When word first leaked that Jim Harbaugh was considering a jump back to the NFL, all eyes immediately turned to the Chicago Bears. While rumors persisted the Las Vegas Raiders were the heavy favorites to land him, many felt Chicago was the job he wanted the most. It made sense. They’d drafted him as a quarterback in 1987. He took them to the playoffs twice. Mike Ditka was a mentor of his. Some plugged-in people believed the Bears were his NFL dream job.
So when Matt Nagy was fired last month, it seemed like a foregone conclusion. Chicago would bring Harbaugh home. He would be the one to rescue this organization from mediocrity. Weeks later, those same people were stunned when Matt Eberflus became the 17th head coach in team history. All without Harbaugh ever getting a formal interview. Fans and media were left wondering what in the world had happened.
That is when Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog provided some updates.
He indicated that the Bears were indeed interested in the Michigan head coach. His track record of winning was impossible to deny. The Chicago connection was great for the nostalgia factor as well. However, things never got rolling. It turns out this was for two reasons. Harbaugh wanted $100 million for his new contract and significant roster control. The Jon Gruden treatment. Something the Bears and other teams weren’t ready to provide. There was also the man’s track record (or lack thereof) for stability.
“Both Bill Polian and Ted Phillips were intrigued by the prospect of Harbaugh coaching the Chicago Bears, but the whole of the hiring committee, specifically George McCaskey, were wary of lowering the drawbridge and giving him a kingdom. This organization is about to undergo significant transition in the coming years, with Phillips retiring in 2023 and the team making plans for a new stadium in Arlington Heights. The last thing ownership wants is more transition when it comes to football operations. And with Harbaugh, a historic flibbertigibbet, every off-season would bring questions of his potential departure. (One 4-win season for Michigan would lead to Stephen Ross mailing his checkbook to Lake Forrest.)
There was a call between the parties. It was brief.”
The great irony here is that Harbaugh’s reputation proved to be a double-edged sword. The history of winning was the biggest selling point for hiring him, but his tendency to never last long at most of his previous stops also made the Bears wary of granting his demands. He lasted three years at San Diego, four years at Stanford, and four years in San Francisco. Michigan is by far the longest coaching tenure he’s had, and it was beset by rumors of his departure almost every year.
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Jim Harbaugh leaned too much on what he did eight years ago
Yes, his success with the 49ers from 2011 to 2014 was impressive. Three NFC championship appearances. A 4th down play away from winning the Super Bowl. The problem is the NFL has always been a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. After eight years, it was only natural that Harbaugh’s star would have faded. Especially following some disappointing seasons at Michigan in the interim.
Jim Harbaugh treated the 2022 NFL coaching cycle as if it were 2015. He thought everybody wanted him, and he’d get to pick his spot. He received a harsh reality check. Not only did the Bears, Raiders, and Vikings pass on him, but his month-long dalliance with leaving ended up costing him both of his coordinators at Michigan. Mike MacDonald went to become the Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator. Josh Gettis left to become the offensive coordinator at Miami.
Such is the cost of hubris.
Harbaugh may end up on an NFL team in the future, but it feels like this offseason was his last, best chance to get such a job. He’s 58-years old, and teams often trend towards hiring younger coaches more than ever these days. Combined with his insistence he’s done flirting with such a jump moving forward, and it feels like the final window is closed.
