AROUND THE NFL
Daily Briefing
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If The Season Ended Today, they are all Jacksonville fans in Pittsburgh today. The Colts are in with a win over Jacksonville on Sunday, otherwise the Steelers get in by beating the nearly-eliminated Ravens in Baltimore.
yx-Tennessee South 11-5 1 7-4
yx-Kansas City West 11-5 1 6-5
yx-Cincinnati North 10-6 1 8-3
x-Buffalo East 10-6 1 6-5
x-New England WC1 10-6 2 8-3
Indianapolis WC2 9-7 2 7-4
LA Chargers WC3 9-7 2 6-5
Las Vegas 9-7 3 7-4
Pittsburgh 8-7-1 2 6-5
The 14-team playoff field will contain at least six teams that didn’t make it last year.
In the AFC, three AFC North teams were in last year’s postseason. In 2021-22, the one team that didn’t make it, the Bengals are in, while New England and the Chargers/Raiders winner will be the third new team with Cleveland, Baltimore and Pittsburgh out.
In the NFC, Seattle, Washington and Chicago are out. Arizona, Dallas and Philadelphia are in. And San Francisco can displace New Orleans on Sunday.
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NFC NORTH
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GREEN BAY
This from Field Yates:
@FieldYates
The Packers are now 39-9 with Matt LaFleur as their coach, as LaFleur has *more* wins than any head coach in his first three seasons in NFL history.
And for the “but he has Aaron Rodgers!” crowd…
The Packers were 24-23-1 in Rodgers’ last 48 starts prior to LaFleur’s arrival.
This from Doug Clawson:
@doug_clawson
The Packers are the 1st team in NFL history with 3 straight 13-win seasons
We assume he means three straight seasons of 13+ wins, although at the moment the Packers are three straight season of exactly 13 wins.
Clawson with some impressive notes on QB AARON RODGERS:
@doug_clawson
#Packers
Aaron Rodgers vs NFC North
Last 2 Seasons (36 TD, 0 Int)
MIN 4 TD, 0 Int
DET 2 TD, 0 Int
MIN 3 TD, 0 Int
CHI 4 TD, 0 Int
DET 3 TD, 0 Int
CHI 4 TD, 0 Int
DET 4 TD, 0 Int
CHI 2 TD, 0 Int
MIN 4 TD, 0 Int
CHI 4 TD, 0 Int
MIN 2 TD, 0 Int
@doug_clawson
Rodgers: 18 Pass TD and 0 Int in last 6 games
1st player in NFL history with 18+ TD and 0 Int in a span of 6 team games
@doug_clawson
Rodgers can wrap up his 6th career season with the lowest interception rate in the NFL.
That would pass Sammy Baugh for the most seasons in NFL history
@doug_clawson
Rodgers has the highest TD pct and lowest INT pct in the NFL this year
The 4 others to do this in a season since 1970 all won MVP
2020 Aaron Rodgers
2010 Tom Brady
1992 Steve Young
1981 Ken Anderson
Rodgers is doing for a 2nd straight season!
– – –
Random thought from Andrew Brandt:
@AndrewBrandt
NBC talking about Packers not having an owner. Lived it; mostly a good thing. Lots of autonomy, everything about the team, no other owner interests.
But felt it at Owners Meetings; didn’t see the same treatment from league office towards other owners (billionaires) at the table.
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MINNESOTA
If it seemed to you that things always went wrong for the Vikings at the end of the half or the game this year, you were right:
@ESPNStatsInfo
The Vikings have allowed 120 points in the final 2 minutes of the second and fourth quarters this season, the most by any team since the 1970 merger (h/t @EliasSports).
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NFC EAST
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PHILADELPHIA
Omicron has landed on the Eagles. Chris Franklin of NJMedia.com:
A day after the Eagles clinched a playoff berth for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, the team is now dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak amongst several key players.
NFL Network reporters Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero say that nearly a dozen players would be placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Monday. The two reporters say that defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, center Jason Kelce, and tight end Dallas Goedert tested positive for the virus.
Also placed on the list were linebacker Genard Avery, safety Marcus Epps, guard Nate Herbig, running back Jordan Howard, cornerback Avonte Maddox, safety Rodney McLeod, running back Boston Scott, linebacker Alex Singleton, and tight end Jack Stoll. The Eagles did activate cornerback Andre Chachere from the list, and also released kicker Matt McCrane from the practice squad for the second time.
There is a chance that several of the players who will be placed on the list could be available for the regular-season finale against the Dallas Cowboys. However, the number of players to return could be impacted because the game was flexed from Sunday afternoon to Saturday night.
The most significant impact of the positive test may surround Kelce and the “ironman” streak that he currently possesses. Kelce has started in 121 consecutive games at center for the Eagles, which is the longest active streak among centers in the NFL. Kelce could have come on to play a snap or a series to keep the streak going, and it is still possible, but it could come to an end if he is not cleared in time for the game.
Although the Eagles were likely to rest many of their starters for Saturday’s game, the team finds themselves light at several key positions on the roster. With Howard and Scott on the COVID list, the Eagles may have to rely on Kenneth Gainwell to be the lead back against the Cowboys and potentially elevate Jason Huntley and Kerryon Johnson from the practice squad.
The Eagles linebacking corps is also impacted. Not having Avery and Singleton because of COVID and Shaun Bradley dealing with a shoulder injury could mean that rookie Patrick Johnson could play the SAM linebacker, and fellow rookie JaCoby Stevens could be called up from the practice squad once again and play significant minutes at linebacker in addition to special teams.
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WASHINGTON
The WFT tells us they won’t run with the Wolves when they announce their new name (or “permanent” name if they stick with Washington Football Team) on February 2. Stephen Wyhno of the AP:
Washington’s NFL team announced Tuesday it will unveil its new name on Feb. 2 and that it will not be called the Wolves or RedWolves.
Commanders, Defenders, Red Hogs, Armada, Presidents, Brigade and the status quo “Washington Football Team” were the other finalists.
Team president Jason Wright said the decision was made not to go with Wolves or RedWolves because of trademarks held by other organizations. Those possibilities were popular among Washington fans.
The new helmets and uniforms will still feature the franchise’s signature burgundy-and-gold colors. A video teasing the reveal also included a “W” logo making an appearance.
The organization dropped its old name in July 2020 after decades of complaints that it was racist toward Native Americans and recent pressure from team sponsors. The decision was made to be known as the Washington Football Team that season, which stuck around for 2021 while the front office went through a lengthy rebranding process.
“Our journey to a new identity is a marathon, not a sprint,” Wright said in a trailer about the new name. “To get it right, we had to take every step of the process seriously, and the destination is a sum of all those parts.”
Washington was the first team in the four major North American professional sports leagues to move away from Native American imagery amid a national reckoning on race. Cleveland in Major League Baseball followed suit, adopting the new name Guardians that is now in effect.
MLB’s Atlanta Braves and the NHL’s Chicago Blackhawks have defended keeping their names.
Wright made it clear during the rebranding process that Washington would not use any sort of Native American imagery moving forward. He, coach Ron Rivera and others have made references to wanting to honor the once-storied franchise’s tradition, which includes three Super Bowl championships.
This from Jason Wright himself:
we can confirm that, after careful consideration, our team name will not be Wolves or RedWolves. One of the most awesome and powerful aspects of this process has been getting to hear and understand your preferences directly, and we know that many of you loved one or both of these names. And because of that, we want to share some context behind our decision not to move forward with these names. You all deserve nothing less.
Early on we understood Wolves — or some variation of it — was one of our fan favorites. As I’ve said all along, we take feedback from our fans seriously, and because of your interest in this name, we put Wolves on a list of options to explore fully. Once we began looking into Wolves, however, we became aware of a notable challenge: trademarks held by other teams would limit our ability to make the name our own. And without Wolves, variations like RedWolves wouldn’t have been viable either for these and other reasons.
Understanding the weight and importance of our team name, and excitement around other name options — both internally and within our fan base — we didn’t want to risk going down a route that could be dotted with legal hurdles. The prospect of years of litigation wasn’t something that we wanted you, our fans, to have to bear as you begin to embrace a new brand.
We can’t wait to hit the ground running with our team name and identity on a clear path — one without distracting obstacles, legal or otherwise. And while we’ve always understood it would be a nearly impossible task to select a name that all of our fans would identify with as their first pick, we are very excited about our final selection, which aligns with our values, carries forth our rich history, represents the region and, most importantly, is inspired and informed by you, our fans.
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NFC SOUTH
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NEW ORLEANS
A note from Mike Triplett:
@MikeTriplett
The Saints have won 3 of 4 games to keep playoff hopes alive — allowing one total TD in those 3 wins.
That TD on Sunday “pissed us off,” said safety @CGJXXIII (Chauncey Gardner-Johnson)
And after it happened, the Saints only allowed 46 more yards over the final 43 minutes
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TAMPA BAY
While Coach Bruce Arians declared that WR ANTONIO BROWN was “no longer a Buc” – the fact remains that as the sun rose Tuesday, he was still on the roster. Mark Maske of the Washington Post:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were in discussions Monday with the NFL about potential procedural steps involving wide receiver Antonio Brown following the in-game incident Sunday in which Brown took off his jersey on the sideline, threw pieces of his equipment into the stands and walked off the field shirtless.
The deliberations between the team and the league were focused on which designation the Buccaneers might place on Brown for player-personnel purposes, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions.
There was no consideration Monday by the NFL of league-imposed discipline against Brown for Sunday’s episode, according to that person. The NFL Players Association also was involved in the deliberations regarding Brown’s status, another person familiar with the situation said.
The Buccaneers did not officially release Brown on Monday, according to the league’s transaction wire. Coach Bruce Arians said following the team’s win Sunday over the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., that Brown was “no longer” a member of the team.
Brown was not available to comment. Neither his agent nor his attorney immediately responded to requests for comment. Brown was spotted sitting courtside at Monday’s NBA game between the Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets in New York.
The conversations Monday between the team and the league suggested the Buccaneers were considering options and potential designations with Brown other than merely releasing him, which would make him a free agent.
Bucs coach says Antonio Brown is no longer with team after receiver leaves field during game
Few details about Sunday’s incident emerged Monday. Arians said at a news conference that “it was pretty obvious what happened. He left the field, and that was it.”
Arians said Brown, who had been suffering from an ankle injury, did not express to him on the sideline that he was injured. Arians did not specify whether Brown chose to leave the field or was ordered to do so by Arians.
The Buccaneers have plenty of wide receivers even without Brown, but for Week 18 there running back corps is depleted. Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times:
Overshadowed Sunday by Antonio Brown’s bizarre departure and Tom Brady’s latest two-minute thrill was a sobering reality.
The Bucs enter the regular-season finale against the Panthers nearly out of running backs.
Fourth-year veteran Ronald Jones sustained an ankle injury in the 28-24 win over the Jets, while Ke’Shawn Vaughn suffered bruised ribs. With starter Leonard Fournette (hamstring) and third-down back Giovani Bernard (hip) still on injured reserve, recent signee Le’Veon Bell remains the lone healthy back on the active roster.
“We’ll wait and see on RoJo’s MRI, on his ankle and how severe it is,” coach Bruce Arians told reporters Monday. “I think Ke’Shawn’s got bruised ribs, and hopefully he’ll be ready to go. I’ve got my fingers crossed that Gio might be able to get back. (Practice-squad member) Kenjon Barner’s ready and Le’Veon’s ready, so we’ll have somebody out there.”
Bell, who signed two weeks ago after being cut by the Ravens in November, had only 5 rushing yards on three carries Sunday but caught all three passes targeted his way for 30 yards.
Bernard (181 total yards, three TDs in 2021) sustained a hip injury in the first half of the Dec. 12 overtime win against the Bills. He’s eligible to come off injured reserve but has only 31 touches (eight rushes, 23 catches) this season.
Barner, 32, has returned six punts the last two games in place of rookie Jaelon Darden (reserve/COVID-19 list) but hasn’t taken a handoff in an NFL game since getting four carries for the Falcons in 2019. A 1,700-yard rusher as an Oregon senior in 2012, he has 416 rushing yards in parts of eight NFL seasons.
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AFC NORTH
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CLEVELAND
This from Dominique Foxworth:
@Foxworth24
Joe Burrow is who the Browns thought Baker was gonna be. Swaggy underdog college transfer turn #1 pick who can elevate a franchise.
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Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com ponders landing spots for Mayfield:
Given coach Kevin Stefanski’s (sometimes inexplicable) commitment to relying on Mayfield’s battered arm this year, and the rash of injuries that helped derail the Browns’ 2021 season, chances are Cleveland will opt for familiarity and give Mayfield one more audition in 2022, before potentially turning its eyes to the 2023 draft class or veteran market.
But let’s say Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry — who worked under the Eagles’ notoriously aggressive Howie Roseman — decide to shop Mayfield in hopes of an instant upgrade. Here are some potential 2022 destinations for the former No. 1 overall pick, either via trade or after release:
7. Carolina Panthers
Matt Rhule needs to solve the QB position, like, yesterday. Which is why they probably wouldn’t be involved, a year after trading picks for another first-round flame-out in Sam Darnold. But Rhule also wants to be more of a ground-and-pound team, and Mayfield has proven, in better circumstances, that he can manage games.
6. New York Giants
Both Joe Judge and Daniel Jones are apparently set to return, but why on Earth should that stop them from investing more under center, considering the lifeless way they’re finishing? Mayfield would bring personality to a market desperately lacking in NFL juice right now, and he’s got the old-school approach Judge would appreciate.
5. New Orleans Saints
They’ve got more salary-cap maneuvering to do before they can make any real moves at QB, but Sean Payton could see a higher floor with Mayfield than the alternatives — chiefly Taysom Hill or a rehabbing Jameis Winston. New Orleans could (and probably should) target a rookie in the draft, but perhaps they’d prefer to win now with their defense.
4. Seattle Seahawks
This, of course, is dependent on Russell Wilson relocating, which is certainly possible after the Pro Bowler even identified preferred landing spots prior to 2021. A total rebuild would be smarter, but Pete Carroll could double down on his run-heavy preferences by inserting Mayfield (or swapping him for Russ!) and pouring more investments into the defense.
3. Denver Broncos
The Broncos are near the top of every “[Insert QB] landing spots” list by default. Is Mayfield that much of an upgrade on Teddy Bridgewater? Not necessarily. But with a better O-line and defense, you can argue otherwise. John Elway will never not sign off on a veteran fix, and GM George Paton may not be able to land Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, etc.
2. Washington
Ron Rivera has to be growing impatient. Taylor Heinicke is best off the bench. Their defense is built to compete. Mayfield brings the requisite toughness and starting experience to lead an old-school run-heavy offense. QBs coach Ken Zampese was Mayfield’s tutor as a rookie in Cleveland. And what better way to welcome in the team’s new era with a former No. 1 pick under center? They’re also flush with cap space.
1. Houston Texans
Mayfield may not prefer it, but he knows Texas well, hailing from Austin and playing at Texas Tech. More importantly, Houston is all but certain to move on from Deshaun Watson. Third-round rookie Davis Mills has flashed this year, but letting him learn and/or compete with Mayfield (before re-evaluating the 2023 QB class) would be more ideal. They’ve got more than enough money to do it.
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PITTSBURGH
For QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER’s farewell home game, Steelers fans did a great job putting their affection for 18 seasons of achievement ahead of their dissatisfaction with the current version of Big Ben. Mark Kaboly of The Athletic:
Take a stroll through social media on a Steelers game day, and you are assured of seeing many die-hard fans wishing Ben Roethlisberger never returned for his 18th season. Earlier in the season, there was an outcry for his benching by more fans than you might think.
Truthfully, it was embarrassing.
What other Hall of Fame quarterback and arguably one of the best two or three players who ever pulled on a Steelers jersey over an 80-plus year history of the organization took as much criticism as Roethlisberger over the past 12 months? Probably none. When Eli Manning was benched for Geno Smith in 2017, there was an outcry of how the organization did him wrong, even though his skills had diminished much more than Roethlisberger’s have to this point.
The sports talk shows wanted him gone, the callers wanted him gone, the fans wanted him gone, even if it meant playing Mason Rudolph or Dwayne Haskins. And seriously, how many times was he booed at Heinz Field this year? Well, just a couple of weeks ago he was, and that wasn’t the first.
You can say that’s just because of the passionate Steelers fans.
Whatever it was, it doesn’t matter anymore.
Even though the Steelers kept their faint playoff hopes alive with a convincing 26-14 win over the Browns, that wasn’t the story at Heinz Field on Monday night. It was Roethlisberger’s final game in front of the home crowd and whatever frustrations the faithful had with their quarterback since that 11-0 start a year ago were all forgiven.
Steelers fans showed up, showed out and showed the NFL how to celebrate the career of their Hall of Fame quarterback that had to make 31 other fan bases jealous.
“These fans and this place means so much to me and my family and always will,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve always said they’re the best fans in all of sports, and I’ll stick by that to the day I die. To see all the signs and jerseys and towels, and to hear them cheer for me coming out of the tunnel, all that stuff, I don’t know that I’ll ever put it into words.
“I wish I could bottle it and have it forever. But I will in here (heart) and in my mind.”
There was a realization of what Roethlisberger has accomplished in his 18 years. The 165 career wins, the two Super Bowls wins, the tackle, the throw, the injuries, the broken nose — all of those emotions were there for the 63,000-plus fans that stayed well past midnight to watch their quarterback.
“I think we have the best fans in football for sure,” center J.C. Hassenauer said. “To see everybody stay after the game — it is midnight on a Monday night, and everybody has to work tomorrow, and they stayed. I had chills.”
“It was pretty normal all week until you walked outside and felt the energy and saw all the 7 jerseys and all the 7 signs,” T.J. Watt said. “It was truly an atmosphere that I never felt here before. It was really special, and the fans made it special for him. I am very appreciative they did that for him.”
It started Wednesday when Roethlisberger said that it was likely his last game at Heinz Field. It was something he likely knew for a couple of weeks, but he refused to let that be a distraction by sticking to his go-to line of how he will evaluate it after the season. Tickets all of a sudden came hard to find, and fans were flying in from all over the country to see Big Ben’s last game.
The first roar came when he simply came onto the field for warmups, and it really never stopped. The crowd erupted for the introductions and continued with chants of “Let’s go, Ben” and “Thank you, Ben,” signs, jerseys and admiration for their quarterback, who had tears in his eyes before the game and also after while taking a Cal Ripken-like lap around the field afterward.
“He was dapping up all the fans out there,” Cameron Heyward said. “These moments are very special. You look at the pictures (pointing to the wall in the media room). Look at that one and everybody remembers the Jerome (Bettis) one (against Brian Urlacher). There will be a picture over here just taking in the moments.
“We have loyal fans. When they get an opportunity to celebrate a player like that, they relish it.”
They just tend to dish out some tough love at times. I am sure Steelers fans once booed Joe Greene as well. But when it comes down to their guy, they will forget about the bad times and celebrate their own.
“The atmosphere out there was crazy, man,” rookie Najee Harris said. “As far as I have been here, that was the most amplified and energized Heinz Field has been since I have been here.”
Good job, Steelers fans. You deserve to pat yourselves on the back for this one.
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Coach Mike Tomlin has escaped a losing season. Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com:
On a momentous night for Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin captured his own significant milestone.
With Monday night’s 26-14 win against the Cleveland Browns in the quarterback’s apparent home finale, the Steelers moved to 8-7-1 with one game left, ensuring that Tomlin will avoid a losing season for the 15th consecutive season as head coach. That mark sets an NFL record, breaking Marty Schottenheimer’s streak from 1984 to 1997 during tenures with the Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.
But Tomlin, notoriously understated when talking about personal accomplishments, downplayed the benchmark Tuesday.
“Not as I sit here today, and I say that humbly,” Tomlin responded when asked if setting the mark was meaningful. “Our agenda, this year, is to get into [the] single-elimination tournament and then pit our skills against others in that single-elimination tournament in an effort to win the world championship. That’s our mentality every year.
“And so with that mentality, it’s just certain hardware that you expect to pick up along the way. And if you don’t, you’d be seriously disappointed. That’s just an expectation that we have here in Pittsburgh.”
Now 49 years old, Tomlin set a record more than a decade ago as the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl when he was 36 and coached the Steelers to a win against the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII. He has endeared himself to his team and established himself as one of the league’s best coaches for his messaging and relationship with his players.
“He challenges his players,” longtime defensive lineman Cameron Heyward said earlier this season. “He expects the best. When he challenges us, it’s individually, but it’s for the collective group. He does it from a place where you know he wants the best for you, and to have a coach do that at such a one-on-one level even when he’s the head coach is pretty special.”
In his 15 seasons, Tomlin has compiled a 161-93-2 record, though he’s just 8-8 in the postseason.
“This team is full of tradition and history,” Roethlisberger said after Tomlin captured his 150th regular-season win earlier this season against the Chicago Bears. “And so, I’m sure that he’s proud of it, and he should be. There’s a lot of — I guess there’s not a lot of great coaches, but the coaches that have been here have been pretty historic.”
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AFC SOUTH
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TENNESSEE
Somehow the Titans are on the verge of becoming the top seed in the AFC after playing much of the season without RB DERRICK HENRY. And Henry’s return is starting to take shape. Turron Davenport of ESPN.com:
Help may soon be on the way for the Tennessee Titans in the form of running back Derrick Henry.
Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Monday that the team has discussed Henry being designated for return from injured reserve this week, which would allow him to practice.
“We’ve discussed it,” Vrabel said. “We’ll see where that goes. He [Henry] is doing some work today and we’ll see when that window opens and probably make a decision midweek.”
The Titans will have a 21-day practice window to activate Henry once he’s designated for return to practice. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported Sunday that Henry was on the practice field last week jogging in cleats. Henry fractured his foot early in the Titans’ 34-31 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 8. He had foot surgery on Nov 1. The injury typically has a six- to- 10 week recovery time period.
Henry’s 219 carries for 937 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns at the time of his injury led the NFL in each category. Despite missing eight games, Henry currently ranks sixth in rushing and is tied with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts for sixth in rushing touchdowns.
Tennessee has gone to a committee of backs led by D’Onta Foreman, who has 112 carries for 437 yards and three touchdowns in eight games. The Titans are currently the top seed in the AFC and can clinch home-field advantage with a win over the Houston Texans on Sunday.
The Titans don’t have any definite plans to play Henry in Week 18. But there is a belief within the building that he will be back in time for the playoffs, especially if they get the first-round bye.
Legal problems for Titans ED BUD DUPREE. ESPN.com:
Tennessee Titans outside linebacker Bud Dupree has been issued a citation charging him with misdemeanor assault after an altercation with an employee at a Walgreens in Nashville.
According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the incident took place Sunday night at the Walgreens location at approximately 8 p.m. CT after a verbal altercation between the 20-year-old male employee and some individuals who had entered the store. The subjects then reentered the store with Dupree, who allegedly grabbed the employee and his phone and then was involved with a physical altercation with the employee before leaving.
“Due to the victim being assaulted, the defendant is being charged with assault-fear of bodily injury,” the MNPD said in its statement Tuesday, citing the citation that was issued.
MNPD spokesperson Don Aaron told The Tennessean that the employee allegedly was using his phone to film during the incident. The male employee was treated after suffering a cut on his forehead and a female employee was treated after suffering a cut on her hand, Aaron told the newspaper.
Dupree must report for booking on the citation in three weeks.
The Nashville PD said in the statement that the citation was issued after consultation with the district attorney’s office. Dupree and his attorney met with detectives Tuesday morning. Dupree’s attorney also met with detectives Monday.
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THIS AND THAT
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JIM HARBAUGH
Just when you thought Jim Harbaugh had settled in at Michigan to everyone’s satisfaction with a Big Ten title – he got battered by Georgia and may want out. Bruce Feldman of The Athletic hears whispers:
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, Jim Harbaugh was coming off a 2-4 season after which he took a sizable pay cut to remain the head coach of his alma mater. Fast forward a year and Harbaugh finally beat archrival Ohio State, led Michigan to its first Big Ten title in 17 years and won AP Coach of the Year honors.
And now, The Athletic is hearing rumblings, both from the NFL side and at Michigan, that Harbaugh might be tempted to leave the Wolverines to return to the NFL. “I think it’s real,” said one source this week when asked about the possibility of Harbaugh being interested in heading back to the NFL.
The Raiders head coaching job might be tough for him to say no to given his ties to the organization — he started his coaching career there in 2003 — and the fact that there’s already a solid quarterback in place in Derek Carr. He’s also friends with Raiders owner Mark Davis.
It is worth noting that the Raiders are on a three-game winning streak under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia and could become a playoff team if they beat the Chargers on Sunday. Whether Davis is looking to find a new head coach is yet to be determined.
The Bears might be another option.
Harbaugh remade his staff at Michigan in the offseason — with an infusion of youth — and it paid off beautifully. The Wolverines whipped the Buckeyes 42-27, snapping an eight-game series losing streak, displaying the same bruising identity that Harbaugh honed to turn a dismal Stanford program into the bully of the West Coast. Michigan followed up the big win over Ohio State by routing No. 13 Iowa in the Big Ten title game 42-3. It was good enough to jump to No. 2 in the CFP rankings. But then, the Wolverines got mauled by a much more talented Georgia team, falling 34-11 last Friday night.
Michigan finished 12-2 and will be among the top four in the final rankings next week.
Harbaugh, 58, is the rare college coach who has proven he can be elite as an NFL head man. In four years with the 49ers, he went 44-19-1 and took San Francisco to a Super Bowl in his second year. And that was with a franchise that had not had a winning season in eight years.
The timing of all this is intriguing. A year ago, no team, other than Michigan, seemed to want Harbaugh as its coach, and the Wolverines were extending him through the 2025 season but at a reduced rate. His base salary for 2021 dropped to $4 million. Harbaugh had been paid over $8 million in 2020. He fired his defensive coordinator, Don Brown, and the program seemed to be backsliding by the year.
The new deal afforded him $1 million bonuses for winning the Big Ten championship and the College Football Playoff championship, and $500,000 bonuses for winning the Big Ten East Division and reaching the CFP. Those things, though, seemed so far-fetched 52 weeks ago.
After defeating the Buckeyes, Harbaugh announced that all bonus money from contract incentives this year would go toward all of the Michigan athletics employees whose pay had been affected by the pandemic.
Now, after having put Michigan back on top of the Big Ten — and having finally taken down Ohio State — is it the ideal time for the former star QB to return back to the NFL?
We’ll find out soon.
Do you think Harbaugh believes the time is right now because he finally won a Big Ten title?
Bruce Feldman, college football reporter: I’d always heard from people who know him well that they thought at some point he was going to go back to the NFL. I didn’t think he would leave Michigan knowing he’d never won the game that matters most there (against Ohio State), but now he’s done that and won the Big Ten, it feels like the timing might be right.
Still, he did say recently that this feels like “a beginning” so maybe he sees they have momentum, and why leave now when he’s finally got that program over the hump?
What traits have made him one of the few coaches to have success at both the NFL and in college?
Feldman: Many of the successful college coaches who end up getting NFL jobs seem so out of their element because they’ve never coached at that level, dealing with grown men, not 18-to-22-year-olds. Pete Carroll had success after USC, but he’d already spent a long time coaching in the NFL.
Harbaugh, though, spent 15 years in the NFL and then coached in the league for the Raiders. He obviously has a good feel for that world.
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