It’s become an annual tradition in Ann Arbor following the conclusion of the Michigan Football season: Jim Harbaugh is exploring opportunities for an NFL return.
Both the Los Angeles Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons have confirmed that they’ve conducted interviews with Harbaugh within the last 48 hours, and the reaction from Michigan Football fans on social media has been mixed. While some are more than content with Harbaugh exploring his options after delivering a national championship back to Michigan just ten days ago, some are frustrated with what they refer to as a “constant distraction” year after year.
Ever since he arrived in Ann Arbor back in 2015, fans have had to endure the rumors and speculation about Harbaugh’s potential departure. Although it seemed like it could be something that would damage the program from a recruiting standpoint, Harbaugh’s constant flirtation with the NFL hasn’t really done any noticeable harm to the program whatsoever. In fact, the football program is in as good of a place as it has ever been – and Jim Harbaugh is a big reason for that.
Not long after the 2021 season came to an end, Harbaugh hopped on a plane and departed for Minnesota to interview with the Vikings – and he did so on National Signing Day. The general consensus among the fan base was that he was killing all of the momentum Michigan had created during a successful 2021 season, and that the Wolverines would pay the price for Harbaugh’s indecision. Instead of that interview leading to catastrophic results, Harbaugh ultimately returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan recruited well, and the Wolverines would go on to capture their second consecutive Big Ten Championship.
That success continued in a massive way during the 2023 season, with Michigan beating Ohio State for the third straight season, winning its third consecutive Big Ten Championship, defeating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and ultimately capturing a National Championship in a dominant win over Washington. Although the season didn’t come without controversy, the Wolverines finished a perfect 15-0 and are now at the top of the college football mountain.
It’s understandable that the Michigan fan base is growing increasingly frustrated with the Harbaugh/NFL dance every year, but this year should certainly help alleviate most of that frustration. Harbaugh was brought back to Ann Arbor to change the narrative against Ohio State, to win Big Ten Championships, and to win a National Championship – and he’s now officially done all of that.
Although he’s got it pretty good in Ann Arbor, Michigan can’t provide the one thing that continues to claw at him deep down. With a national championship under his belt, it’s entirely possible that Harbaugh’s burning desire to win a Super Bowl may ultimately trump his love for Michigan now that he’s done what he came here to do.
Either way you cut it, the Michigan Football program is exactly where we all hoped it would be when Harbaugh took the job back in 2015. The Wolverines are routinely beating their rivals (mainly Ohio State), winning Big Ten Championships, and now they’re national champions. While Harbaugh is a big reason for that success, there’s no reason to believe that the pieces he’s helped put in place aren’t capable of sustaining that success in his absence.
