Jim Harbaugh accuses enemies for report he’s trying to leave Michigan for NFL

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh accuses enemies for the false report he’s planning an exit strategy to return to the NFL.

On Tuesday, Football Scoop reported Jim Harbaugh’s representatives are working on a Michigan exit plan with intentions of him getting back in the NFL. On Wednesday, Harbaugh flat-out denied the report he’s trying to get out of Ann Arbor in a letter he sent to players and parents of recruits. Sam Webb of Michigan Insider got a copy of the letter Harbaugh sent to parents of his Wolverines’ players.

"“I am reaching out to let you know that the recent claims that I am ‘pursuing an exit strategy’ are total crap. It’s an annual strategy driven by our enemies to cause disruption to our program an to negatively recruit. By the way, I don’t even have an ‘agent or representative.'”"

It’s generally bad form to speak about wanting to leave your current coaching job, as well as speak about a job that may eventually be open but is currently filled by someone else. While the latter courtesy didn’t matter to Urban Meyer as he said he would be interested in becoming the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, Harbaugh is offering the typical denial.

Harbaugh had a successful four-season run as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), as they reached the NFC Championship Game in each of his first three seasons with one Super Bowl appearance. So as his tenure back at his alma mater fails to meet expectations, unrealistic or otherwise, rumors of going back to the pros aren’t going to go away.

That denial may be true, at least right now. But perhaps dependent on where Michigan’s season goes from here, along with any overtures that may come from the NFL, Harbaugh’s words in October have a chance to ring very hollow come December or January.

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