Michigan football head coach addresses contract rumor

Last night, the Wall Street Journal published an article that was headlined “Michigan Rescinded Contract Offer to Jim Harbaugh After Sign-Stealing Allegations.” Since then, numerous sources close the the school and the program have publicly stated that this report was inaccurate — the negotiations have been “put on hold” amid the sign-stealing scandal, but nothing has been taken off the table. This afternoon, Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh addressed the report.

Michigan football head coach addresses contract rumor`

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh met with the media this afternoon at Schembechler Hall, where he was asked about the Wall Street Journal’s new report on the status of his new contract. Earlier this month, the regents were working towards making Harbaugh the highest-paid head coach in the Big Ten — a deal that was expected to be wrapped up by the end of the month.

That said, amid the sign-stealing scandal, Michigan football has put the contract talks on hold for the time being until the future of Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines becomes clearer.

“I wouldn’t say that is accurate,” Jim Harbaugh said when asked about the WSJ report about his new contract. “… We’re in onward mode. It’s a one-track mind that I am modeling, and I see it throughout (the Michigan football program).”

For the time being, it sounds like Harbaugh’s contract has been temporarily set to the side as the NCAA looks to wrap up its investigation into the Wolverines. That said, once all is said and done — depending on the investigation’s outcome — there is a good chance that Michigan football will re-open negotiations and look to keep Harbaugh for a 10th season next fall.

This weekend, coming off the bye week, Michigan is set to face Purdue before heading to Penn State the next weekend — this final four-game stretch will entirely decide how the 2023 season ends for the Wolverines, scandal and all.

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