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John Harbaugh, Sean Payton, Doug Marrone, others on Michigan's radar
Jason La Canfora / CBS Sports NFL Insider
December 21, 2014 07:22 AM
While the University of Michigan’s interest in Jim Harbaugh has sprung a cottage industry, and garnered daily attention, it remains far more likely Harbaugh remains in the NFL in 2015 according to numerous sources close to the coach, while the school is exploring several NFL options, knowing that Harbaugh may well reject their overtures again.
Harbaugh initially briefly accepted the Michigan job back in 2011, when he was preparing to leave Stanford for other opportunities, then reached out to the search firm running the process shortly thereafter to say he had changed his mind. With Harbaugh seeking $8 million a year or more in his next job, and his departure from the 49ers imminent, there are several NFL teams prepared to meet those sort of demands, most notably the Raiders.
Michigan has maintained a desire to land Harbaugh’s brother, John, as well, sources said, but the Ravens coach has made it clear he has no interest in leaving Baltimore. Other NFL coaches on the school’s radar include New Orleans’ Sean Payton, Buffalo’s Doug Marrone and Dallas’ Jason Garrett (who is expected to sign an extension with the Cowboys shortly after the season).
As for Harbaugh, Michigan’s interest in him only increases his leverage and the likelihood that despite him having a year left on his 49ers contract and the team preferring to get draft pick compensation for him in trade, that’s going to be difficult to execute. Having him around the office everyday, during a hypothetical negotiation to trade him, would be toxic, Harbaugh will have no inclination to delay the process and the 49ers would be delaying their own coaching search by holding out for draft picks for Harbaugh.
Given their interest in Denver’s Adam Gase, who will have several teams seeking to interview him during what will likely be a playoff bye week for the Broncos, the 49ers could weaken their ability to land top candidates while doing a contractual dance with Harbaugh.
Other teams realize the 49ers’ relationship with Harbaugh is broken, and his departure is inevitable, so they have little leverage in that regard, and with any team that would trade for Harbugh needing to work out an extension with him, he holds all the cards in the end. San Francisco’s ability to dictate where he goes, despite having a year left on his deal, is being seen as negligible around the industry.
Jason La Canfora / CBS Sports NFL Insider
December 21, 2014 07:22 AM
While the University of Michigan’s interest in Jim Harbaugh has sprung a cottage industry, and garnered daily attention, it remains far more likely Harbaugh remains in the NFL in 2015 according to numerous sources close to the coach, while the school is exploring several NFL options, knowing that Harbaugh may well reject their overtures again.
Harbaugh initially briefly accepted the Michigan job back in 2011, when he was preparing to leave Stanford for other opportunities, then reached out to the search firm running the process shortly thereafter to say he had changed his mind. With Harbaugh seeking $8 million a year or more in his next job, and his departure from the 49ers imminent, there are several NFL teams prepared to meet those sort of demands, most notably the Raiders.
Michigan has maintained a desire to land Harbaugh’s brother, John, as well, sources said, but the Ravens coach has made it clear he has no interest in leaving Baltimore. Other NFL coaches on the school’s radar include New Orleans’ Sean Payton, Buffalo’s Doug Marrone and Dallas’ Jason Garrett (who is expected to sign an extension with the Cowboys shortly after the season).
As for Harbaugh, Michigan’s interest in him only increases his leverage and the likelihood that despite him having a year left on his 49ers contract and the team preferring to get draft pick compensation for him in trade, that’s going to be difficult to execute. Having him around the office everyday, during a hypothetical negotiation to trade him, would be toxic, Harbaugh will have no inclination to delay the process and the 49ers would be delaying their own coaching search by holding out for draft picks for Harbaugh.
Given their interest in Denver’s Adam Gase, who will have several teams seeking to interview him during what will likely be a playoff bye week for the Broncos, the 49ers could weaken their ability to land top candidates while doing a contractual dance with Harbaugh.
Other teams realize the 49ers’ relationship with Harbaugh is broken, and his departure is inevitable, so they have little leverage in that regard, and with any team that would trade for Harbugh needing to work out an extension with him, he holds all the cards in the end. San Francisco’s ability to dictate where he goes, despite having a year left on his deal, is being seen as negligible around the industry.
