5 candidates to replace Jason Garrett as Cowboys head coach

4. Jim Harbaugh, Michigan head coach

After a loss to Penn State to drop the Wolverines to 5-2 this season, a report surfaced suggesting Harbaugh would be open to leaving his alma mater for another shot in the NFL and his representation was pursuing that avenue. NFL rumors surrounding him will never really go away, but Harbaugh quickly pointed to an effort by “our enemies” to gain a recruiting edge.

Since that loss to the Nittany Lions, heading into Saturday’s game against rival Ohio State to end the regular season, the Wolverines have won four games in a row by a combined score of 166-45. So any speculation about Harbaugh’s job security and any idea he’s plotting an exit strategy has largely been quelled.

In four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2014), Harbaugh reached the NFC title game three times (in each of his first three seasons) with one Super Bowl appearance. So while his shelf life in jobs has generally been four years (albeit now into his fifth year at Michigan) and invites questions about long-term viability dealing with players who will ideally be in place longer than 3-4 years, Harbaugh showed what he does can work in the NFL.

Jones is loath to share credit for the Cowboys’ success with a coach, as evidenced by the hires he has made this side of Bill Parcells since Jimmy Johnson departed. Harbaugh will surely want some input, if not total authority, over personnel moves and roster construction if he ever goes back to the NFL. That may be a dead-end for the Cowboys owner, president and general manager. But if Jones really wants the best chance to win another Super Bowl, Harbaugh might be the man to get it done.