Jim Harbaugh has been on the sidelines of Michigan football for nine seasons. Before returning to Ann Arbor to coach his alma mater, Harbaugh had considerable success as a coach in the NFL.
He led the 49ers to a Super Bowl during his four years in San Francisco. On Monday, Harbaugh will coach the Wolverines in the College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies.
As Harbaugh prepares for the game that could end Michigan’s 26-year national title drought, speculation continues to grow about his future potential in the NFL.
Harbaugh fielded questions Saturday in Houston, site of this season’s national championship game, about whether his rumored interest in professional football would be affected by the outcome of Monday’s game.
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Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh speaks during media day for the national championship game at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024. (Junfu Han/USA Today Network)
“I have no idea about that,” Harbaugh said. “I couldn’t be happier to be here. This is a tremendous city. They do everything big in Texas, and this is great. This is right where we want to be. This is where we’re working to get there.”
Harbaugh also downplayed the idea that he was one of the main stories in the title game.
“(Fans) don’t really come to watch the coaches, they don’t come to watch the administrators. They come to watch the players,” the Michigan coach said Saturday.
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Harbaugh dismissed a number of NFL-related questions during the news conference. The 60-year-old coach is reportedly weighing a 10-year, $125 million contract extension. The offer is believed to include a clause that would prevent Harbaugh from accepting a job at the NFL level for the 2024 season.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines after the Big Ten championship against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2023 in Indianapolis. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
Harbaugh hinted that he would discuss his future plans after Monday’s game.
“I’ll be happy to talk about the future next week,” Harbaugh said. “And I hope to have one. How about that? Future? I hope to have one.”
At one point during his press conference, Harbaugh downplayed a question about the difference in time management when it comes to coaching at the college football level and in the NFL.
“I don’t have that list in front of me,” he said. “I don’t have that list.”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with the Leishman Trophy after beating the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20 in overtime to win the CFP Rose Bowl semifinal at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 1, 2024 in Pasadena , California. (Harry How/Getty Images)
But Harbaugh was willing to share his stance on revenue sharing with players.
“There used to be a saying. The old cars — my dad used it, my brother used it — we’re all robbing the same train here,” Harbaugh said.
“So that has to change. It’s one thing for someone to say, ‘Well, they’re going to get NONE.’ But the billions that are being generated, they’re not getting much of it. A very small percentage. They’re getting the same amount that I was getting. in the ’80s. You get scholarships, room, board, books and tuition.”
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As of Saturday, Michigan is a 4.5-point favorite over Washington in the national championship game.
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