Just call Jim Harbaugh the new Nick Saban of coaching rumors. We got started a little earlier this year than probably assumed, but you can count on some variation of this being an annual thing:
Reports: (Insert NFL team names here) to make a run at Jim Harbaugh.
If you’re a Michigan fan, just embrace it annually and laugh at it as best you can, because any panic would be in vain. He’s not going anywhere, and certainly not going anywhere in the short term.
But the media has to gin up stories and NFL teams would have to call, which is a void needing filled because eventually, people are going to realize that Nick Saban isn’t leaving Alabama, Nick Saban will retire, or Nick Saban will rise into the clouds in a crimson robe flanked by angel elephants to weeping adorers as he says they will know not the time or the hour that he will return.
At any rate, you can take it to the bank … NFL teams would be smart and wise to call just because you don’t just pass up someone you want on the basis of knowing you won’t get them, you ask anyway.
Harbaugh won’t much probably answer the call, or rather his agent won’t, and if they do, it’ll be out of cordiality or the ole “ah crap, I hit the green button on my iPhone when I meant to hit the red.”
From a dollars and cents perspective, he makes more than anyone else in the Big Ten, but that’s never been the motivating factor. He left money on the table to go to Michigan rather than staying in the more lucrative NFL. People solely motivated by money don’t leave it on the table.
Plus, Harbaugh likes where he is. You ever watch Michigan football lately? He loves it. He’s in his element. He’s a teacher of the game at the most raw level, running shirtless around with recruits, being some sort of social media maven that only Jim Harbaugh can be, and being as engaged with the entire program as is humanly possible.
His family appears to love it up at the old stomping grounds, and he’s the perfect college coach in the perfect moment.
Now, there’s never any telling what the future brings. Martians could descend from the sky tomorrow and tell Jim he needs to save the galaxy by coaching Neptune U. to a galactic Super Bowl, but unless that happens, you can bet Uranus that he’s not bolting Ann Arbor for the NFL anytime soon, and probably ever.
Harbaugh seems at least from a 10,000 foot view to be extremely aware of his situation and desires, not a guy who looks at the menu and has no idea what to get. He’s only been at Michigan two years, and has a deep commitment to his players and building Michigan into the old monster it used to be.
But as with anything, the prettiest girl in the room can’t say no if you don’t ask, so NFL teams may as well hit the denial dial because it looks like you’re not trying if you’re not at least firing the arrow to see if it sticks.
You can count on this to surface probably around the time NFL teams start stinking their way out of a playoff spot, especially if they fall into these three categories:
1. They have a high draft pick and a Michigan quarterback is going to the NFL.
2. There’s some sort of direct tie to Harbaugh’s NFL playing career
3. Until guys start getting older, there’s some sort of Stanford tie
Either way, it’ll all be a big ole nothing-burger, but it’s better to have everyone after your coach than filling up message boards complaining about how terrible the team is.
Thus is the price of success in college football. Just ask the annual “Saban to … ” skulduggery. Michigan fans can rest assured that it’s nothing more than hot air and 10 second phone calls.
