Michigan’s College Football National Championship triumph hasn’t stopped speculation head coach Jim Harbaugh will be working in the NFL next season.
But fans think the former San Francisco 49ers man has hinted at extended his stay with the Wolverines after their 34-13 win over Washington on Monday.
Harbaugh has been with Michigan for nine seasons, boasting an 89-25 record and now leading the Ann Arbor outfit to their first national title since 1997.
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It has led to speculation he is set to return to the NFL with the likes of the Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons all currently in the market for a new head coach.
Some fans of those franchises have been very vocal about hiring Harbaugh to turn their fortunes around, but speaking after he helped secure Michigan’s 12th national title, the 60-year-old intimated he might look to repeat the feat next year.
“We usually start on Valentine’s Day, February 14, because we love football,” he said about when practice would resume for the season ahead. “But this year we’re going to move it back about a month, that’ll be good too, we have some nice weather in the spring in Ann Arbor.”
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The clip, shared widely on social media, prompted Barstool Sports’ X (formerly Twitter) account to ask: “Did Jim Harbaugh just indirectly announce his plans to stay put at Michigan??”
One user replied: “He’d be foolish to leave, honestly.”
Another added: “Yea. Was there ever any doubt? You can’t not try to repeat,” while a third called it “kinda direct”.
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Fans of several teams waded in however in a possible exercise of wishful thinking, with one saying “he’s going to LA Chargers!!!”, and another stating: “Falcons are on the clock”.
Harbaugh most recent link is with the Raiders, with Bleacher Report sources claiming there is “mutual interest” between the two parties. The AFC West side finished second with an 8-9 record under interim HC Antonio Pierce after the mid-season firing of Josh McDaniels.
Topics: NFL
Kristian Walsh