Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel has heard the rumors this week that Jim Harbaugh is looking for a way to leave the program, and he wants Wolverines fans to know they are completely baseless.
On Monday, NFL Hall of Famer and FOX Sports 1 personality Cris Carter mentioned Harbaugh’s name as one to watch with the Green Bay Packers job having opened up. According to Carter, Harbaugh is looking for a way out of the remainder of his deal at Michigan.
"I'm just gonna tell you guys a name: watch out for Jim Harbaugh, because he's potentially trying to get his way out of Michigan."
— @criscarter80 on possible fit for Packers next head coach pic.twitter.com/9SaEXJ5P7B
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) December 5, 2018
In an appearance on WTKA 1050-AM in Ann Arbor Thursday morning, Manuel was asked about Carter’s report. He blew it off.
“I would say consider the source of the comment,” Manuel said, as transcribed by Aaron McMann of MLive.com. “Cris is very accomplished in his life, but he went to the school down south (Ohio State). We tend to throw out things like: ‘Sources say,’ ‘My sources.’”
Manuel added that he has “not missed any sleep” over what Carter said and that Harbaugh has not spoken to him about it. He said Harbaugh has been operating as if he has no intention of leaving Michigan.
“He is on the road recruiting, putting in great effort,” Manuel said. “So, from my perspective, it has no validity at all. There have been zero conversations about it. And I believe Jim is very happy here.”
The Wolverines recently endured what was in many ways the worst loss of Harbaugh’s tenure with the team, and this is not the first time we have heard his name come up with NFL head coaching rumors. But now that Urban Meyer is retiring from Ohio State, it would stand to reason that Harbaugh will be more motivated to stick around and become the new sheriff of the Big 10.
