So on the same day that Jim Harbaugh hired a new defensive line coach at Michigan and it was reported that he's had 'productive talks' with his alma mater on a new deal, he was named the odds-on favorite in Vegas to be the next head coach of the Raiders. Welcome to Harbaugh Watch, 2022.
That was all on Monday. Shortly after Michigan announced the hire of former Wolverine Mike Elston as Harbaugh's defensive line coach -- "Mike is a Michigan man who will be able to hit the ground running," said Harbaugh --Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic reported that the university has made Harbaugh a 'competitive offer-package' to stay in Ann Arbor a year after slicing his salary in half following a 2-4 season.
Michigan "welcomes Harbaugh" as its head coach, per The Athletic, "but some at Michigan wonder if he's torn about the NFL."
Earlier Monday, SportsBetting.ag had named Harbaugh the 2-1 favorite to replace Rich Bisaccia as head coach of the Raiders after the club's best season in five years ended in the wild card round of the playoffs.
The Bears have also been linked in their head coaching search to Harbaugh, who's enjoying some newfound leverage at Michigan after guiding the team to its first Big Ten championship in nearly 20 years and its first ever berth in the College Football Playoff.
Asked last week about the rumors that he might return to the NFL, where he went 44-19-1 with two division titles and a trip to the Super Bowl over four years as head coach of the 49ers, Harbaugh said, "It’s a little more enjoyable this year, compared to the rumors last year."
At the same time, Harbaugh acknowledged he was about to hit the offseason recruiting trail for Michigan, which is working on another top-10 class for 2023.
For Harbaugh, Michigan's recruiting efforts might be the biggest sticking point in his decision to stay or leave. As much as he might like a raise after last year's pay cut, there's a sense that he what he really wants is a stronger commitment on the part of Michigan to bring in the kind of players who can help the Wolverines compete with the true national powers.
That could mean more resources in regard to NIL opportunities and/or more leeway in the transfer portal, where the university has had rigid standards in regard to undergrad transfers. The Wolverines were run off the field in the national semifinal by a stronger, faster and altogether more talented Georgia team.
If Harbaugh decides he has a better chance of winning it all in the NFL than at Michigan, his most successful season at his alma mater might have been his last.