Jim Harbaugh
Dec 7, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh looks towards the scoreboard during a break in the action against the Oakland Raiders in the fourth quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the 49ers 24-13. Reuters

Jim Harbaugh’s departure as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers appears to be imminent with reports that University of Michigan Wolverines officials are in San Francisco over the weekend to talk face-to-face of the possible job offer to coach its college football team.

The development was reported by NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, who mentioned that the Wolverines interim athletic director Jim Hackett made the trip to the Bay Area. According to separate rumours, the Michigan offer is worth $48 million over six years which will make Harbaugh the highest paid coach in college football if he decides to leave the NFL.

Meanwhile, Harbaugh’s family, particularly brother John, who coaches the Baltimore Ravens, denied that the family has any influence on Jim’s decision-making regarding the coaching offers and that they did not release statements about Harbaugh’s destination.

“There's been no family that I know of that has given him any advice at all. That's a personal decision, that's his to make. And that's just absolutely false. I don't know where that came from, but it didn't come from the Harbaughs.” John Harbaugh said in another NFL.com article. “My dad and I both said, don't tell us. If something gets out, we don't want the finger pointed at us. Leave us out of it and don't tell us what you're going to do."

Jim Harbaugh played for the Wolverines in college and played for six different teams from 1987 to 2001. As a head coach, he had stints with San Diego (2004 to 2006) and Stanford (2007-2010) schools before landing the gig with the 49ers in 2011. Harbaugh still has one year left in his contract with San Francisco but there is a current rift between Harbaugh and the San Francisco’s organisation.

Harbaugh led the 49ers to the NFC championship in 2012 and was named the NFL Coach of the Year in 2011. San Francisco struggled for most part of the 2014 NFL season with a 7-8 record before the final game of the regular season. The 49ers are out of playoff contention.

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