Jets deny report linking them to Jim Harbaugh

The widespread belief is that the New York Jets are gearing themselves up for a coaching search, but they’re already engaging in some rumor control before it even starts.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk reported Sunday night that the Jets were expected to make a run at Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh after firing current head coach Todd Bowles. Any report from a reliable outlet linking Harbaugh to a return to the NFL tends to spread like wildfire, and it did so here enough that the Jets felt the need to pour cold water on it Monday morning.

Statement from Christopher Johnson, Chairman and CEO:

“Todd Bowles is our Head Coach. There is no truth to the report of our interest in Jim Harbaugh."

— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 24, 2018

For what it’s worth, Florio responded to the Jets’ denial by doubling down on his reporting.

One or more of the insiders tweeting without comment the statement from the Jets are also aware that our report is true, and miffed they didn’t report it first. #FACT

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 24, 2018

Bowles may be the head coach of the Jets now, but the expectation that he’ll be fired is so widespread that there are already reports about where he might land after it happens. Any pursuit of Harbaugh seems like a longshot to say the least, but the reality is that a Jets coaching search does look inevitable.