Vikings take next step towards hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach

The Minnesota Vikings are one step closer to hiring Jim Harbaugh with the Michigan head coach flying in for an interview this week.

If Jim Harbaugh is going to return to the NFL, it looks like it’s most likely to be in purple.

Harbaugh is set to be interviewed by the Vikings on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

“The sides spoke Saturday to gauge Harbaugh’s interest in the head coaching job,” Pelissero tweeted. “Now, another big step towards Harbaugh potentially returning to the NFL.”

Jim Harbaugh will interview with the Vikings on Wednesday

The timing of Harbaugh’s interview is interesting from a college football perspective. The Wolverines head coach will be in Minneapolis trying to get another job on Signing Day, when prospective recruits will be signing their national letters of intent.

The possibility of Harbaugh leaving for the NFL after leading the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff has been floated for weeks now. Recruits will have already been aware of that risk.

The unknown is how serious Minnesota is about pursuing Harbaugh. He was undeniably successful with the 49ers, making three NFC title games in four seasons. He’s been out of the league since 2014 when he parted ways with San Francisco after an 8-8 campaign.

The pool of coaches vying for the job has already narrowed a bit. Pelissero added that 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans decided to stay in his current gig and turned down a second interview.

That will leave Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and Giants defensive coordinator Patrick Graham as the other candidates for the job.

Vikings and Michigan fans should be on high alert. This process is starting to heat up.