Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh has been hitting up the country recruiting potential new players for the Wolverines program.
To some, this seems to suggest that the former NFL Super Bowl head coach is going to remain with Michigan. However, that has not stopped rumors from persisting regarding a return to the professional ranks.
The father of a recruit who committed to Michigan back in December admitted that Harbuagh told him the head coach would entertain offers from NFL teams. More recently, the former San Francisco 49ers head coach has been linked to the Las Vegas Raiders. This seems to be a clear indication that Harbaugh is at least considering a move back to the NFL.
Then again, this could all be a contract ploy. Jim Harbaugh took a pay cut to remain at Michigan following a disappointing 2-4 COVID-19 shortened 2020 season — only to lead the team to a 12-2 record and a spot in the College Football Playoffs last season. He wants to get paid, and could be using the NFL as some sort of negotiating tactic.
According to this note from Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic, Harbaugh has been in contact with Michigan’s brass about a contract extension. Said conversations have gone well with the Wolverines offering him a “competitive” deal.
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Jim Harbaugh contract situation with the Michigan Wolverines
Harbaugh signed an extension with the program back in January of 2021. Said deal called for a base salary of $4 million through the 2024 season. The base then increases to $4.4 million in 2025. His extension also calls for a maximum bonus of $3.475 million annually based on the following incentives.
- $1 million for winning Big Ten Championship and College Football Playoff National Championship
- $500,000 for winning Big Ten East Division and reaching College Football Playoffs
Obviously, Harbaugh met some of these incentives during a brilliant 2021 season with Michigan. Even then, he’s vastly underpaid in the grand scheme of things.
- Lincoln Riley, USC: $10-plus million
- Nick Saban, Alabama: $9.75 milion
- Brian Kelly, LSU: $9.5 million
- Mel Tucker, Michigan State: $9.5 million
- David Shaw, Stanford: $8.93 million
As you can see, college football has become a big business for coaches. Three of the contracts above were agreed to within the past few months with both Riley (Oklahoma) and Kelly (Notre Dame) leaving their old progreams for new gigs.
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Jim Harbaugh and potential return to the NFL
Money could also end up being an issue here. Primarily, the Raiders’ interest in Harbaugh. They just fired general manager Mike Mayock after former head coach Jon Gruden resigned in disgrace.
Remember, Gruden was working under a 10-year, $100 million contract. The two sides reportedly settled the financial aspect of his shocking departure with terms not known to the public.
For the Raiders, this is particularly interesting in that owner Mark Davis doesn’t have the deepest pockets among NFL owners (estimated net worth of $500 million). The Raiders themselves are said to be valued at $3.5 billion. Could that impact any potential chase after Harbaugh?
If Harbaugh is going to make the jump to the NFL after an extremely successful four-year run with the 49ers earlier in his career, the head coach will want to be rewarded for it.
Right now, Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots is the highest-paid NFL head coach at $12 million annually. He’s followed in line by Seattle Seahawks’ Pete Carroll ($11 million), Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints ($9.8 million) and Jim’s brother with the Baltimore Ravens, John ($9 million).
It will take something within the $9-$12 million range to pry Jim Harbaugh from the Michigan Wolverines. The question now becomes who might offer that up?