If Michigan wants to keep Jim Harbaugh around after the Wolverines' national championship season, it may have to implement some unusual contract language.
Per a report from Yahoo Sports, Harbaugh is seeking contract language that grants him immunity from being fired for any results of the ongoing NCAA investigations into the Michigan football program.
Harbaugh has flirted with the idea of filling an NFL coaching vacancy in the week since Michigan's victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff National Championship. He's emerged as one of the candidates to coach the Los Angeles Chargers after they fired Brandon Staley in December.
weve completed an interview with Jim Harbaugh for head coach
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) January 15, 2024
https://t.co/1Dza5nXsik pic.twitter.com/xdkMVhlepS
Michigan has expressed clear interest in retaining Harbaugh, however, and has engaged in contract negotiations with him over the past few months.
"He's always going to be somebody I'm proud of who coached the University of Michigan, who led this team," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said after the national championship game. "And if he decides that he wants another opportunity to coach in the pros, then I'm going to be happy for him. Sad for us. We're going to move on and find the next person to lead. But I want him to stay at Michigan. I've said it. I believed it three, four years ago when people wanted me to get rid of him. I didn't because I believed it then and I believe it now."
It appears one of the hurdles to getting Harbaugh to sign once more on the dotted line is the job security protection he wants in his contract.
The NCAA has yet to send Michigan its notice of allegations from its investigation into the Wolverines' alleged illegal sign-stealing practices orchestrated by former staffer Connor Stalions. The organization did share evidence that it "knew and could prove" the accusations with the Big Ten, resulting in a three-game suspension for Harbaugh at the end of the 2023 regular season.
Harbaugh also served a self-imposed three-game suspension at the start of the year after he allegedly lied to NCAA investigators about previous NCAA violations committed by the program, including meeting with two recruits during the COVID-19 dead period in 2020-21.
Michigan received a notice of allegations for those violations in December. It included several Level II recruiting violations for impermissible contact, all of which the Wolverines agreed to. They pushed back on a Level I allegation violation against Harbaugh for his alleged deceit of investigators, however.
A school has 90 days to respond to an NCAA notice of allegations once it is received.
Related to his potential return to the NFL, Harbaugh is also reportedly seeking a delayed start to his potential new contract, which would decrease the buyout price for prospective professional suitors. His current contract buyout is $1.5 million, which Michigan is hoping to raise to $4 million on Harbaugh's new deal.
Harbaugh is also reportedly seeking contract language that prevents Michigan's athletic director from firing him "for cause," instead designating that decision to a three-member arbitration panel if the time comes for it to be made.
Fresh off a 15-0 national title season, Michigan already offered a contract that would make Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in college football with a six-year deal worth $11.5 million annually.
Per the report, the financial side of the deal is nearly or completely finished. But the termination language remains a "sticking point" between the two sides.
