Three Reasons Jim Harbaugh Should Not Go To The NFL
College football is changing in so many ways on a day-to-day basis, but on the field, it's still football, and that's where Jim Harbaugh lives. He loves the game so much that he's willing to adapt to the changes and navigate the wild world that is college athletics. He's done such a phenomenal job, in fact, that he just put a bow on a literal perfect season — 15-0, national champs. And that's exactly why he's coveted in the NFL. That and because he's proven that he can win at the next level with a .695 winning percentage (good for fifth all time) and a trip to the Super Bowl. Still, there's no place like home and right now, Ann Arbor is home. Here are three reasons why Harbaugh should spurn the NFL and coach out his career at U-M.
1. He's a god in Ann Arbor
Ever since Harbaugh got to Ann Arbor, he's been a beloved figure. Obviously he played at Michigan and then went on to have great success as a coach at San Diego, Stanford and San Francisco, so his return was massive. Then he struggled on the biggest stages for a handful of years, but most still defended him and wanted him in Ann Arbor. Then, in 2021, he broke through, beat Ohio State, won the Big Ten and went on to the College Football Playoff. Then in 2022 he did all of that again and then obviously last year, he won the whole damn thing. Now, he can do NO WRONG. He's the savior and he could sign a lifetime contract today and U-M fans would rejoice. His reception and the chanting for him was deafening last week inside the Crisler Center. It's very, very clear that he is the coach that every single Michigan fan wants. I'm not sure he could ever win enough in any NFL city to receive the love he is currently receiving in Ann Arbor.
2. The program is humming
And there's a reason Michigan fans love him — the program is a well-oiled machine right now. Harbaugh hasn't made a bad hire in ages, his players are excelling on and off the field and about 20 of them are set to play on Sundays and he's instilled a winning culture. In fact, he was absent for six games in 2023, and the team still didn't miss a beat. One of those was on the road against Penn State and the other was at home against the Buckeyes. Obviously Sherrone Moore deserves a massive shoutout for driving the boat while Harbaugh was away, but all of that is possible because of what Harbaugh has done while at the helm. Harbaugh and his staff have found the perfect blend of recruiting talent, developing diamonds in the rough and adding pieces via the transfer portal in a way that adds up to immediate success on the field. Right now, Harbaugh can do no wrong.
3. His personal life in Ann Arbor is perfect
Harbaugh is all football, but he does have a home life as well and right now, his home life is amazing. A couple of Harbaugh's older kids are enrolled at U-M, which he obviously loves. The younger kids attend St. Frances Academy in Ann Arbor, which is the same elementary school Harbaugh went to. And finally, and perhaps most importantly, his parents, Jack and Jackie, live right next door and are heavily involved with the program and their grandchildren on a day-to-day basis. Granted, the parent angle would likely travel to wherever Harbaugh lands should he take a job in the NFL, but right now it's all in place and it's all perfect. Michigan fans know how important family is to Jim Harbaugh and right now things could not be better.
