Question: How should Michigan react to the notion of Jim Harbaugh leaving for the NFL?
Answer: Just make sure the door doesn’t hit him on his way out of town.
If you think this is a rant from a longtime critic of Harbaugh, you’re wrong. Even at his lowest points at Michigan, I maintained Harbaugh is a great coach. Like most, I was perplexed how his program struggled to move among college football’s elite given his track record and Michigan’s vast resources. Winning the Big Ten was impressive, the victory over Ohio State special.
But before giving Harbaugh the sun, moon, stars and entire sky above, it should be considered whether 2021 was the apex of his stint at Michigan rather than another step toward a higher peak.
The bottom line was very good, but 11-2 with another loss to Michigan State and a dismal performance in the College Football Playoff isn’t exactly the stuff of Nick Saban.
As well as Michigan was prepared for Ohio State, the Wolverines were poorly coached in the CFP semifinal vs.
Georgia.
There were no wrinkles to confuse the Bulldogs. The Wolverines played with little emotion. Kirby Smart schooled Harbaugh. Real simple. Michigan had to be at its best to have a chance.
Instead, they were at their worst and had none.
It was like when Michigan State, Washington and Notre Dame reached the CFP. It was a horribly missed shot.
The 2021 Wolverines were largely the product of Aiden Hutchinson, David Ojabo, Daxton Hill and Hassan Haskins. They are all departing, seemingly for excellent NFL careers.
Ohio State returns three truly outstanding players in quarterback C.J. Stroud, running back Trey Henderson and sensational wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Anyone who doesn’t think Ryan Day isn’t capable of addressing OSU’s defensive issues is delusional, especially in this time of the transfer portal.
The Ohio State, Michigan State and Iowa games in ‘22 are on the road.
Michigan’s QB situation is precarious. Cade McNamara or J.J. McCarthy? There is no obvious answer.
Now, there is a scenario Michigan could be in place to thrive. Donovan Edwards, for example, has the makings of a special back.
The thought the NFL is absolutely drooling at the thought of Harbaugh returning is ridiculous. If anything, regardless of this season, he’s lost much of the luster from his time with San Francisco. It not only didn’t end well for Harbaugh with 49ers, but it took him seven years to finally win any hardware of note at Michigan.
Look, Harbaugh has earned a decent raise and some years added to his contract. It would be a mistake to give him more based on supposed NFL leverage, especially understanding, Michigan’s ceiling with Harbaugh at the helm still seems limited.