Harbaugh’s Crossroads: NFL Temptation with the Panthers and Bears, or Michigan Victory?
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of Michigan is focused on winning a college football national championship, but he is being courted by two NFL teams to fill coaching positions. Before relocating to Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 2014, Harbaugh was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. Under his direction, the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines have amassed an impressive 12-0 record and are making their third straight trip to the Big Ten title game. With their third straight victory over Ohio State, many think Michigan has a good chance of winning their first national championship since 1997.
But there are new rumors relating Harbaugh to the NFL, stating that two NFC teams are interested in him. The Chicago Bears and the Carolina Panthers are interested in Harbaugh, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, who made this revelation on “The Herd.” Russini mentioned that although it never happened, Harbaugh and Panthers owner David Tepper had conversations last year. According to reports, the Chicago Bears are also thinking about signing Harbaugh while making decisions about their quarterback situation and coaching staff.
Last year, Harbaugh met with the Minnesota Vikings, characterizing the encounter as a “one-time thing.” Though he declared last year that it would be his final effort to land a head coaching job in the NFL, rumors continue to circulate.
After a difficult 1-10 season, the Carolina Panthers recently fired Frank Reich, appointing interim head coach Chris Tabor in his place. For the second year in a row, Reich was fired mid-season after experiencing a similar circumstance with the Indianapolis Colts the previous season.
With the fourth overall pick and the first overall pick from the Panthers, the Chicago Bears are well-positioned to have two picks in the top five in the upcoming NFL Draft. Carolina was able to select Bryce Young by acquiring this extra pick through a trade that included the first pick from the previous year.
Despite the difficulties, Harbaugh is expected to coach against Iowa again after being barred from Michigan’s past three games for allegedly stealing signs. In addition, he was suspended for three games at the beginning of this season due to recruiting infractions.
