Report: Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Still Negotiating New Contract amid NFL Rumors

Adam WellsJanuary 13, 2024

Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Jim Harbaugh’s annual flirtation with the NFL has once again spurred the University of Michigan into action with the hope of retaining him as head football coach.

Per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Harbaugh and Michigan are in ongoing negotiations about a new contract as he ponders head-coaching jobs in the NFL.

Rapoport and Pelissero noted Harbaugh is believed to have an interview scheduled with the Los Angeles Chargers some time next week, while the Las Vegas Raiders are weighing a potential pursuit of the 60-year-old.

Rapoport reported on Christmas Eve that Michigan had two different offers on the table for Harbaugh. One of them was a 10-year, $125 million deal with a clause prohibiting him from entertaining or accepting an NFL coaching job in 2024.

The second offer was “far shorter” than that one worth about $11 million per season.

It’s unclear if Michigan has changed those proposals to Harbaugh, though his leverage has certainly increased after leading the Wolverines to a national title this season for the first time in 26 years.

Rapoport and Pelissero noted Michigan’s efforts to sign Harbaugh comes “in light of other recent movement within college football.”

Washington, which lost to Michigan in the College Football Playoff Championship Game on Monday, has to replace Kalen DeBoer. He was announced as Alabama’s new head coach on Friday after Nick Saban retired earlier in the week.

The Raiders’ interest in Harbaugh may not be strong enough to push him ahead of Antonio Pierce. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Saturday that Pierce is considered the leading candidate for Las Vegas, and the team hasn’t interviewed anyone else at this point.

Michigan has every reason to want to keep Harbaugh. He’s led the program to three consecutive Big Ten titles and appearances in the College Football Playoff, including this year’s title victory.

The Wolverines have defeated Ohio State in each of the past three years. They lost eight consecutive games in the rivalry from 2012 to ’19.

Michigan went 46-42 with one 10-win season in seven combined years with Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke from 2008 to ’14. Harbaugh is 89-25 with six 10-win seasons since taking over in 2015.