NFL Rumors: Jim Harbaugh still open to Broncos HC role despite committing to Michigan
Jim Harbaugh has been one of the main storylines of every NFL offseason for nearly a decade. He left the NFL in 2015 after four seasons of coaching for the San Francisco 49ers. Despite his success at the highest level, he returned to college football to accept the head coaching position for the Michigan Wolverines. He has been a target for NFL head coaching vacancies ever since.
The 2023 NFL offseason is here for many teams, so the annual Jim Harbaugh rumors are already at their peak. One of the franchises he's been closely associated with this year is the Denver Broncos. He was reportedly interviewed for their open position virtually on January 9th but announced shortly after that he would be remaining with the Michigan Wolverines for the upcoming season.
So that ends Harbaugh's speculation period for the 2023 NFL season, right? Well, maybe not. According to NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, the Broncos are still pursuing Harbaugh, and he's still interested in the open position, despite announcing his return to Michigan.
Jim Harbaugh announced he was returning to Michigan, but conversations with the #Broncos continued. Last week’s covert mission to Ann Arbor showed the door remains open on Harbaugh’s potential return to the NFL. More from @RapSheet and me: nfl.com/news/broncos-h…
According to Pelissero and Rapoport's report, conversations between the two sides have continued since their virtual meeting on January 9th. They are progressing towards potentially reaching an agreement as the process has escalated. Less than three weeks after their first interview, they conducted a second. This time, it was in person.
Broncos CEO and partial owner Greg Penner reportedly flew to Michigan to meet with Jim Harbaugh, who has also apparently been in touch with Broncos general manager George Paton. While apparently no official offer has been made yet, there is undoubtedly a ton of activity for a coach who claims he will not leave Michigan this year.
Further fueling the rumors of his return, Harbaugh has claimed that if he were to make a return to the NFL, it would be the Broncos' job that he would specifically want, according to sources from NFL insiders. This rumor will likely continue to escalate until the Broncos officially announce whoever will replace Nathaniel Hackett, who was fired during his first season.
Jim Harbaugh's career as a head coach
Jim Harbaugh has been a successful head coach in each position during his career. His college football stops include the San Diego Toreros, Stanford Cardinal, and Michigan Wolverines. His only head coaching job in the NFL was with the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, though he also served as a quarterbacks coach with the Oakland Raiders for two years.
He has accumulated an impressive 132-52 head coaching record in college football while also posting an excellent 49-22-1 record in the NFL. He helped the 49ers make a Super Bowl appearance and never had a losing season in four years. He also helped Michigan win two Big Ten conference championships while leading San Diego to two Pioneer League championships.
His proven success is one of the big reasons Jim Harbaugh has been a popular candidate for head coaching vacancies.