Michigan football: Wolverines have backup plan if Jim Harbaugh leaves

If Jim Harbaugh ultimately leaves for the NFL soon, the Michigan Wolverines have a backup plan to replace him quickly.

Jim Harbaugh finally led Michigan to a win over Ohio State this past season, and indications are he wants to be…re-compensated after taking a pay cut last year. Harbaugh has what he surely considers unfinished business in the NFL, after reaching the NFC title game (with one Super Bowl loss) in the first three of his four seasons as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014.

There are indications Harbaugh would take the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job if he were offered it. Until the Raiders hire someone and that door is closed, or the Chicago Bears (where he spent a big chunk of his playing career) hire a head coach, the possibility he leaves Michigan on short notice will linger.

Michigan has a backup plan should Jim Harbaugh leave

According to Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports, Michigan has a backup plan in case Harbaugh does leave.

"It remains to be seen if Raiders owner Mark Davis can lure Jim Harbaugh out of Michigan to return to the organization where he began his NFL coaching career, but if he does, league sources said several current NFL coaches would have their eye on the opening in Ann Arbor.Panthers’ embattled head coach Matt Rhule would be at the top of that list, league sources indicated, with Rhule already considering several college options this past season, and with him firmly on the hot seat with owner David Tepper for 2022 after receiving an eventual vote of confidence from ownership."

Over two seasons as Carolina Panthers head coach, Matt Rhule has a 10-23 record. A 3-0 start this season looked flimsy, but seven straight losses to end the season has him firmly on the hot seat going into next season.

Rhule came to the NFL after success as a college head coach. He led Temple from 2-10 in his first season (2013) to back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2015 and 2016. He then took over a Baylor program that was at rock-bottom, and took them from 1-11 in his first season to 11-3 and a Cotton Bowl berth in his third season.

Rhule seems to have an eye on a possible return to college. According to La Canfora, he was keeping an eye on Penn State in case James Franklin left and he may have pursued LSU if they had more interest in him. He was also easy to mention as a very early dark horse candidate for USC.

Michigan is now a potential option for Rhule to go back to college this year, and if Harbaugh does leave they can certainly do a lot worse for a post-coaching carousel replacement.