Jim Harbaugh is finally a national champion, but now that he's reached the pinnacle of college football, the Michigan Wolverines head coach could leave for the NFL.
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There has been plenty of speculation about Harbaugh leaving for the NFL, particularly with ongoing investigations and suspensions that the Wolverines head coach had to deal with throughout the 2023 season. Despite all of the distractions, Harbaugh was able to lead the team to glory with an undefeated season that was capped off by a 34-13 win over the Washington Huskies.
Now, all eyes will be on Harbaugh as they wait to see his next move. If the Michigan head coach decides to come back to the NFL, here are the teams that could be jumping at the opportunity to work with him.
5. New England Patriots
While the New England Patriots job technically isn't open yet, owner Robert Kraft could want a stable presence as a successor to Bill Belichick.
Recent reports suggest that Belichick is open to staying as head while giving up responsibilities in personnel decisions, but there have still been no formal announcements about what the Patriots are planning to do. There have also been suggestions that Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel could take over as Belichick's successor, having played for the legendary head coach in New England.
The Patriots will likely be getting a new quarterback this offseason, so having a new coach like Harbaugh to reset the culture could help the franchise turn things around quickly.
4. Chicago Bears
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The Chicago Bears have a lot of tough decisions to make this offseason, most notably at head coach and quarterback.
Matt Eberflus may have done enough to save his job, but if the Bears want to move in a different direction, fans will be clamoring to hire a midwest coach like Harbaugh to help develop whichever quarterback the team decides to roll with.
The biggest problem with the Bears is that former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is Chicago's team president. Warren and Harbaugh butted heads in the past, and that could be a major snag in the team's plans to potentially hire Harbaugh.
Still, with Harbaugh having played for the Bears from 1987 through 1993, there will be a lot of pressure from Bears fans to pay the Michigan head coach whatever he wants to coach in Chicago.
3. Atlanta Falcons
A potential darkhorse in the chase for Harbaugh, the Atlanta Falcons could be one of the more interesting teams to go after the Michigan head coach.
The Falcons parted ways with Arthur Smith on Black Monday, most notably due to his lack of usage for the team's top young playmakers in Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London. Falcons fans will be dying to have a head coach willing to utilize the team's offensive stars while also going after a new quarterback to replace Desmond Ridder.
Harbaugh's attitude and coaching style could fit well in Atlanta, and give the Falcons the spark the need to get back into the playoffs.
2. Los Angeles Chargers
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Harbaugh briefly played with the Chargers franchise back in 1999 and 2000, but it's not the only reason why a reunion in Los Angeles would make sense for the Michigan head coach.
The Chargers are still trying to figure out how to maximize the potential of quarterback Justin Herbert, and Harbaugh's experiencing developing the likes of JJ McCarthy could be appealing to owner Dean Spanos. A new head coach to go along with some premium draft capital spent on offensive talent could be exactly what's missing to help Herbert become the best possible player fans believe he can become.
1. Washington Commanders
New owners tend to want to make big swings early with their teams. David Tepper did exactly that with the Carolina Panthers, pushing the organization to trade up and take Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.
Rather than pushing for a personnel decision, Commanders owner Josh Harris could try to throw as much money as possible at the team's next head coach. Michigan is likely preparing to offer Harbaugh a massive contract extension, meaning that whichever NFL team wants to try and lure him back to the pros will need to be willing to make a similar offer.
Harris could be anxious to turn the Commanders around quickly, especially with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A new quarterback and a new head coach could give the fanbase the hope and excitement they need to warm up to their new owner.
