Jim Harbaugh: “I think I will be coaching Michigan next year”

Amid the rumors that Jim Harbaugh will be headed back to the NFL, Michigan’s head coach appears to be confident that he will remain in Ann Arbor through the 2023 season. For the Wolverines, this is massive news.

The NFL is knocking yet again, and I don’t blame them

As we have seen since Jim Harbaugh arrived in Ann Arbor, the NFL rumors have started up yet again. This is not shocking — Harbaugh is one of the most accomplished coaches at both the college and NFL levels — yet it is still annoying to deal with. In four years with the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh turned their losing franchise into a Super Bowl contender on a yearly basis.

In four seasons, Harbaugh’s 49ers appeared in three NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl, though fell just short of winning it all. After an 8-8 season in 2014, Jim Harbaugh decided to part ways with San Francisco and head to Ann Arbor to coach at his alma mater: the University of Michigan.

In the seven years that preceded Harbaugh’s tenure, Michigan football had many losing seasons, one 10-win season, and a 46-42 overall record. Just one year into Harbaugh’s time at Michigan the Wolverines were headed back to the top with a 10-3 record and a No. 12 ranking. While it ended up taking longer than we initially thought, Jim Harbaugh now has the Wolverines competing for National Championships on a yearly basis.

In 2021 Harbaugh brought home Michigan’s first win over Ohio State since 2011 and the Wolverines first Big Ten Championship since 2004 with a 12-2 record. The year after, Michigan football beat Ohio State again (in Columbus) and won the Big Ten for the second-straight season, not to mention finishing with 13 wins for the first time in Michigan history.

Jim Harbaugh on the NFL rumors

Back in early-December, Jim Harbaugh appeared to preemptively shut down all talks of his return to the NFL. “I will be back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023,” Harbaugh said after Michigan’s 43-22 win over Purdue in the Big Ten Championship game.

Now, as the rumors continue to fly, Jim Harbaugh seems less confident that he will be in the Maize and Blue next year. Still, Harbaugh thinks he is staying in Ann Arbor according to his most recent statements.

“Although no one knows the future, I think I will be coaching Michigan next year.” – Jim Harbaugh on the NFL rumors

There is a chance that Jim Harbaugh is open to an NFL return, but at the same time, I am not so sure that the NFL still wants Jim Harbaugh. Regardless, everything that Harbaugh has said makes me believe that there’s a very good chance that he will be staying, which is good news for Michigan fans as the Wolverines gear up for another run at the Big Ten and National Championships.