Ranking Jim Harbaugh’s Best Landing Spots As NFL Coach

Coach Jim Harbaugh of Michigan is getting ready to play Washington on Monday night in an attempt to win a national title for his alma institution, but it’s anyone’s guess as to what will happen after that game.

Ranking Jim Harbaugh’s Best Landing Spots As NFL Coach

According to sources who spoke with Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde, Michigan’s administration has extended a generous contract offer to Harbaugh, but the two parties are now in a holding pattern on that agreement.

Based on what can be inferred from reading the tea leaves, Harbaugh may decide to return to the NFL at this point.

Not all well-known college coaches perform effectively at the top levels. As for Harbaugh, he has a track record that has been established after guiding the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance.

Concern is justified in light of the recent failings of Urban Meyer, Matt Rhule, and Kliff Kingsbury. However, Harbaugh, who played 15 seasons in the NFL, started his coaching career as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders, and has already made the transition successfully, is exempt from this rule.

In relation to the Raiders, let’s examine five open positions to determine which landing sites would be most advantageous for the 60-year-old coach.

1. Los Angeles Chargers

In his first season back in the NFL, Harbaugh’s greatest chance to contend for a postseason berth is with the Chargers. With one of the top young quarterbacks in the NFL in Justin Herbert, along with a wealth of weapons in the form of Joshua Palmer, Mike Williams, Keenan Allen, and 2023 first-round selection Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles has an offense that is designed to win today.

Though the Chargers aren’t without quality, Los Angeles has some worries about their defense. Harbaugh can get the most out of that group with the assistance of a competent defensive coordinator because Derwin James, Khalil Mack, and Joey Bosa provide a solid base.

2. Las Vegas Raiders

Considering the Raiders organization’s current state, this slotting serves as a safeguard.
The future of his franchise will depend on the choice made by owner Mark Davis. He either hires Antonio Pierce as the team’s full-time head coach or makes a compelling pitch to Harbaugh.

To be honest, Pierce most likely deserved the position. During his temporary tenure, the Raiders had the highest scoring defense in the league and ended 5-4.

Right now, Pierce could be ahead of the game. Davis, though, is not ruling anything out. Furthermore, according to Schultz, Harbaugh is “at or near the top of his list.”

The rationale for going against Harbaugh is rather straightforward.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Right now, it appears that the Raiders and Falcons have quite comparable occupations. Though each offense has playmakers who are primed for breakout seasons, they need the quarterback to capitalize on these players.

This is particularly true for Atlanta, who under Arthur Smith acquired relatively little from Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts despite using successive first-round selections on them. With that kind of players, Harbaugh would undoubtedly perform better. If Harbaugh wants to keep the combination going, bringing McCarthy into the fold here is another area where it may make sense.

In the end, the offensive line superiority of the Falcons over the Raiders may decide who gets to go where.

4. Washington Commanders

After opting to move on from Ron Rivera, the Washington Commanders are interested in Harbaugh and have already been in touch with the coach’s agent, according to Schultz. However, there aren’t many positive aspects of the series.

Under Josh Harris’s leadership, the new ownership group isn’t afraid to take bold risks. According to Rapoport, the group appointed two-time NBA Executive of the Year Bob Myers as an advisor on Monday. Rick Spielman, a former general manager of the NFL, will work with Myers on the hiring process. In addition to having a good rapport with Adam Peters, the current assistant general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, Myers is scheduled to interview for the position of head of football operations, as reported by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Harbaugh could believe that the club needs a rebuilding year before contending for the playoffs in an NFC East that is dominated by top teams because of that and Washington’s unsatisfactory defense. Nevertheless, the Commanders own five of the first 100 picks and the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Thus, there are causes for optimism over the vacancy, especially considering the team’s league-high $77 million in cap space. Additionally, the Commanders could let Harbaugh mold the club into his own vision if that is his true desire.

5. Carolina Panthers

Of all the head coach positions in the NFL, Harbaugh finds the Panthers to be the least desirable.

Despite having the poorest record in the NFL at the end of 2023, Carolina lacks a first-round pick as a result of the Bryce Young deal. Among the 32 qualifying quarterbacks in the league, Young’s 73.7 passer rating at the end of the season was a reflection of his extreme struggles as a rookie. Even if he didn’t have much around him, he still needs a lot of improvement.

Though Harbaugh might think he can get the best out of Young, would he be prepared to bind his NFL prospects to impatient Panthers owner David Tepper? That’s difficult to foresee happening.

With concerns surrounding quarterback Bryce Young, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, the Panthers are too much of a rebuilding project.
It is hardly shocking that sources informed Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Carolina will not pursue Harbaugh.

Remarkably, according to Sports Radio WFNZ’s Travis Hancock, Tepper is being blamed for the decision because he doesn’t want to give over control to the coach. However, Harbaugh shouldn’t take the likelihood seriously either.

This possibility can be ruled out if both parties are seeking elsewhere since it isn’t a suitable match in any form or circumstance.

 

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