Jim Harbaugh might be looking for an escape hatch following a season's worth of scandals at the University of Michigan, and it sounds like the embattled head coach would find safe harbor in the NFL if he does.
According to NFL insider Dianna Russini, there is a belief in league circles that multiple teams have shown some level of interest in hiring Harbaugh, should he decide to explore his options this offseason.
During an appearance on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Russini identified the Carolina Panthers — who just fired head coach Frank Reich, and the Chicago Bears, as two teams expected to gauge Harbaugh's interest in a return to the NFL.
Both jobs could be alluring to Harbaugh, because of the opportunity both to avoid any long-term sanctions potentially handed down by the Big Ten or NCAA over the alleged advanced scouting scandal the Wolverines have found themselves in this season, as well as the opportunity to coach a top young quarterback.
In Carolina, Harbaugh would inherit former Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, albeit while working for an owner who has fired three coaches since 2019.
Meanwhile, if the Bears come calling, there's a significant chance that Harbaugh would have his pick of either USC's Caleb Williams or North Carolina's Drake Maye, as the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
While there are several factors that could go into a coach of Harbaugh's caliber deciding his next destination, ownership stability and coaching a quarterback with long-term upside could play a significant role.
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Prior to arriving at Michigan, Harbaugh coached the 49ers from 2011 through 2014, including leading San Francisco to a berth in Super Bowl XLVII.
It will be interesting to see if Harbaugh's interest in the NFL is legitimate this time around, after previously interviewing for the Vikings' opening in 2022 only to parlay the interest into a new contract at the University of Michigan.
