The truth behind Jim Harbaugh-Denver Broncos meeting last week

Despite announcing his commitment to the Michigan football program a week ago, Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh still met with the Denver Broncos regarding their coaching vacancy last week.

This now marks back-to-back years that Harbaugh has met with an NFL franchise regarding a coaching position following a successful season in the Maize and Blue; that being said, Michigan fans should not be too worried.

The meeting was less of an interview, more of a formality

According to an ESPN report, the meeting between Jim Harbaugh and Denver Broncos’ owner Greg Penner did not result in a deal. It sounds like the meeting was more of a formality than anything.

Penner came to Ann Arbor to meet with Jim Harbaugh face-to-face, just as he has done with many other candidates for the Broncos’ head coaching opening. Earlier this month, Harbaugh and Penner met via Zoom in the first wave of interviews — it lasted two hours and resulted in little progress toward landing Harbaugh.

Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter: “The follow-up conversations were part of the process for both Denver — led by Penner with general manager George Paton — and Harbaugh. The face-to-face meeting came after Harbaugh’s initial video interview with Denver, after which he pulled his name out of contention and reaffirmed his commitment to Michigan… The Broncos moved on as well, continuing their discussions with several other candidates.”

Jim Harbaugh will be in Ann Arbor in 2023

The news of this meeting comes just days after Jim Harbaugh announced that he would remain as Michigan’s head football coach in 2023. Harbaugh stated that he and U-M president Santa Ono had a great conversation, resulting in his commitment to the university and its football program. Here is what the Wolverines’ head coach had to say:

“I love the relationships that I have at Michigan — coaches, staff, families, administration, president Santa Ono and especially the players and their families,” Harbaugh stated two weeks ago. “My heart is at the University of Michigan. I once heard a wise man say, ‘Don’t try to out-happy, happy.’ Go Blue!”

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