Jim Harbaugh responds to new round of NFL rumors
Aug 31, 2019; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh before the game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Once again, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is popping up in NFL head coaching rumors. This time, Harbaugh does not seem interested in letting those rumors fester.
Harbaugh firmly denied having any plans to return to the NFL, saying Sunday that he would be “enthusiastically” coaching Michigan in 2023.
Jim Harbaugh on NFL rumors: “I will be back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023.”
As firm of a shutdown as he’s given on this.
— Zach Shaw (@_ZachShaw) December 5, 2022
A report Sunday morning indicated that NFL teams still firmly believe Harbaugh would listen if NFL teams came calling. Perhaps he still would, but with Michigan riding an unbeaten season, Harbaugh probably does not want that talk to linger or distract his players.
Harbaugh, by his own admission, nearly left Michigan for an NFL job last offseason, but ultimately it did not happen. At that point, he said he was not going to flirt with an NFL return again. He is sticking to that here, though we will see if it holds if a team decides to try and tempt him.