Broncos add another huge coaching target to its wish list

Keep an eye on the Denver Broncos potentially prying Jim Harbaugh away from Michigan.

Heading into the final day of the regular season, the Denver Broncos are one of three NFL teams with a head-coaching vacancy.

After the disaster that was the Nathaniel Hackett era in Denver, the Broncos are supposedly looking at hiring its next head coach with some previous experience in that department. Hackett may have had success as an NFL offensive coordinator, but he proved too green for the big chair. Should Denver be able to pry Jim Harbaugh away from his alma mater, that would be so massive.

The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported on Sunday morning that Denver is going to interview the Michigan Wolverines head coach for its vacancy. Prior to resurfacing at his alma mater in 2015, Harbaugh had a successful four-year run leading the San Francisco 49ers, which included a trip to the Super Bowl. Simply, Harbaugh has won everywhere he has been a head coach before.

Harbaugh also will be drawing interest from the Carolina Panthers, as well as the Indianapolis Colts, a franchise where he had the greatest success during his professional playing career.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is going to interview with the Denver Broncos

This is the second offseason in a row Harbaugh has played flirt with the NFL. Despite winning the Big Ten in back-to-back seasons, Harbaugh has yet to deliver Michigan its first College Football Playoff victory. He may have been a finalist for the Minnesota Vikings gig that went to Kevin O’Connell, but it really feels like now or never with Harbaugh possibly returning to the NFL game.

There are a few reasons why Harbaugh would leave his alma mater. One, Harbaugh rarely coaches anywhere for very long. Prior to coming back to Ann Arbor, Harbaugh had never been anywhere for more than four years. He tends to wear people out very fast, but the results on the field speak for themselves. No job is too daunting for the former Michigan and Pro Bowl quarterback of the Colts.

Two, keep in mind that Harbaugh is getting up there in age. Although he has a youthful spirit, he is pushing 60. While he could in theory coach into his 70s like Pete Carroll and Nick Saban are doing, it is hard to see an NFL owner hiring a head coach who is only a few years away from getting his AARP card. Saban debated a possible return back in the day, but he decided to remain at Alabama.

And three, Harbaugh, for lack of a better phrase, is growing tired of the ever-changing landscape in college football. Whether that is the transfer portal, NIL or there being two national signing days, being a college football head coach is truly a 24/7/365 job these days. Harbaugh may have the energy of a man 20 years younger than himself, but everybody has a breaking point. Is he there?

Ultimately, it is going to come down to fit, desire and above all else, money. Harbaugh is either coaching at his last stop in Michigan or has one more in store in the NFL. Whether it is Carolina, Denver or Indianapolis, all could potentially be in play to land Harbaugh. However, he does have tremendous leverage to recoup some of that money he rescinded after that rough 2020 season.

Denver is not a bad fit for Harbaugh, but one would think Carolina and Indianapolis are superior.