Jim Harbaugh wanted to know this before choosing to stay at Michigan
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was linked to more NFL jobs this offseason, most notably the Denver Broncos. There was heavy speculation he could end up there after he interviewed at least once for the job.
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It eventually went to Sean Payton, and Harbaugh is back in Ann Arbor for another year. He said he did what he always does — answer a few calls, ignore some others, but more than anything see if he was still wanted at Michigan.
“As far as any kind of contract situation, we don’t even talk about that,” Harbaugh said earlier this week. “I just ask, ‘hey, do you want me here at Michigan?’ After every season, anywhere I’ve ever been, that’s the conversation I want to have. Do you still think I’m the best person to do this job?
“I want to know what the rest of the administration thinks. I want to know what the players think the rest of the coaches, the fan base. When that season is over, I sit down and have that conversation with [Michigan A.D.] Warde Manuel, and I do the same with the players.”
He also wants to assess where the fan base is, he noted. A few years ago, some were on the fence after seven years with no titles or wins over Ohio State. Now, though, everyone is thrilled after back-to-back Big Ten titles and blowout wins over OSU.
They’ll head into 2023, too, as the favorite to three-peat.
“All 8 years I’ve been here, that’s the feedback I’ve gotten in the month of January, which is as good as it’s ever been from players, coach, Warde, the administration, the president, and from the fan base,” Harbaugh said. “So, here we go. Let’s go to 2023.
“That’s something you assess after every season. That’s a thing I will do after every season. My superirors, fan base, players. Get that vote of confidence from all three of those groups … here we go again. Let’s tee it up and have a great season, and we’re attacking it with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
In short, he didn’t apologize for talking to those who wanted to talk to him about other opportunities.
“As I said before, calls come in. Calls are taken by everybody in the program,” Harbaugh said. “Some you take; some you don’t. You’d have a real story if I wasn’t right here doing what I told you, predicted I would be doing.”
Harbaugh supports his players looking, too
As for those players and coaches thinking about leaving for the NFL … Harbaugh is fully on board with that, too.
“For me it’s support either way in that situation,” Harbaugh said. “The chance to go to the NFL or participate, use another year of college eligibility. We’re in full support mode whatever they decided to do, whatever I can do to help. I’m happy for guys who choose to submit their name for the draft, get invited to the combine, are training for pro day. We’re all behind them and excited.
“Guys that feel it’s in their best interest to return to Michigan, I’m super happy and excited about that, as well. Yeah. Selfishly, really happy.”
Harbaugh feels like the parent of a son or daughter weighing their college options, he added. It’s a situation he’s been in before.
“I don’t want to be the one to tell them which to do. It’s a decision they have to make on their own,” Harbaugh continued. “Then, if it doesn’t work out, you don’t get blamed for telling them what to do. That’s kind of the position I’m in. I kind of feel the same way about both my son James and daughter Grace choosing which college to go to, helping with the pros and cons. Talking about it with them, I secretly hope they go to Michigan, which those two did. That’s really the thing I would compare it to.
“But I’m in total support of whichever decision they make and feel is best for them. And they’re really good at it … really good at making wise decisions and smart choices for themselves.”
Just as he and many of his coaches and players have over the years. This year, it’s led Harbaugh back to Michigan once more to see if he can add to the trophy case.
