Jim Harbaugh stays with Michigan: These 3 NFL teams missed out

NFL teams to miss out on Jim Harbaugh: Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are in need of a new head coach. After signing Kingsbury to a five-year contract extension heading into the 2022 season, the Cardinals fired him after the team underperformed and went 4-13 on the year. Not just that, but they fired Kingsbury before his contract extension, believed to be worth around $5.5 million per year, officially kicked in.

Arizona has their quarterback in Kyler Murray, who they also signed to a big contract extension this past offseason. However, he tore his ACL back in Week 14. But change is coming. Defensive end J.J. Watt announced his retirement from the NFL. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is reportedly expected to be traded at the end of the season.

Due in part to their bad season, the Cardinals hold the No. 3 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. That could be used on defensive star prospects like Jalen Carter or Will Anderson if they stay put, or they could move down with a quarterback-needy team and accumulate more picks.

The Cardinals hired their new general manager in Monti Ossenfort, the director of player personnel for the Tennessee Titans. It will be interesting to see what Ossenfort’s plan is for the team, and who he will bring in as head coach.

NFL teams to miss out on Jim Harbaugh: Indianapolis Colts

It felt fitting that Harbaugh would make the jump back to the NFL as the Indianapolis Colts.

The Colts were one of the worst teams in the league this season. They fired Frank Reich midway through the season and replaced him on an interim basis with former center Jeff Saturday, who was an analyst on ESPN and had no NFL coaching experience. They managed to lose seven of their eight games with Saturday as coach, including blowing the biggest lead in NFL history to the Minnesota Vikings, losing 39-36 after leading 33-0.

With the Colts, they are going to be drafting high. They hold the fourth-overall pick and have the chance to convince the Chicago Bears to trade them the No. 1 selection. That would put them one slot ahead of the rival Houston Texans, and get the quarterback of their choosing. The Colts have tried going the veteran route in free agency and the trading block since Andrew Luck retired, and have yet to find a suitable, long-term answer.

Bringing in Harbaugh to coach up a rookie quarterback would have been a solid move by the Colts. He had success with Luck as his quarterback when coaching Stanford, and with Colin Kaepernick when coaching the 49ers.

Alas, that won’t be happening now.