Well, it almost happened. Jim Harbaugh nearly became the head coach of the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

Yeah, it actually almost happened. Michigan nearly fumbled big time on this one, namely Wolverines AD Warde Manuel, who couldn’t lock down Harbaugh after watching Michigan State’s Mel Tucker and Penn State’s James Franklin get (expletive)-you money contracts. But despite the interview with the Vikings and other speculation, Harbaugh called Michigan to say he’s coming back for another season in Ann Arbor.

What if he were to leave, though? Then what?

Looking inside probably wouldn’t be the best idea.

Matt Rhule of the Carolina Panthers seems to be a popular pick. He had some success at Temple, winning 10 games twice, and he had a 10-win season at Baylor. However, Rhule never made it to the big stage, won a conference title or came close to competing at the national level. Harbaugh just did all of that at Michigan. Granted, it was Year 7 … but he had some solid seasons during his tenure at his alma mater.

Rhule, according to reports, has expressed interest in Michigan. Then other reports said he didn’t say anything about the Wolverines. Then others said he, in fact, has renewed interest in the job? It’s been a cluster, especially this time around because there is actual fire and not just smoke.

Rhule, though, seems like a logical and safe pick. He’s rumored to be on Manuel’s short list, at the least, and to be the preferred candidate, on the high end.

One day, though, Michigan could look inside its own doors for its next coach, specifically OC Josh Gattis and RB coach Mike Hart. OK, technically, Gattis just left to become Miami’s new OC, but he was key to Michigan’s offensive revival in 2021. Gattis had some unflattering things to say on his way out, however. Could that be smoothed over, if and when Harbaugh really decides to leave? This is Gattis’ first time being brought up as a potential successor, while Hart was mentioned by some — mostly dreaming fans — during the “Is Harbaugh Leaving for the NFL?” saga following the 2020 disaster (2-4 finish).

Fresh off his 38th birthday, Gattis is a relatively young coach who could easily connect well with players — something he’s done on the recruiting trail and at Michigan. That’s part of what made him an attractive hire for the Hurricanes. However, he’s never been a head coach. Sure, his co-offensive coordinator duties at Alabama were impressive. He did some good stuff at Penn State, too. He’s been coaching at the Division I level since 2010 and hasn’t even been an assistant coach or served in some other “hey, you’re more than coordinator but not the head coach” type of role.

Yes, he’s familiar with Michigan, having been there for 3 years, but he’s probably not the ideal long-term solution.

Hart is young, too. He’ll turn 36 in April and just finished his second season as the Wolverines’ RB coach, a role in which he’s excelled beyond initial expectations. And we’re talking far beyond those expectations.

From 2018-20, Hart was the assistant head coach at Indiana, serving under Tom Allen — a guy who was mentioned as a Harbaugh replacement (by media) during the previous Harbaugh/NFL cycle.

If Harbaugh ever leaves the Wolverines, they’ll need a fresh start. That doesn’t mean letting go of Hart. He has earned his keep. But neither Hart nor Gattis is ready to lead the Wolverines, at least not when looking at resumes and expectations for the position. It’d be a smart idea for Manuel to get someone without any connections to Michigan, someone like Rhule.

Or even, if we’re going out on a limb, someone like Luke Fickell of Cincinnati. He just took the Bearcats to the College Football Playoff, the first non-Power 5 team to make it to the 4-team postseason.

Maybe even pursue someone like Allen. Despite a rough 2021 at Indiana, Allen is still someone who has a resume worthy of consideration.

Fortunately, Michigan won’t have to make that decision now. But when the Harbaugh era comes to an end, it will be time for the program to rebrand itself and concentrate on building stability. The Rock Star Harbaugh expectations can be thrown out the window, because they’ll be impossible for someone to accomplish right off the bat.

Right now, Harbaugh is the best fit for Michigan, which made a mistake by letting the potential departure escalate in such a manner. But next year … or in 5 years … it’d be an even bigger mistake to make a Band-Aid hire and quickly tab an insider as the man in Ann Arbor. If it’s not Harbaugh, and it might not be in the future, it doesn’t necessarily have to be someone who’s intimately familiar with the Wolverines.