A $125 million, ten-year deal is sitting somewhere in Ann Arbour waiting for signatures. Jim Harbaugh of Michigan could become the highest-paid college football coach with a single click of a pen. However, Harbaugh has demonstrated a reluctance to write anything down. Isn’t it curious? After the best three years of his coaching career, a “Michigan Man” has turned down a handsome contract extension that would have kept him at his alma mater for the rest of his career. That contract has been sitting with white space above the signature line for weeks.
On Monday night, Harbaugh will lead No. 1 Michigan (14-0) into the National Championship Game against No. 2 Washington (14-0). This is an opportunity to return college football’s greatest honour to Ann Arbour. What more fitting way to exit?
It seems like Harbaugh’s time with the Maize and Blue will come to an end on Monday when he takes the field with the Wolverines. The evidence appears to be overwhelming. There is “mutual interest” between Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. Harbaugh has not yet signed the mega-deal with Michigan, as was mentioned? A one-year ban on the coach’s flirtation with NFL teams is included somewhere in the long text.
There have long been rumours that Harbaugh would rejoin the NFL. The Michigan coach is reportedly considered for several professional openings each season. It feels different this time. This season, Harbaugh overcame two different three-game suspensions. One was a self-imposed penalty from Michigan, which admitted to recruiting infractions going all the way back to the Covid-19 outbreak. The coach lost the first three games of the 2023 campaign as a result.
After that, the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for three games due to the Michigan workers’ involvement in a sign-stealing controversy. The final three regular-season games for the Wolverines against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State were missed by him.
There’s more enjoyment to be had. The NCAA sent Michigan a Notice of Allegations in late December, raising questions about any recruitment infractions that might have happened during the pandemic. Harbaugh might be subject to more severe penalties and a lengthier suspension at some time over the offseason.
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