Jim Harbaugh, NFL team have ‘mutual interest,’ per report
Jim Harbaugh and the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly have “mutual interest” for the head coaching vacancy of the franchise.
This comes after a Sunday report from NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero that indicated the Los Angeles Chargers would likely be Harbaugh’s preferred landing spot in the NFL. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, Harbaugh maintains “a lot of interest” in the Chargers, but included a report of mutual interest between the head coach and the Raiders.
The Raiders finished 8-9 overall, including a 5-4 record under interim head coach Antonio Pierce after the midseason firing of Josh McDaniels. Pierce’s work with the team is something to consider, and he has a lot of “internal support” for the permanent job per Schultz. However, Harbaugh would still be near the top of the list for Las Vegas.
Sources to @BleacherReport: There is mutual interest between the #Raiders and current #Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh.
I’m told Harbaugh wants to return to the NFL, and has “a lot of interest” in the #Chargers’ vacancy as well.
There is a slew of internal support for Antonio Pierce… pic.twitter.com/PT074hSTZZ
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 8, 2024
Harbaugh was with the San Francisco 49ers as head coach from 2011-14. He won the NFC Championship in 2012 but lost in the Super Bowl to his brother’s Baltimore Ravens team that year 34-31.
Harbaugh’s potential return to the NFL has been a major storyline this season after serving a pair of 3-game suspensions and a second NCAA investigation looming over the program. His future remains to be seen, but it is notable that Rapoport and Pelissero indicated Harbaugh plans to be “more flexible” in his approach to NFL openings this offseason.
Before a return to the NFL is discussed, Harbaugh and the Wolverines face Washington in the national championship. Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.