Jim Harbaugh is entertaining plenty of interest this offseason from NFL teams searching out a new head coach, but Michigan is still looking to retain the man who brought the school its first national championship this century. And in the process, Harbaugh is making one interesting request of the school in any potential contract offer.
Harbaugh is asking for contractual protection from any possible NCAA punishment amid his negotiations with the school after serving two different three-game suspensions during the Wolverines’ championship run, according to Yahoo Sports. As part of a new deal with the school, Harbaugh is asking for special wording in the contract that would prevent him from being fired in the event of a suspension. That’s notable as there is still some possibility he could face additional sanctions from the NCAA amid its ongoing investigation into sign-stealing allegations.
The NCAA issued a Notice of Allegations at the end of 2023 that included a Level I allegation against Harbaugh for allegedly misleading investigators with regards to potential recruiting violations. Michigan suspended Harbaugh for the first three games of the season to prevent the NCAA from intervening, but it remains an open question as to whether that would be enough to please them. The Big Ten also suspended Harbaugh for three games at the end of the season over the sign-stealing affair and the NCAA is yet to rule on that matter.
