Jim Harbaugh Reported to Reject Michigan’s $69 Million Contract to Join NFL Giants

Are tensions revolving around Harbaugh’s football fate finally arriving at its conclusion? Almost but not quite. The 60-year-old coach has been with the Michigan Wolverines for nine seasons. And now, rumors about his transfer to the NFL keep snowballing, probably because he has already been making visits. One of his first stops? Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers have been heavily focused on Harbaugh for sure. Per his recent visit on January 15, it might seem like Harbaugh was locked for a deal. However, he has returned from the campus since without a deal in place. As reported by ‘Sports Illustrated’, the reason for no official announcement is the Rooney Rule.

According to the rule, teams are not permitted to hire a new coach without interviewing two external minority candidates in person. But the roadblock doesn’t stop there. The rule also doesn’t allow face-to-face interviews until January 22. The team will need to conduct in-person interviews before a final decision can be made.

Hence, fans will have to wait for at least a couple of days for an official announcement from the Chargers if they decide to go ahead with Harbaugh. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the Chargers have already interviewed external candidates like Cincinnati Bengals OC Brian Callahan, former Buffalo Bills DC Leslie Frazier, Baltimore Ravens DC Mike Macdonald, Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham, Baltimore Ravens OC Todd Monken, and San Francisco 49ers DC Steve Wilks. That’s a massive list of highly qualified names. Yet, Harbaugh seems to be the front-runner.

If the coach decides to leave Michigan, he will be rejecting their record-breaking $69 million contract. In response to Harbaugh’s interest in moving to the NFL, Michigan issued a new contract to Harbaugh that would make him one of the highest-paid coaches in the NCAA. According to the new contract, Harbaugh would be paid $11.5 million guaranteed per year and would also benefit from additional bonuses. And here’s the cherry on top. The coach is reportedly asking for immunity from termination if the NCAA places sanctions on him as a result of the sign-stealing controversy.

Will it be most surprising if Harbaugh were to transition from college football to the NFL? Certainly not. He has been one of the most successful college coaches to enter the league. That’s right. It is going to be a repeat appearance. After four years with the San Francisco 49ers, he had a career win percentage of .688. This included a 5-3 postseason record and also a Super Bowl appearance. Not to forget, he has 17 years of experience in the NFL, both as a Chicago Bears quarterback for 15 years and quarterback coach for the Oakland Raiders for two years combined before he took his first NFL HC job with the 49ers.

Watch this Story: Coach Jim Harbaugh Sets The Record Straight On Michigan’s Sign-Stealing Incident  

The Wolverines have ensured that Harbaugh would have a luxurious time staying with the team, that is if he decides to not pursue his dreams of winning a Super Bowl in the NFL. But that doesn’t seem very likely. After all, after the LA visit, he was interviewed by the Atlanta Falcons at the latest.

Falcons look for a new head coach after firing Arthur Smith; Harbaugh considered

As shared by the Atlanta Falcons, the team has completed an interview with Harbaugh for the HC position. In fact, they have also had interviews with Baltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator Mike Macdonald, Cincinnati Bengals Offensive Coordinator Brian Callahan, San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Steve Wilks, Carolina Panthers Defensive Coordinator Ejiro Evero, Baltimore Ravens Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Anthony Weaver and Former New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. For Falcons, Harbaugh and Belichick are the biggest names.

The Falcons fired Smith as the team was inconsistent during his tenure. They never won more than two games in a row under him. His playcalling and decision-making were also criticized at times. For example: In Week 15 against the Carolina Panthers, his plan was considered very conservative. That decision played a role in their 9-7 loss to the Panthers. It also put the Falcons’ playoff hopes in danger.

Whether Harbaugh goes ahead with the Chargers or Falcons? Only time will tell.

Read more: Jim Harbaugh Contract Update: Michigan Offers $69 Million & 1 Special Immunity to Respond to Chargers’ Meeting With Their HC