As a Michigan fan in Michigan, I can say that Harbaugh coached for his Michigan career this past season. Before the 2021 season he lost about 35 lbs. and broke out of a a nearly 4 year funk when he looked disinterested, disengaged, and otherwise clueless. This desperation season, while meeting some of the expectations the Michigan faithful had hoped for, seems debatable whether it translates to a renewed sustainable energy and passion for the game.
His staff for the previous 4 years was on autopilot (especially on defense). His philosophies and offensive schemes seem antiquated. He also is on his 3rd OC going into his 8th yr. at Michigan, and not because they were going on to better jobs. Harbaugh has a reputation as a QB whisperer, based on Andrew Luck at Stanford, and CK in SF. I have no idea how much of Luck's or CK's development were a result of Harbaugh, but based on what he's done with lesser talent at Michigan, since that time, call me skeptical. He seems to wear out his welcome after 4 years wherever he's been.
In the end, I'd say his career is on a downward trajectory while the young GM with fresh ideas is going in the opposite direction. How does this relationship make sense?
Quote: @mgobluevikes said:
As a Michigan fan in Michigan, I can say that Harbaugh coached for his Michigan career this past season. Before the 2021 season he lost about 35 lbs. and broke out of a a nearly 4 year funk when he looked disinterested, disengaged, and otherwise clueless. This desperation season, while meeting some of the expectations the Michigan faithful had hoped for, seems debatable whether it translates to a renewed sustainable energy and passion for the game.
His staff for the previous 4 years was on autopilot (especially on defense). His philosophies and offensive schemes seem antiquated. He also is on his 3rd OC going into his 8th yr. at Michigan, and not because they were going on to better jobs. Harbaugh has a reputation as a QB whisperer, based on Andrew Luck at Stanford, and CK in SF. I have no idea how much of Luck's or CK's development were a result of Harbaugh, but based on what he's done with lesser talent at Michigan, since that time, call me skeptical. He seems to wear out his welcome after 4 years wherever he's been.
In the end, I'd say his career is on a downward trajectory while the young GM with fresh ideas is going in the opposite direction. How does this relationship make sense?
Smells familiar - no thx
Isn't today the day that Harbaugh is scheduled to tell his Michigan players that he is leaving to go coach the Dolphins?
If Jim Harbaugh did go to the NFL, he'd immediately have the second-best winning pct among active coaches, at .690, behind AZ's Bruce Arians. A bit surprising more NFL teams haven't shown strong interest, though the current youth movement is one factor.
AZ?
Five things to know about Jim Harbaugh's tenure as 49ers head coachAs the Vikings try to gauge the Michigan coach's interest in returning to the NFL, let's look back at his last stint in the league.
As the Vikings gauge Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh's interest in their head coaching opening — including an interview scheduled for Wednesday in the Twin Cities — here are five things to know about Harbaugh's previous stint in the NFL as head coach of the 49ers from 2011-2014:
1. 49ers landed a dynamic quick-fix artist.
No coach in America was hotter than Stanford's Jim Harbaugh in 2011. He had taken control of a 1-11 team in 2007 and turned it into a 12-1, Orange Bowl-winning national power in 2010. Seizing on Harbaugh's itch for a greater challenge, 49ers General Manager Trent Baalke and CEO Jed York lured him to the nearby NFL team as the big-fish hire who would work his quick-fix magic on a downtrodden franchise that hadn't had a winning season or a playoff berth in eight years. Baalke started out as a college scout and got to know Harbaugh through visits to Stanford. Those who know each man say they both come with their own set of quirks in their areas of expertise. Eventually, they would butt heads, but they certainly were a great match initially as Harbaugh set an NFL record by reaching the conference title game in each of his first three seasons
https://www.startribune.com/five-things-...600141607/
2. Rookie coach outworked lockout season.
The 2011 NFL lockout essentially erased all of Harbaugh's first offseason with his players. He wasn't happy. He became even angrier and more determined while out to dinner during one of the league gatherings. He was with some other head coaches, including brother John, head coach of the Ravens, and Jim Schwartz, then head coach of the Lions, when Schwartz started preaching about how all the first-year head coaches had no chance to succeed because of the lockout. Fast-forward to Week 6 at Detroit. On their way to a 13-win regular season, the 49ers beat the Lions 25-19 at Ford Field. The postgame handshake became legendary when Harbaugh grabbed Schwartz's hand violently, slapped Schwartz on the back and gave him a little push. Schwartz reacted by turning and rushing Harbaugh as bystanders fought to get control of him. The 49ers improved to 5-1. The Lions fell to 5-1.
3. QB whisperer gets Alex Smith on board.
Quarterback Alex Smith's first six seasons in San Francisco were a well-documented case study in how not to treat a No. 1 overall draft pick. His contract was up when Harbaugh arrived and he was going to leave. Harbaugh convinced Smith that he didn't have to leave to get a fresh start. Smith bought in and had by far the best year of his career to that point. During a brief break in the lockout, Smith gathered Harbaugh's playbook and teaching points and organized offsite workouts with teammates that became invaluable when the lockout ended. When the 49ers reconvened in training camp, Harbaugh worked the players harder than any of them could recall ever working in camp. But they bought in. A Week 4 win over an Eagles team dubbed the "Dream Team" also went a long way toward convincing the players that Harbaugh's demanding leadership was making them a well-conditioned force late in games.
4. Controversial move brought Kaepernick magic.
Colin Kaepernick was the 36th overall pick in Harbaugh's first draft with the 49ers. He knew the young quarterback was too raw to play as a rookie, so Kaepernick threw only five passes that year. A year later, when Smith suffered a concussion, Harbaugh ignored the traditional thinking that a player can't lose his job because of an injury. Kaepernick's electric starting debut in a "Monday Night Football" rout of the Bears convinced Harbaugh of the futuristic skillset and higher ceiling he now had at the position. Smith and his 6-2-1 record and career-high 104.1 passer rating was out. Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl with help from a top-three defense. He walloped the Packers with a QB-record 181 yards rushing and two touchdowns in a 45-31 playoff win. Smith was upset but didn't complain and actually worked with Harbaugh and Kaepernick to tailor each week's game plan to the new starter.
5. Baalke and Harbaugh mutually parted ways.
It's no secret Harbaugh has a strong personality and is considered a high-maintenance presence that burns brightly but is hard to sustain long-term. His 49ers contract was initially set to run through 2015 when things turned sour between him and Baalke in 2014. The fire was gone on the field, too. The 49ers missed the playoffs at 8-8. Within five minutes of Harbaugh's last game-day news conference, the 49ers issued a news release saying the two sides had mutually agreed to part ways. The last year of Harbaugh's contract was voided. A day later, he was introduced as Michigan's head coach.
Harbaugh's NFL coaching record, all in San Francisco: 49-22-1, including the playoffs.
Kwesi said they would hire someone who is a great communicator and is collaborative. Maybe Harbaugh has a vision for his team and is a talented coach, but he is not a great communicator and is not very collaborative. He is in some ways like Belichick. It looks to me like they are both on the spectrum. If you win at the rate Belichick wins, fans, management, and reporters will put up with anything. But there is only one Bill Belichick.
Four years seems to be the limit on tolerating Harbaugh. Michigan is more patient with him because it means something to them that Harbaugh is a Michigan man. But even Michigan had to do something to protect itself. Four years works in college because the players all rotate through in that time. NFL stars last a lot longer than that. College is where he belongs except that ... Harbaugh wants to win it all (as his brother did). He will never win it all at Michigan. That's fine with Michigan who has no interest in becoming Alabama, Georgia, OSU, or Clemson. And Harbaugh knows he will never win a national championship there. So he feels his best bet is in the NFL. Hello Vikings.
From our perspective, we just got done with Zimmer. I think Harbaugh is likely a better coach than Zimmer but his personal characteristics are similarly off putting.
If he can consistently beat GB and the Bears and make us have meaningful games in the play offs (let alone get us to the Superbowl) I am in. At this point, I don't think I want Mr nice. I want someone who builds a team that wins games and gives us a legit shot at the Lombardi.
Quote: @HappyViking said:
@ JR44 said:
@ Vikergirl said:
He is interviewing on National Signing Day.
That seems like big f u to Michigan and a pretty classless thing to do.
Not sure Harbaugh has ever worried about being "classy". Yeah, he's a bright football guy, but to me he comes across as a loud mouthed whiner when things don't go his way.
I've never been a Harbough fan, and if he's our next coach... ah crap, I don't even want to think about it.
Im feeling the same way Happy - Im in the Bay Area, and got an upclose look at Jim while he coached the Stanford Cardinals and then the Niners. He is one weird Narcissist. And when I say Narcissist, he makes other Narcissist's look like compassionate people. His interviews on our local sports radio were some of the most bazaar chats I have ever heard from a HC of a pro sports team. Now, he was successful here, but at what cost? He does not like being told what to do, and he had a HUGE rift with the Niners GM Trent Baalke (who is a complete Douche in his own right) which was the downfall of the Niners and his NFL coaching career. I would not trust him as our HC at all. talk about a guy who will alienate his players!! And you thought Zim was disfunctional at times with his players?? You aint seen nothing yet if JH comes here to run things.
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