Paul Finebaum puts Jim Harbaugh on blast after failed Vikings interview

On3 imageby:Steve Samra02/03/22

SamraSource

Jim Harbaugh was widely-expected to make his return to the NFL, taking over the Minnesota Vikings. Everything was going swell, and the eccentric coach was on his way to the Twin Cities. And then, he wasn’t.

In a shocking turn of events, ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed Harbaugh would return to Michigan, unable to come to an agreement with the Vikings. Now, Paul Finebaum is putting Harbaugh on blast for his failed attempt to return to the NFL.

“It looks disastrous,” stated Finebaum, when asked how the Harbaugh situation looks, via Get Up. “I mean, can you imagine anyone of his ilk — we’re talking about one of the top programs in the country, one of the top schools — doing what he did? Think about Nick Saban or Jimbo Fisher or Kirby Smart or Ryan Day. Getting on a plane on National Signing Day, interviewing for a job and then not getting it? And you have to wonder if that interview didn’t cost him the job.

“Jim Harbaugh is 58 years old. He’s already been through the NFL dishwasher. They clearly decided we want someone young. We want a young, up and coming coach. We don’t want some coach who’s probably has already washed out of the system. Now, he has to go back and say I’m not going to do that anymore. What kind of credibility does he have, and why should anyone at Michigan believe him?”

After a phenomenal season with the Wolverines, Jim Harbaugh had more credibility than ever. Instead of building on it, the Michigan coach had one foot out the door. Now, returning after attempting to abandon ship, Harbaugh has his work cut out for him to mend some fences.

More on Jim Harbaugh, Return to Michigan

Furthermore, Jim Harbaugh has left the football world stunned following the news that he’s not going anywhere.

Conversations between the Vikings and Harbaugh heated up this week and he was in Minnesota for an interview on Wednesday. Despite reportedly making a return to the NFL, he continued on the recruiting trial throughout the offseason. News of his decision broke as National Signing Day was coming to a close.

Harbaugh wasn’t the Vikings’ only head coach candidate. New York Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham was a contender, as were both of the Los Angeles Rams coordinators — offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Raheem Morris. Now, it looks like O’Connell will be the next leader of the Vikings.

As for Harbaugh, he turned Michigan around this season — taking the Wolverines from a 2-4 2020 record to a 12-1 2021 record and the program’s first-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Michigan fell to Georgia in the Orange Bowl on New Year’s Eve.

Now, Michigan will go forward knowing it has its coach. The Wolverines had the No. 9 recruiting class this year, as well, according to the On3 Consensus Team Rankings.