be harder for him to get one of those than a Super Bowl ring. He got close once before.
Recruiting takes a toll. The pressure on that front is constant.
Plus he's been on a roller coaster at Michigan, as most college coaches are...except for a very few.
Add in two first-round playoff losses, the most recent to a team that everyone expected them to beat.
All that said, I agree, he's got big-time job security, a lucrative contract, and two convincing wins in a row against Ohio State.
However, as a Penn State fan, it would be great to see him leave. Ain't no way Michigan is going to get somebody of equal credentials or attractiveness to replace him...unless it's...<gulp>...Urban Meyer.
I kid...I hope...
And anyone at that level is extremely competitive or they wouldn’t have gotten that far. Plus, the NFL is considered the epitome of football so that’s the title everyone wants.
Add in how hard recruiting is and the added complexity of the portal system college coaching is far more difficult. Pro coaches do not have to travel all over, suck up to kids and family/girlfriends, play NIL games, and constantly beg them to stay. Pro coaching seems far less demanding these days.
Bigger issue is that it’s no longer about just recruiting & winning as a college coach. Now it’s transfer portal (having to constantly re-recruit kids that are already on your roster) & NIL (paying kids who haven’t even set foot on campus). It’s pretty much a pro atmosphere with less downtime than the pros. Why not get paid more at the highest level and deal with less headaches? Especially when he’s already had success there.
How many millions does it require to be comfortable? I suspect Harbaugh is more than comfy.
He has said winning the Super bowl is the pinnacle for his profession. Also, compare the 2 jobs.
Pro football - you coach period
college football - you coach, then you recruit high school kids, then you re recruit your team to stay, then you re recruit your portal candidates, then you manage NiL, then you become a spokesperson for the University, you chaperone 85, 18-22 year olds. In college ball 1 or 2 losses ends your year. in the pros 7-7 gets you into the play offs in some divisions.
A lot of the college job is not much fun for these guys. Sure they get paid really well but IMO it is much more time consuming for the college job.
Also, College ball seems to have a lot more turnover in coaching. With hundreds of colleges all competing for talent it’s not uncommon for a head coach to lose several assistants every year. It’s even become a source of pride to build a “coaching tree” of all the talent that left. So HCs also have to continuously recruit coaches. It’s gotten to the point that HCs study other coaches around the country to have several options to call should a top assistant leave. Lots of additional work and worries.
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The logical place for him, IMO, would be the Colts. He was one of the toughest QBs to ever wear the horseshoe.
Since he is royalty at scUM (insert eye roll) he has tons of security buoyed by his recent success of beating O$U and making the playoffs. However, he wants another shot at the NFL and a Super Bowl. The issue becomes that he is a difficult personality and his exit of the Niners probably dogs him to some degree. Although at the end of the day he is a good coach, has had past NFL success so he will get offers especially with his succes at scUM. I am sure he wants a bunch of control and will not work well with any organization that does not give him a lot of autonomy. It does not seem like he and Elway are a good fit although I can see the Walton/Walmart gang there pushing for Jimmah. Isray probably loves him but the Dolts are no where so not an attractive job in terms of high potential of winning.
He'll go if he's offered, but he's been interviewing for 3 years now and has no offers to show for it. So don't be surprised if he's back at UM again. UM is pretty annoyed by this but on the other hand he's having success and recruiting well.
"I think I will be coaching Michigan next year."
Not exactly a resounding statement of his intentions:
Jim Harbaugh tells Charlotte news outlet: ‘I think I will be coaching Michigan next year’
The saga...continues?
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