Where Could Jim Harbaugh Land If He Leaves San Francisco 49ers?
By Erik Lambert
Nov 9, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh runs on the field prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Signs continue to hint that San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is nearing the end of his tenure with the team. Franchise legend Jerry Rice believes that is true based on what he’s heard regarding the team. According to reports, several players have grown tired of Harbaugh’s animated, college ra-ra coaching style to the point that they often tune him out.
That, along with other factors may be contributing to the teams’ struggled to stay in the playoff race. At 5-4 they are in third place in the NFC West behind Seattle and Arizona. They still have three games left against those two teams. One can only imagine what will happen if the 49ers miss the postseason after reaching at least the NFC championship the past three years.
If it results in Harbaugh moving on, here is a short list of possible landing spots for the head coach.
Oakland Raiders
At 0-9, it’s unlikely the Oakland Raiders keep anybody on their current coaching staff. Tony Sporano has done everything he can to get the ship righted but he inherited a mess and will have to pay for it. The team will look to rebound in 2015 and could have the #1 overall pick at their disposal. Harbaugh was an assistant coach for the Raiders back in the early 2000s, the last time they went to the playoffs. It’s right across the bay so he wouldn’t have to move far and he would inherit a talented, young quarterback in Derek Carr.
Chicago Bears
Figuring out what went wrong with this team is a full-time job for the media but the fact is the Chicago Bears have been battered by rumors that current head coach Marc Trestman is failing to get any rise out of his locker room. His personality, while endearing and kind, is proving too passive and uninspiring for his players. That could explain why the team has looked like it quit in back-to-back blowouts.
Harbaugh was actually a coach under Trestman in Oakland. The two run a similar type of offense. The key difference is in personality. Harbaugh is the polar opposite of Trestman. He’s fiery and wears his emotions on his sleeve, something Chicago fans appreciate more than most after many good years with Mike Ditka. On top of that, Harbaugh was a quarterback for the Bears from 1987 to 1993 so there is a deep connection. While he may be underappreciated in San Francisco, he would be welcomed as a hero in the Windy City.
Atlanta Falcons
Another coach on the hot seat is Mike Smith. After a number of years reaching the playoffs, the Atlanta Falcons have descended into the cellar of the NFC South. They have loads of problems with personnel, particularly up front on the offensive and defensive lines. Unless the team is able to pull off a run down the stretch, rumors persist that Smith could most definitely be fired when the season ends.
Harbaugh has no personal connections to the franchise. However, the situation would still be an enticing one. He would inherit Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Ryan and highly talented offense headlined by Julio Jones and Roddy White. His job would be to fix the offensive line and then to find a way to correct the lingering issues on defense. He’s done it before with the 49ers.
There are certainly other pro teams and even some college programs who will want Jim Harbaugh. What it comes down to will be the connections, the benefits and the money. This providing the San Francisco 49ers are indeed nearing their end with him as constantly hinted.