NCAA issues punishment to former Michigan football coach, current NFL assistant

The Jim Harbaugh suspension from Michigan football for weeks 1-4 of the 2023 college football season has been the talk of the town today. For the Wolverines, who will soon be looking to name an interim head coach once the suspension is finalized, the biggest downside to all of this is the negative press, which has now bled into the NFL ranks. Today, the NCAA announced that it will also be punishing former Michigan football coach and current NFL assistant coach Mike MacDonald, who was Michigan’s defensive play-caller for the 2021 season.

Former Michigan football coach Mike MacDonald facing NCAA punishment

Mike MacDonald was a stellar defensive coordinator for Michigan football during the 2021 season. He was only in Ann Arbor for a year, yet led the Wolverines to an impressive 12-2 season, headlined by Michigan’s remarkable defense. He was also a part of Michigan’s first team to beat Ohio State since 2011, win its first Big Ten title game, and make its first appearance in the College Football Playoff.

Since 2021, MacDonald has gone back to the NFL, where he now serves as the defensive coordinator for John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens. That said, his Michigan football coaching days appear to be lingering, with the NCAA currently issuing punishment despite him not being a college coach anymore.

Now, since MacDonald is in the NFL, there really isn’t much that the NCAA can do. However, they are still doing everything in their power to issue punishment.

“A previous Harbaugh staff member did not escape unscathed,” wrote Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports. “Former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, now the defensive coordinator for Harbaugh’s brother John at the Baltimore Ravens, is expected to receive a one-year show-cause penalty. Show-cause penalties make it more difficult for coaches to land jobs in college athletics.”

It probably won’t mean anything for Mike MacDonald, who likely has no plans of returning to college football anytime soon, but it shows the NCAA’s dedication to punishing the Michigan football coaching staff. So far, a few current Michigan coaches have also been hit with pending suspensions, including head coach Jim Harbaugh (4 games) and offensive play-caller Sherrone Moore (1 game).

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