NCAA rule change could lure Jim Harbaugh away from Michigan

Jim Harbaugh is still riding the coaching carousel this offseason with two NFL franchises set to interview him a second time, all while Michigan is working behind the scenes to prepare an offer for the head coach who brought the school its first national championship in the 21st century.

But the school's effort to retain Harbaugh could hit a snag when it comes to one of the coach's most ironclad requests in the negotiations, combined with a recent NCAA rule modification that could affect how the investigation into the football program's sign-stealing allegations turns out, according to insiders.

In their talks with Michigan, Harbaugh's representatives are pushing for language in any prospective contract that would grant him immunity from being fired should he or the program be found to have committed an NCAA violation.

But that request could conflict with a recent intensification to the NCAA's rules around coach responsibility that went into effect just 56 weeks ago (which you can read here).

In short, should anyone on the Michigan football staff eventually be found guilty of a Level I violation because of sign-stealing, then Harbaugh would also be charged with a Level I violation.

That, in turn, could move Michigan to fire him for cause and give him what would likely be a sizable severance payment, a fate that Harbaugh and his reps would like to avoid now by including language to that effect in his contract.

As is stands, insiders believe Michigan is offering Harbaugh a 10-year contract worth a reported $110 million, with some estimates reaching $125 million.

But with the Chargers and Falcons seriously entertaining Harbaugh as a head coaching candidate, combined with the real possibility that the NCAA will hand down some punishment over the sign-stealing claims, multiple forces appear to be pushing Harbaugh away from the Wolverines in 2024.

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