Michigan officials to meet Harbaugh
Multiple people at Michigan and in the Jim Harbaugh camp believe the San Francisco 49ers coach will wind up as the Wolverines' next head coach, as many have reported, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Michigan has been telling its incoming recruits that it plans to have a head coach by the middle of the week, sources added.
But multiple people also insist that Harbaugh has no deal or agreement with Michigan at this time, even though Michigan officials are now in the Bay area, waiting to meet with the man they want to hire as quickly as possible. Harbaugh has also called multiple assistant coaches to gauge their interest in joining him at Michigan, sources tell ESPN's John Clayton.
Before Harbaugh meets with Michigan though, he will meet with 49ers' executives after Sunday's regular-season finale against Arizona, with his fate expected to be decided quickly and with civility. San Francisco still wants to make one last-ditch effort to save the relationship, though nobody believes it will work out.
The Oakland Raiders also are expected to make what one source described as "a concerted effort" to see whether they can keep Harbaugh in the Bay area, and they will use the idea that the team is projected to be about $50 million under the salary cap next season as a drawing card, in addition to a serious offer they are prepared to make. Signs continue to point to Michigan, but NFL teams are going to have their say.
Other teams such as the Jets and Bears could also make pitches.
The 49ers are 7-8 this season and out of the playoff field after three straight trips to the NFC title game and a Super Bowl appearance.
Harbaugh didn't tell his players he was leaving Saturday night, a source told the San Francisco Chronicle, but he did express his appreciation for their support during the 49ers' tumultuous season.
In return, right tackle Anthony Davis showed his appreciation for Harbaugh on Twitter.
49ers CEO Jed York was asked before Sunday's game by a group of beat writers if he had a sec to talk. "Nope," he said as he walked off with a reporter from the league-owned NFL Network.
Harbaugh and York met briefly at midfield during warmups and it appeared as though a demonstrative York was doing most of the talking. The session ended with a handshake and quick hug.
Harbaugh was met with loud cheers by the crowd.
If Harbaugh leaves as expected, there are a few names the 49ers could come calling on, including Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase -- and they have ties to all three.
Quinn and Gase each served as quality control coaches for the 49ers, Quinn under former San Francisco head coaches Steve Mariucci and Jim Mora, and Gase under former 49ers coach Mike Nolan.
McDaniels has interviewed for the 49ers head-coaching job in the past.
ESPN.com's Paul Gutierrez contributed to this report.
