Colts Could Face Stiff Competition in Any Pursuit to Hire Jim Harbaugh

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Former QB Jim Harbaugh as a member of the Indianapolis Colts.

Jim Harbaugh’s name is once again heating up in NFL hiring circles and the Indianapolis Colts could find themselves in the mix in 2023.

According to a January 2 report from The Athletic, several sources close to Harbaugh expect that the Michigan head coach would leave his job in the college ranks for an NFL head coaching job if he is offered one. One source told The Athletic that if an offer is on the table, it is a “done deal.”

This marks the second year in a row Harbaugh has flirted with a return to the NFL. During the 2022 offseason, Harbaugh met with the Minnesota Vikings ownership group to interview for its open head coach position. The Vikings ultimately opted to hire Kevin O’Connell, and Harbaugh returned to the sidelines at Michigan.

Headed into the 2023 offseason there are several openings at head coach across the league, giving ample opportunity for Harbaugh to make the leap back into the NFL, should he choose to pursue it.

Colts’ Connection to Jim Harbaugh

Harbaugh, a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears in 1987, was the quarterback for the Colts from 1994 to 1997 and earned the moniker “the comeback kid” for his on-the-field heroics. In 1996, Harbaugh led the Colts all the way to the AFC Championship game where they eventually lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, 20-16. Harbaugh finished the season with 17 touchdowns and over 2,500 yards en route to earning a Pro Bowl nod and the Comeback Player of the Year award.

In 2005, Harbaugh was inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor, forever cementing his legacy and accomplishments with the club. It would make all too much sense for a reunion.

“Multiple league sources are convinced that (Jim) Irsay will make a run at Harbaugh,” wrote Andrew Moore of Sports Illustrated.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, Irsay, owner of the Colts has an “affinity for Harbaugh” while Bruce Feldman of The Athletic has suggested a return to the Colts would be “very tempting” for Harbaugh.

More NFL Teams Pursuing Jim Harbaugh

There are a few obstacles in the way for a Colts-Harbaugh reunion, including interim head coach Jeff Saturday. With Saturday at the helm since Week 10, the Colts have gone 1-6 in their last seven games, leading to calls for the team to move on from Saturday in the offseason. Despite the dismal on-field production, it’s not a done deal Irsay and the Colts would move on from Saturday.

In a December 15 press conference, Irsay told reporters that Saturday would in fact get an interview for the head coaching job, calling Saturday a “great candidate.” Irsay did leave the door open for Harbaugh though, telling reporters that he expects to interview a wide pool of candidates, including college coaches.

Another obstacle between a Colts reunion with Harbaugh is that Harbaugh is a high-profile target for potentially a lot of teams heading into the offseason, with at least two other NFL teams already making a push for his services.

Will Kunkel of Fox Sports Charlotte reported that the owner of the Carolina Panthers, Dave Tepper, spoke with Harbaugh about the expected head coaching vacancy in Carolina. While in the AFC, the Denver Broncos will be making a push for Harbaugh as well with Benjamin Allbright of KOA Colorado reporting that Harbaugh is a “top target” for the Broncos this offseason.

Harbaugh, with a lifetime NFL and college head coaching record of 176-71-1, has the pedigree and experience to shepherd a rebuild: Something Irsay and the Colts need after a tumultuous 4-11-1 showing in 2022.