Report: Unlike last year, Jim Harbaugh turned down the NFL in 2023

A year ago, Michigan football was in the middle of a massive coaching crisis. Current head coach Jim Harbaugh was reportedly interested in heading back to the NFL; he was actively trying to leave Michigan for an NFL head coaching position.

As Jim Harbaugh’s newest class was inking their commitment to him on National Signing Day in 2022, Harbaugh was in Minneapolis for a coaching interview with the Minnesota Vikings. As things unraveled, the Vikings decided to hire someone else instead, and Harbaugh was forced to stay at Michigan.

A repeat of history?

A year later, after the Wolverines’ second-straight Big Ten title and CFP appearance, the story felt all too familiar for those around the Michigan football program. Jim Harbaugh was again involved in talks with the NFL about making a return — primarily with the Denver Broncos.

Harbaugh stays in Ann Arbor

This time, after meeting with U-M President Santa Ono, Harbaugh decided he wanted to stay with the Wolverines. Still, just two weeks after announcing that he would stay in Ann Arbor in 2023, Harbaugh had an in-home interview with the Denver Broncos.

In the following days, reports again started to fly that Jim Harbaugh could still be in the mix for an NFL job, more specifically, the Denver Broncos head coaching vacancy. Earlier this week, one source stated that people should “sleep with one eye open” regarding Harbaugh’s interest in the Broncos job.

NFL rumors are shut down… for now

This afternoon, the Denver Broncos hired former Saints head coach Sean Payton as their newest head football coach. That all but completely shuts down the Harbaugh-NFL rumors for the time being.

After the hire was made, one source close to the Denver Broncos (Benjamin Allbright) had this to say about Harbaugh’s interest in the Broncos job:

“They went after Harbaugh but he decided to stay at Michigan, Ryans let them know he was going to Houston so they circled back around to Sean Payton. Basically how it went. There was no mystery candidate, they did put feelers out for if they needed to expand the search.”

They went after Harbaugh but he decided to stay at Michigan, Ryans let them know he was going to Houston so they circled back around to Sean Payton.

Basically how it went.

There was no mystery candidate, they did put feelers out for if they needed to expand the search. https://t.co/F2iPPLX6np

— Benjamin Allbright (@AllbrightNFL) January 31, 2023

Unlike a year ago, Jim Harbaugh decided he would rather coach the Michigan Wolverines in 2023 than an NFL team. This is good news for Michigan fans — it shows progress in the right direction within the athletic department — however, we all know that next year we will likely see many of the same reports.

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