Michigan to extend Jim Harbaugh with 5-year, $55M deal

Jim Harbaugh, the head coach of the University of Michigan football team, might be getting a hefty pay raise. According to a report from Sports Illustrated’s Richard Johnson, Harbaugh has been offered a five-year contract extension worth $11 million per year. The main condition for this extension is that Harbaugh must commit in writing to not pursue an NFL coaching job this year.

This news comes at a time when Harbaugh has become a popular candidate for NFL head coaching positions. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones recently reported that Harbaugh is a “real candidate” to take the Carolina Panthers job. He has also been linked to the Chicago Bears, where he played as a quarterback from 1987 to 1993.

If Harbaugh accepts the contract extension, he would become the second-highest-paid head coach in college football, behind Nick Saban. The deal would put Harbaugh just ahead of Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Georgia’s Kirby Smart, both of whom have won national championships in the last five years.

However, Harbaugh’s coaching career at Michigan hasn’t been without controversy. He has faced suspensions for two separate incidents this season. The first was a four-game suspension for making false statements to the NCAA. More recently, he was suspended for three games by the Big Ten conference for an alleged sign-stealing scheme involving a Michigan analyst.

Despite these controversies, Harbaugh has had a successful tenure at Michigan. He has compiled an 87-25 record over nine years as the head coach of the Wolverines. Under his leadership, the team has consistently been competitive in the Big Ten conference.

It remains to be seen whether Harbaugh will accept the contract extension and commit to staying at Michigan. With NFL opportunities potentially on the horizon, the decision will ultimately come down to what Harbaugh values most in his coaching career.