Jim Harbaugh’s tenure with the Michigan Wolverines hasn’t gone as he planned, and one NFL administrator thinks the coach will be back in the league soon.
According to Bleacher Report’s Mike Freeman, a front office source firmly believes Harbaugh will leave Michigan following the 2018 season.
“Harbaugh will be coaching in the NFL next year. Bank on it.”
It was about to time to fire up the Harbaugh-to-NFL rumor train, after all. In fairness, the possibility of a return is considerably more realistic than in the past.
The Wolverines posted back-to-back 10-3 records in Harbaugh’s first two seasons and played like a national championship contender in the latter campaign. There was no chance he’d bolt from Ann Arbor.
However, since the beginning of 2017, Michigan is a paltry 8-6 with a 1-4 record against ranked opponents. During his three-plus years at his alma mater, Harbaugh has a 5-8 mark opposite Top 25 teams.
Maybe, just maybe, his eyes will begin wandering toward the NFL, where he thrived with the San Francisco 49ers before being pushed out by the front office.
This rumor will be monitored throughout the year, but it’s foreseeable — perhaps likely — he once again turns down the NFL and stays at Michigan.