Michigan working on lucrative contract extension for Jim Harbaugh with interesting caveat: report

As Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines gear up for the upcoming College Football Playoff semifinal against Alabama, the University of Michigan is reportedly concentrating on retaining its head coach.

Harbaugh, who has been linked to the NFL for the second consecutive season, might be sought after by various teams as a potential replacement in the upcoming offseason. Sports Illustrated’s Richard Johnson suggests that the university is actively negotiating a five-year extension that could potentially offer the seasoned coach an annual salary of $11 million. However, this extension is said to come with the condition that Harbaugh refrains from pursuing any NFL opportunities throughout the contract’s duration.

According to a report by Yahoo Sports, discussions are still in progress, and a finalized agreement is not anticipated in the near future. These reports follow a tumultuous regular season for Harbaugh, who faced a three-game suspension at the start of the season due to NCAA recruiting violations and an additional three-game suspension towards the end of the season related to an investigation into a sign-stealing operation involving former staffer Connor Stalions.

Despite initially challenging the suspension, Harbaugh ultimately accepted the ban. Michigan concluded the season with an undefeated 11-0 record, securing its third consecutive conference championship with a decisive 26-0 victory over Iowa. The Wolverines are now on the pursuit of the school’s first national title since 1997.

Harbaugh has been considered a potential candidate for various head coaching positions, with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears among the teams rumored to be interested. Speculation about Bill Belichick’s future with the New England Patriots could also open up another option.

Reports indicate that Harbaugh engaged in talks with the Panthers last season before Frank Reich was hired instead of Matt Rhule, who was dismissed a few weeks into the 2022 season after two losing seasons and a 1-4 record at the beginning of his final year with the team.