Michigan Wolverines Rescinded a Contract Offer to Jim Harbaugh Amid Sign-Stealing Scandal

The extension would have made Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten, and is the first sign of hesitancy from the Michigan Wolverines about the recent controversy.

The Michigan Wolverines have rescinded a contract offer to coach Jim Harbaugh, according to reports from the Wall Street Journal. 

The extension would have made Harbaugh the Big Ten Conference's highest-paid football coach.

Harbaugh, along with staff member Conner Stalions and other members of the Wolverines football program are under investigation by the NCAA about alleged scouting violations.

According to the allegations, Stalions attended over 30 games featuring at least 11 different teams over the past three seasons. Tickets to these contests were purchased near midfield and in Stalions' own name.

The pulled offer is the first sign of waning confidence in Harbaugh from the University of Michigan since the scandal began. 

Harbaugh has claimed to have no knowledge of the sign-stealing plans. 

"I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment," Harbaugh said in a statement. 

Harbaugh is currently in the second season of a five-year contract he signed in 2022. The deal puts Harbaugh at the helm of Michigan's football until the 2026 campaign and is worth $36.7 million over its lifetime.

The Wolverines went 13-1 following that extension, and are 8-0 overall now after nine weeks of the active year. Michigan is also the betting favorite to win the 2023 National Championship, according to multiple sportsbooks.

With how often new information is coming out about Michigan's alleged violations, it is only a matter of time before another element is revealed about the ongoing scandal.