Jim Harbaugh is back! After flirting with a potential return to the NFL and interviewing with the Minnesota Vikings – on National Signing Day – Harbaugh announced he was returning to Ann Arbor and the Wolverines.

It was a wild turn of events after reports circulated that Harbaugh was settled on leaving for the Vikings. In a Thursday evening interview, Harbaugh opened up about the process to Mitch Albom of The Detroit Free Press.

Harbaugh started off by reaffirming his love for Michigan:

“In a nutshell, I love Michigan,” Harbaugh explained via phone to Albom. “I love every player. I love every family.”

Harbaugh also explained that the tug of chasing a Super Bowl was real after previously coming close as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. He also called the Vikings “a first-class operation,” but felt the enthusiasm was not matched between himself and the organization.

“There was a tugging at me that I was once that close to a Super Bowl and I didn’t get it. Some NFL jobs came open. I was contacted by the (Minnesota) Vikings.

“For better or for worse, it was something I wanted to explore. I went in thinking, ‘I’m gonna have 100 percent conviction on this, and if they (Minnesota) have 100 percent conviction on this, then it’s something I’m gonna do.”

Harbaugh went on to confirm that he informed Michigan AD Warde Manuel this interview with the Vikings was “a one-time thing” in regards to chasing the NFL.

Now that he’s back, it’s up to Harbaugh and his staff to build off the success of 2021 for 2022 and beyond.