Report: Jim Harbaugh's Michigan Program Under NCAA Investigation

Jim Harbaugh has his reasons for wanting to return to the NFL but this could be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Jim Harbaugh's potential return to the NFL keeps gaining steam. Linked to the Denver Broncos' head-coaching vacancy, along with several other NFL openings, the rumor mill is working overtime on the Michigan man. 

An hour after Harbaugh released a statement via Michigan Football’s Twitter account, which included the remarks, “While no one knows what the future holds, I expect that I will be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023,” news broke via The Athletic that his football program is under investigation and could be in some trouble with the NCAA. 

The allegations seem to be somewhat tame, involving non-coaches coaching players and text messages that apparently violate some NCAA rules. With an ensuing investigation into Michigan’s football program, could a pending punishment further push Harbaugh out the door?

Given the severity (or lack thereof) of these allegations, Michigan is unlikely to be overly impacted by the NCAA’s findings. Furthermore, in comparison to the money and power and the challenge of reproving himself on the NFL stage, this investigation probably holds little weight in Harbaugh’s decision.

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Just how serious is Harbaugh about coaching on Sundays again? According to author John U. Bacon, who claims to know the head coach personally, Harbaugh has hired an agent (something he didn’t do in previous head-coaching interviews with the NFL while at Michigan) and is seriously fielding offers from Carolina, Indianapolis, and Denver). On Twitter, Bacon further stated that Harbaugh is growing increasingly fatigued by the NCAA game itself. 

"From very good sources: the possibility of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL is real. Could even happen fast. NOTHING FINAL, but IF he goes, it would not be because of money, NIL, control, or just about anything regarding UM, but his growing frustration with college football itself," Bacon tweeted. 

From very good sources: the possibility of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL is real. Could even happen fast.
NOTHING FINAL, but IF he goes, it would not be because of money, NIL, control, or just about anything regarding UM, but his growing frustration with college football itself.

— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) January 3, 2023

Will Harbaugh make the jump to the NFL? That remains to be seen. 

But given the NFL demand for his coaching acumen, and the money and power being tossed around to lure him back to the league, this might be the offseason Harbaugh decides to once again coach on Sundays.

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