After weeks of rumors of an NFL return, Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh announced that he’s staying in Ann Arbor.
Michigan President Santa Ono tweeted that the coach called him to say he was staying. Adam Schefter tweeted a statement made by Harbaugh.
I just got off the phone with Coach Harbaugh and Jim shared with me the great news that he is going to remain as the Head Coach of the Michigan Wolverines. That is fantastic news that I have communicated to our Athletic Director Warde Manuel. #GoBlue! pic.twitter.com/3LJzsv4zN9
— Santa Ono (@SantaJOno) January 16, 2023
Statement from Jim Harbaugh: pic.twitter.com/x7Ri6gaYPr
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 16, 2023
In the statement, he expressed that he loves “the relationships that I have at Michigan— coaches, staff, families, administration, President Santa Ono and especially the players and their families.”
”My heart is at the University of Michigan,” the statement read. “I once heard a wise man say, “Don’t try to out-happy, happy.”
Michigan fans— reasonable ones, anyway— are certainly happy that Harbaugh is staying put. The fanbase has had plenty to smile about since Harbaugh returned to his alma mater before the 2015 season, and the last two years, in particular, have been sweet in Ann Arbor. Michigan is 25-3 since the start of 2021, winning the Big Ten Championship and making the College Football Playoff in both seasons. Michigan has beaten Ohio State both years, too, which previously hadn’t been accomplished since 2011 and had only been done once since 2003. The only reasonable criticism of Harbaugh’s teams since 2021 have been their shortcomings in the Playoff. Michigan got throttled by Georgia, 34-11, on New Year’s Eve 2021, and lost 51-45 to underdog TCU this past New Year’s Eve.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.As there were last winter, there were rumblings in recent weeks of Harbaugh returning to the NFL, where he previously coached the San Francisco 49ers to three NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl berth in his four-year tenure (2011-14).
The Indianapolis Colts— who Harbaugh quarterbacked from 1994-97– were linked to Harbaugh, as were the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos.
But Harbaugh has decided to stay at the college level, for now, at least. It’s also worth noting that Michigan is currently under NCAA investigation.
Penn State plays Michigan at Beaver Stadium Nov. 11 this season. Harabugh’s team smashed James Franklin’s squad 41-17 this past fall in Ann Arbor.
Harbaugh ended his Twitter statement with two worlds: “Go Blue.”
