Jim Harbaugh, Mich. To finalize contract extension, report says

The saga of Jim Harbaugh’s future in Michigan could finally come to an end.

Harbaugh and the school are approaching an extension that would keep him under contract until the 2026 season, according to a Saturday afternoon report from The Athletic.

“There is optimism in Michigan that Jim Harbaugh’s new deal will soon be reached with an extension until 2026,” writes Bruce Feldman.

Harbaugh is currently on contract until 2021, the last year of his initial seven-year deal with Michigan signed in December 2014. He is expected to earn more than $ 8 million this year, a lucrative pay that includes an insurance policy. -life of $ 2 million.

Harbaugh and Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel were scheduled to meet at the end of the Wolverines’ season, which ended abruptly when the team called off their last three games due to COVID-19 concerns.

Harbaugh has not spoken to reporters since mid-December, before Michigan called off their Big Ten crossover “Champions Week” game against Iowa, when he said he remained “committed. towards Michigan ”.

“As for (the future), Warde and I are going to sit down and chat at the end of the current contract season,” Harbaugh said Dec. 14. “It’s the truth. This is where it’s happening.

Since then, the first signing period has ended – with Michigan’s 2021 recruiting class currently ranked 13th nationally, according to the 247Sports recruiting service – without any update on Harbaugh’s future.

But Harbaugh made an important staffing decision ahead of the vacation, choosing to fire defensive coordinator Don Brown. A replacement has not yet been hired.

There is also a decision to be made with the rest of the Michigan coaching staff. The contracts of six of Harbaugh’s assistant coaches are due to expire on January 11, paving the way for significant changes ahead of the 2021 season.

Michigan extension report arrives same day as reported by the NFL network Harbaugh is expected to be a candidate for the coaching position of the soon-to-be-opened New York Jets. A contract extension would ostensibly shut the door on a return to the NFL, where Harbaugh spent four years as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014.

In six seasons in Michigan, Harbaugh’s teams have a combined 49-22 and 34-16 in the Big Ten, but without a conference championship or college football playoff appearance. The Wolverines are also 0-5 against main rival Ohio State and 3-3 against rival Michigan State.