Michigan football: 5 replacements for Jim Harbaugh if he goes to NFL

With Jim Harbaugh potentially heading back to the NFL, the Michigan football team has a wide array of strong candidates to consider for their possible head-coaching vacancy.

There is a growing sense Jim Harbaugh could be leaving the Michigan football program behind for the NFL.

According to Mark Carman of FanSided, Harbaugh will reportedly tell the team on either Sunday or Monday that he is leaving Michigan to take over the Miami Dolphins. He had the opportunity to be the next head coach of the Minnesota Vikings as well, but preferred Miami. Though there is a chance he could end up staying put, Michigan will presumably have to pony up to keep him there.

Should Harbaugh leave his alma mater to go work for another Michigan man in Stephen Ross, here are five candidates the Wolverines should pursue to be their next head coach before spring practice arrives.

Michigan football: 5 replacements for Jim Harbaugh if he goes back to the NFL

P.J. Fleck may have what it takes to lead Michigan after winning in Minnesota

If P.J. Fleck is ready for a step up in competition and a bigger role, he may have what it takes to lead Michigan. Fleck has been with the Minnesota Golden Gophers for the last five seasons. He has gone 35-23 overall in Minneapolis and 21-22 in Big Ten play. The Gophers have gone bowling three times under his watch and have one top-10 finish since his arrival. But is he ready for this?

Prior to taking over in Minnesota, Fleck had great success in his four years leading the Western Michigan Broncos in the MAC. They won the Group of 5 in 2016, something no MAC team had ever done before, or since. Though the “Row the Boat” mantra may not fly in Ann Arbor if the Wolverines are not winning, Fleck is the head-coaching candidate in-conference worth pursuing.

Fleck may be comfortable in his current post, but these type of jobs do not open up every day.