Jim Harbaugh Leveraging Michigan Offer For Big Money?

Dec 14, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh reacts against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh reacts against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh could be using another recent offer to coach the University of Michigan football team to land a big new contract.

Jim Harbaugh probably doesn’t want to coach the University of Michigan football team, but that hasn’t stopped him from listening to what they have to say, then writing down that offer so he can bring it back to the table with the team he actually wants to coach. At least, that’s how Pro Football Talk breaks down Harbaugh’s options going forward.

More from College Football

PFT writes, “In 2011, Harbaugh rejected an Ann Arbor offer that would have paid him $5.2 million annually.  Instead, he took $5 million per year from the 49ers, who originally hoped to get Harbaugh for $4 million to $4.5 million per year.  Without the Michigan offer, it would have been difficult for Harbaugh to shake $5 million per year from the Niners.”

Now it appears history is ready to repeat itself in a higher tax bracket.

Harbaugh has reportedly been offered $8 million annually to coach the Wolverines, and once again he’s not rumored to be interested in the deal.

However, with talk heating up that Harbaugh is out in San Francisco, this new offer could help him land a nice gig with the Oakland Raiders, who should be very interested in a guy who has only coached in California.

If Jim Harbaugh wants to keep coaching and stay in California, he could be limiting his market too much to garner a $3 million raise. Then again, the Raiders aren’t in much of a position to negotiate with a guy who would be arguably the most coveted available coach in the NFL if he and the Niners part ways as expected.

If Oakland, or another team of his choosing, deems Harbaugh worth the price tag, the former Michigan quarterback could see a nice raise thanks to the offer from his alma mater.

More from FanSided