Jim Harbaugh as coach of Jets is reportedly ‘not happening’

The New York Jets may be interested in hiring Jim Harbaugh to be their next head coach, but it does not sound like that is going to happen — at least in 2019.

After the Jets officially announced on Monday that they have fired Todd Bowles, CEO Christopher Johnson would not comment on any specific candidates to replace him and did not openly rule out Harbaugh. However, Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News reports that there is no way Harbaugh is heading to New York.

Although #Jets CEO Christopher Johnson didn’t get into specifics yesterday about whether Jim Harbaugh would be a candidate for the HC job, I’ve been told that Harbaugh to the Jets is not happening.

— Manish Mehta (@MMehtaNYDN) January 1, 2019

That probably has more to do with Harbaugh’s unwillingness to leave Michigan than it does with the Jets’ lack of interest in him, but it sounds about right regardless.

A recent report claimed the Jets are preparing to make Harbaugh a massive offer, and that may still be true. The team denied the report before the season ended, but that was when Bowles was still their head coach. It would not be a surprise if they try to lure Harbaugh away from Michigan.

Michigan just finished what might look like a good season on paper, but they had a legitimate chance to reach the College Football Playoff before they were blown out by rival Ohio State. Their season then ended with another embarrassing loss to Florida in the Peach Bowl on Saturday. While that has led to further speculation that Harbaugh could consider leaving Ann Arbor, he insists he remains committed to the program.