Ad Disclosure
Jim Harbaugh contract: ESPN reporter says potential extension ‘on hold’ pending NCAA investigation
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Jim Harbaugh reportedly still has the possibility of signing a contract extension at Michigan, but that situation is “on hold” per the latest report from ESPN.
Sunday evening, a story from The Wall Street Journal reported that the university had pulled a contract offer that would have made Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the B1G. That report cited hesitation from the Wolverines as a result of the sign-stealing allegations against Harbaugh’s program and the pending NCAA investigation.
However, ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported a slightly different angle to the situation. According to Rittenberg, a contract push to sign an extension accelerated during the week of Oct. 8 but things change once the NCAA investigation was started.
Rittenberg cited Tom VanHaaren who says a source told him that Harbaugh was instructed not to sign the extension yet. The situation is more aptly described as “on hold” until the NCAA review is completed per Rittenberg.
Rittenberg also pointed to Oct. 10 comments from AD Warde Manuel that said he hoped to “have something soon.”
The situation is more on hold pending the NCAA review, which makes sense, but before that, Michigan was set to move forward. Athletic director Warde Manuel told me Oct. 10 that the school hoped to have something soon, echoing his comments to The Detroit News.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 30, 2023
We’ll see how things change moving forward and whether or not the NCAA’s final ruling on the sign-stealing matter impacts a potential deal for Harbaugh.
Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.