Jim Harbaugh reportedly has ‘mutual interest’ with AFC team
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh watches warmups before a game against Northern Illinois at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021.
Jim Harbaugh has been preparing Michigan to face Washington in Monday night’s College Football Playoff National Championship game, and there is a growing belief that the contest could be his last with the Wolverines.
The Las Vegas Raiders and Harbaugh have “mutual interest,” according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. Interim head coach Antonio Pierce has received plenty of support internally to be named the team’s full-time coach, but Harbaugh is said to be a top candidate for Raiders owner Mark Davis.
Schultz also reports that Harbaugh has significant interest in the Los Angeles Chargers’ head coach job.
Sources to @BleacherReport: There is mutual interest between the #Raiders and current #Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh.
I’m told Harbaugh wants to return to the NFL, and has “a lot of interest” in the #Chargers’ vacancy as well.
There is a slew of internal support for Antonio Pierce… pic.twitter.com/PT074hSTZZ
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 8, 2024
While Harbaugh has flirted with NFL teams in the past only to reaffirm his allegiance to Michigan, Schultz seems to think things will be different this time. The insider says Harbaugh plans to leave Michigan and has made it “very clear internally” that he wants to return to the NFL.
#Raiders, #Chargers and #Commanders – potentially others as well – all interested in Jim Harbaugh, who I’m told plans to leave Michigan and return to the NFL. https://t.co/3dDCBINaoC
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 8, 2024
The Raiders went 5-4 under Pierce after Josh McDaniels was fired. Players have been outspoken in expressing their support for the former NFL linebacker. Fans also made their feelings clear following Las Vegas’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday (video here).
If Harbaugh truly does want to leave Michigan, the question will be whether any NFL team views him as a strong enough candidate. The 60-year-old essentially admitted two years ago that he would have taken the Minnesota Vikings job if it were offered to him. Harbaugh then met with another NFL team last offseason but was never Plan A for that team.