Michigan Football: Optimism about Jim Harbaugh return is disappearing
Jim Harbaugh is expected back at the Michigan football offices Tuesday and all eyes will be on him as his contract extension looms.
Either Jim Harbaugh doesn’t understand the uncertainty he’s causing or he doesn’t care. But a decision needs to be made about the future of the Michigan football program and it can’t go beyond this week.
That’s the one thing that Warde Manuel and Michigan need to make clear in all of this. Harbaugh has the right to explore the NFL or do whatever he wants to do. But let’s remember he’s coming off a 2-4 season and is 0-5 against Ohio State.
In other words, Michigan football shouldn’t be begging for him to come back. I understand not wanting to move on, especially when his only truly bad this season came during a 6-game mess of a season due to COVID-19.
But after negotiations have dragged on for weeks, Harbaugh knows the deal from Michigan and either he wants to coach the team or he doesn’t. It really is that simple.
There are tons of NFL rumors going around, especially with the Chargers job opening up. Supposedly, teams like the Jets and Chargers want to talk to Harbaugh and that’s fine, but Michigan football shouldn’t wait.
Ryan Day is a much hotter commodity on the coaching market and it took him three seconds to quash any interest in the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Why? Because he probably has no interest in going there.
Unless Harbaugh signs his extension today, it will be clear that he wants to be with any NFL team over Michigan and in my opinion, that will make Manuel’s job very easy.
People have been talking about setting a deadline and I don’t know that Manuel needs to do that. He just needs to put the contract in front of his coach and ask for an answer.
And if Harbaugh still won’t give him one, then I think that’s an answer all by itself. We have heard this extension was a done deal and an announcement was just days away — a few days ago — and here we sit.
If those reports are true, Harbaugh will sign his deal Tuesday and all this worry will have been for not. But if that doesn’t happen, then I believe Harbaugh’s tenure with Michigan football ends.
Next. 3 Ideal assistant coach hires if Harbaugh returns. dark
This weird dance just can’t go on any longer. Michigan should have been uncertain about Harbaugh’s return anyway and this maybe shows once and for all why the Wolverines need to take the hit ($$) and go get Matt Campbell.