Report: Jim Harbaugh nearly traded to Cleveland Browns
The biggest story in the NFL today is the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine, but one bombshell dropped from Pro Football Talk about regarding Jim Harbaugh nearly being dealt from the San Fransisco 49ers to the Cleveland Browns.
"“Per multiple league sources, the Cleveland Browns nearly pulled off a trade with the 49ers for the rights to coach Jim Harbaugh. A deal that would have sent multiple draft picks to San Francisco was in place between the teams. But Harbaugh ultimately decided not to leave the 49ers.”"
The Browns coaching search lasted for weeks after the firing of Rob Chudzinski after one season in Cleveland and after some twists and turns eventually settled on Mike Pettine, but a trade for Harbaugh would have been one of the biggest storylines of the NFL offseason
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport has a source that refutes the report from Mike Florio on Pro Football Talk.
In response to @ProFootballTalk report on #Browns nearly trading for Jim Harbaugh, #Niners source calls it “completely false. Ridiculous.”
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 21, 2014
Harbaugh has been one of the most successful head coaches in the NFL since he was named as the 49ers head coach and has guided them to the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons, including a berth in the Super Bowl two seasons ago.
Browns fans have had it rough and knowing they ‘nearly pulled off a trade’ for Harbaugh has to be a punch in the stomach, but for NFL fans how cool would it have been to see Jim and his brother John Harbaugh and head coach of the Baltimore Ravens play two times a year?