Jim Harbaugh 2023 team coaching odds: Broncos, Panthers lead NFL landing spots if Harbaugh leaves Michigan

University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh seemingly has the perfect job at his alma mater after leading the Wolverines to back-to-back Big Ten titles and consecutive spots in the College Football Playoff – of course, he never had a lead in semifinal losses to Georgia and TCU. Harbaugh has full run of his program and has caught Ohio State as the conference powerhouse. Yet rumors persist he may return to the NFL, and SportsLine offers odds on his 2023 job.

Harbaugh notably interviewed with the Minnesota Vikings on National Signing Day in 2022 but didn't take the job, telling Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel he wanted to stay in Ann Arbor:

"I called Warde and I asked him if he wanted me to be the head coach. And he said, 'Yes, 100 percent,' " Harbaugh said. "And I said, 'OK then. That's what I want to do.' And I told him, 'Warde, this will not be a reoccurring theme every year. This was a one-time thing.' "

In early December, Harbaugh doubled down on staying at Michigan: "I will be back enthusiastically coaching the Wolverines in 2023."

Yet the Athletic recently reported that "multiple sources close to Harbaugh told The Athletic they expect he will leave Michigan for the NFL if a franchise offers him a coaching job." Additionally, another source was quoted as saying "I think it is a done deal if he gets an offer."

Perhaps Harbaugh believes he has reached his ceiling at Michigan? Maybe he simply has a bug to win a Super Bowl after losing Super Bowl XLVII with the 49ers to his brother John and the Ravens. Jim Harbaugh had a 44-19-1 record with San Francisco and a stretch of three straight NFC championship game appearances.

A few books offer odds on the next coach of the Denver Broncos and Harbaugh is the current betting favorite over Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who was a finalist last year before Nathaniel Hackett got the gig.

Harbaugh would be walking into a Broncos team with a potential Hall of Fame quarterback in Russell Wilson (although he has looked terrible this season), a playoff-caliber defense and incredibly deep-pocketed owners. Limited shareholder Condoleezza Rice, part of the team's search committee, has deep ties to Stanford, where Harbaugh coached from 2007-2010. Denver reportedly is ready to be very aggressive in pursing Harbaugh, Quinn or ex-Saints coach Sean Payton. Any team wanting Payton may have to give up a first-round pick to New Orleans, as he's still under contract with the Saints.

The Indianapolis Colts also have a very talented roster everywhere but at quarterback – and Harbaugh spent four seasons playing QB there. ESPN reported today that Panthers owner David Tepper has had a conversation with Harbaugh about the opening Carolina will have once the 2022 season ends. Like the Colts, the Panthers probably don't have their 2023 starting QB on the roster.

There likely will be at least a few more NFL coach firings between now and the start of the playoffs with Arizona, Houston and Washington at the top of the list. Harbaugh's buyout at Michigan is only $3 million, which is chump change for an NFL team. There's no chance Harbaugh would leave Ann Arbor for another college job.

Via SportsLine oddsmakers: Where will Jim Harbaugh be coaching next season?

• Michigan Even
• Broncos +300
• Panthers +500
• Colts +1000
• Another NFL team +1500

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