With Brandon Staley officially fired, Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan contract proposal will remain dormant.
Brandon Staley has been fired as head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, and the Jim Harbaugh watch has begun! The 59-year-old Michigan head coach has been linked to several NFL jobs in recent years. This is not an isolated case.
Could Jim Harbaugh take over for Brandon Staley?
According to reports, Harbaugh adores Justin Herbert. An exit from the collegiate ranks may be more appealing now than ever as the Wolverines deal with the ramifications from the major sign-stealing scandal.
Perhaps most importantly, Harbaugh has declined to publicly pledge his support for Michigan. He’s not leaving before the College Football Playoff, of course, but the university is attempting to entice him with a one-of-a-kind long-term contract.
A draft of a new contract has been handed to Jim Harbaugh. It would pay him almost $11 million per year, excluding performance-based bonuses.
The pen has yet to hit the paper. Nothing is expected to get done soon. Especially after Staley’s ouster.
There is rumored provision in the prospective agreement that would preclude Harbaugh from departing for the NFL anytime soon. That has not been proven, but if accurate, it could be a deterrent.
Nothing will get done (probably) until all NFL positions are filled.
Another aspect in the Harbaugh-NFL saga is language in his current contract that allows for termination for cause. While this is not unusual, there is a lot of interim language to safeguard the university.
Harbaugh’s current deal allows the Wolverines to fire him if the NCAA finds him guilty of a Level I or Level II violation. Michigan also provided itself with a pretty loose loophole to get out of the contract if Harbaugh does not “fulfill his duties” or “damages the reputation” of the university.
The odds of Harbaugh signing a new contract that could potentially be voided without warning at any point of time amid all of the ongoing scandals are slim. Especially when he could wait and see what happens with the NFL coaching carousel first. Staley’s ouster is the first domino to fall.
Things could change if Harbaugh does not get a job in the pros. Either way, nothing is going to happen between now and the College Football Playoff. The speculation has just begun!
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