49ers GM: Michigan contacted team about Jim Harbaugh

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said Tuesday that Michigan handled reach out to contact coach Jim Harbaugh correctly.

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke acknowledged for the first time on Tuesday that Michigan has contacted the team about pursuing head coach Jim Harbaugh.

During his weekly radio appearance on 95.7 The Game in San Francisco, Baalke said Michigan followed the proper channels when contacting the 49ers about their interest in Harbaugh.

“As long as it’s handled correctly, I think the University of Michigan, in reaching out, did handle it correctly,” Baalke said Monday during his weekly appearance on 95.7 The Game, acknowledging for the first time that Michigan has made official contact in pursuing Harbaugh.

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The 49ers are widely expected to fire Harbaugh after this season, perhaps as soon as within two days after this weekend's season finale. Michigan reportedly has offered Harbaugh a six-year, $48 million contract.

San Francisco (7-8) will end its season vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. The 49ers reached three consecutive NFC championship games and made one Super Bowl appearance under Harbaugh, but rumors of friction between he and the 49ers' front office persisted for much of the season.

Before the 49ers hired him in 2011, Harbaugh was the head coach at Stanford from 2007-10. In his final season with the Cardinal, Harbaugh led Stanford to a 12-1 season and a win in the 2011 Orange Bowl.

- Mike Fiammetta