The saying goes that the NFL has no offseason, and that’s certainly the case with all the coaching rumors going around the league. From Bill Belichick possibly leaving New England to Jim Harbaugh’s potential return to the NFL, it appears as though the upcoming head coach hiring cycle is going to be the wildest one in recent memory. With ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting that 7-10 coaches could be fired at the end of the season, there will certainly be plenty of openings throughout the league. While some coaches like Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson are likely to earn their first shot at running an organization, it looks like a few familiar faces will make a return in 2024.
After a successful stint with the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh ended up on the losing side of a power battle with then-general manager Trent Baalke. The 2011 Coach of the Year landed in the college ranks, coaching Michigan to an 84-25 record since the 2015 season. However, the coach is reportedly interested in making a return to the professional level following his unceremonious finish in the 2023 season. It is unknown whether or not Harbaugh will receive additional punishment at the professional level for his collegiate transgressions, but that is a topic for another day. Ultimately, Harbaugh has a proven track record of success and multiple teams should be interested in bringing him in for the 2024 season.
Of course, this list will make a few assumptions about some fired coaches. As of this posting, the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and Los Angeles Chargers have already parted ways with their former head coaches, but more will come at the end of the season.
Top 5 NFL Head Coach Fits For Jim Harbaugh, Ranked
5. New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are in a bit of a pickle. Currently sitting at 7-7, they probably won’t be able to select their quarterback of the future in the 2024 NFL Draft. Additionally, the team will take a $52.8 million cap hit if they part ways with Derek Carr, so they’re stuck with him for at least one more season. Dennis Allen wasn’t capable of getting the most out of Carr, but perhaps a brighter offensive mind like Jim Harbaugh might be able to get something out of the longtime Raider. Even if he can’t, the Saints will only need to deal with one more season of Carr before they can go after a better option.
4. New England Patriots
The 2023 New England Patriots are easily the worst iteration of the team we’ve seen since Bill Belichick took over. With rumors that the Patriots will part ways with their legendary head coach, it only makes sense that owner Robert Kraft could replace him with the second-biggest name on the market. The Patriots have a long way to go before they’re ready to compete for Super Bowls again, but the first step is finding a franchise quarterback. The team is currently on track to land a top-two pick and should be able to get either Caleb Williams or Drake Maye. If that happens, then who better to develop the potential franchise savior than Jim Harbaugh?
3. Atlanta Falcons
If the Atlanta Falcons crash and burn down the stretch, Arthur Smith will lose his job. If that happens, then Jim Harbaugh would be a great fit for this team. There are plenty of talented pieces here, and a better coach should be able to get more out of Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. Additionally, while the quarterback position is a bit of a mess, they could fix it by trading a second-round pick for Justin Fields. Colin Kaepernick had his best seasons under Harbaugh, so it’s reasonable to assume that the former Coach of the Year can also bring the best out of someone like Fields.
2. Carolina Panthers
Over a decade ago, the San Francisco 49ers were stuck with a former first-overall pick at quarterback who never came close to living up to his draft position. However, after one season with Jim Harbaugh, Alex Smith helped lead his team to the NFC Championship Game despite never getting the zip back from his 2008 shoulder injury. Now, history could repeat itself with Bryce Young. The quarterback has had a rough rookie season, but it’s hard to blame him for the shortcomings when his only receiver is an over-30 Adam Thielen. The team mortgaged the future for Young, and if Harbaugh believes the Alabama product can become a franchise quarterback, then he’d probably welcome the challenge of fixing Bryce Young. After all, he did it before with Smith, so what’s to stop him from doing it again?
1. Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh posted a 49-22-1 record in the NFL despite never having an elite quarterback. If he lands with the Los Angeles Chargers, then he’ll easily have the best passer he’s ever worked with. With all due respect to the 2012 version of Colin Kaepernick, Herbert is a top-five quarterback who can easily elevate an entire offense. The former first-round pick has taken a broken roster with a bad head coach to the postseason, and last Thursday’s 63-21 beatdown shows just how valuable he is. Yes, the Chargers are well over the salary cap and need some young players, but the opportunity to coach someone like Herbert is hard to find. If Harbaugh lands here, he could have this team turned around in no time.
Main Photo: Kirthmon F. Dozier – USA Today Sports
