Jim Harbaugh Watch: Decision Could Come Down to Convincing Vikings Ownership

Jim Harbaugh is interviewing with the Vikings on Wednesday and appears to be fully prepared to accept an offer to become their next head coach, if he receives one.

All of the signs are pointing in that direction.

"He is going there to get this job," Michigan insider Sam Webb said on the Dan Patrick Show. "Everyone that I talk to, whether they be around Ann Arbor, agents in the NFL that I talk to, they all expect that if the Minnesota Vikings offer Jim Harbaugh this job, he will take it."

It makes sense. Why would Harbaugh come this far in this process if he wasn't seriously interested in the Vikings' vacancy? He reportedly landed in Minnesota on Tuesday, a day before the interview.

There are other little details that add up as well.

Jim Harbaugh has given the Michigan coaching staff an unplanned week vacation starting mid-day Wednesday when he interviews with Vikings…

He basically has informed his staff (paraphrasing) “I don’t know what my future looks like, but use this time off to do what’s best for you”
— James T. Yoder (@JamesYoder) February 1, 2022

People in the Michigan program who were making plans last week based on their strong belief that Harbaugh was staying are now changing their plans with the belief he will accept an NFL job soon. #GoBlue
— Chris Balas (@Balas_Wolverine) February 1, 2022

Worth noting: My sources aren't as strong on this as @SamWebb77's, so I defer to him on this, but my sources would still agree that if MN offers, he is likely to take it. He's not waiting this long to decide for nothing. https://t.co/wn0fvTxkbG
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) February 1, 2022

So what does it come down to? It sounds like the main thing that could prevent Harbaugh from being hired by the Vikings is the concern some within the front office and ownership group have about how he gets along with people — specifically, the rocky end to his time with the 49ers in which he feuded with GM Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York.

New Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who overlapped with Harbaugh in 2013 and 2014 in San Francisco, wants Harbaugh. If Wednesday's interview can get everyone else on the same page, from the Wilfs to other top executives like Rob Brzezinski, this is probably happening.

"Harbaugh is at the top of Adofo-Mensah’s list, but Michigan’s headman still needs to be sold to others in the organization," writes Webb.

In addition to the "perception in league circles that [Harbaugh] can be tough to deal with," Webb says the other hurdle could be whether the Vikings believe other candidates would better incorporate analytics into their decision-making.

"If Harbaugh does well in addressing those concerns, he will be offered the job." And that's what Webb ultimately believes will happen.

The Dolphins, who had been another rumored suitor for Harbaugh, appear to be off the table as an option. That was reported before Tuesday's huge news of former Dolphins coach Brian Flores suing the NFL and alleging, among many other things, that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross offered to pay him to intentionally lose games in 2019.

So, it's down to the Vikings and Michigan as Harbaugh's two potential teams for next season. And it sure seems like he has every intention of accepting an offer from Minnesota on Wednesday, if things progress to that point.

It all comes down to Harbaugh and Adofo-Mensah getting the rest of the Vikings' committee on board. As I wrote about today, it's not necessarily a super straightforward decision, for a number of reasons.

Harbaugh Watch, Day 31: Here Goes
-Harbaugh meets w/MN GM and owners today
-It is NOT a done deal. JH has to answer Qs and criticisms - fair and not.
-GM has to convince owners
-Owners can do whatever they like, and often do
-If offered, Harbaugh will accept
Harbaugh to MN 80-20
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) February 2, 2022

Some believe it's a done deal. Chris Balas of The Wolverine is reporting that Harbaugh plans to sign a contract with the Vikings.

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh is headed to Minnesota for a Wednesday interview, but multiple sources say it’s a formality. Harbaugh heads there planning to sign a deal to become the NFL Vikings’ head coach. Harbaugh was not in his office at Schembechler Hall this afternoon. Other sources told TheWolverine.com that while he didn’t address the team, he did say some “goodbyes” and “thank yous” yesterday.

But I don't think it's quite a lock just yet, because how could a Michigan insider know what the Wilfs are thinking? What if something changes over the course of Wednesday from the end of either party?

If Harbaugh doesn't end up being the guy, which would be a major surprise, the Vikings could go with Kevin O'Connell, Raheem Morris, or Patrick Graham and Harbaugh would return to Michigan. O'Connell would be the favorite out of that trio, as there's buzz that he has fans in the Vikings' organization. They just interviewed Graham for nine hours on Tuesday.

But from a purely speculative standpoint, it seems like the odds of Harbaugh becoming the Vikings' head coach are creeping up towards 80 or 90 percent heading into this interview.

Again, stay tuned. This could be a big day.

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