When Jim Harbaugh was the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, his teams fueled one of the most compelling rivalries in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks. During Jim Harbaugh's four-year stint with the 49ers, his teams won the NFC West crown twice, while Pete Caroll's Seahawks also secured two NFC West division titles. From 2011 to 2014, this sequential grudge match produced an NFC Championship matchup in 2013 (Seahawks def 49ers 23-17) while showcasing a plethora of Pro-Bowlers in their primes, such as Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Navarro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch, Richard Sherman, Earl Thomas, and Russell Wilson. Now, it appears that Jim Harbaugh and Russell Wilson, two men who were once on opposing sides of the battlefield, may soon become co-workers.

During the off-season, the Seattle Seahawks traded Russell Wilson, the greatest quarterback in the history of their franchise, to the Denver Broncos for a pair of first-round draft picks, two second-rounders, a fifth-round pick, quarterback Drew Lock, tight end Noah Fant and defensive tackle Shelby Harris. Wilson is a Super Bowl champion and a nine-time Pro Bowler, but his first year with his new team has been a far cry from his heyday in Seattle. His tumultuous inaugural season in blue and orange contributed to the firing team's former head coach, Nathaniel Hackett. But the Broncos' coaching vacancy may have just opened the door for an unlikely pairing with his former NFC West rival, Jim Harbaugh.

Right now, Jim Harbaugh is the head football coach at his alma mater, Michigan University. However, the school cut his salary in half from $8 million to $ 4 million last year, which caused many college football pundits to suggest that he would forge a path back to the NFL if the right opportunity came knocking.

On Tuesday's episode of The Herd, the show's legendary host, Colin Cowherd, shared information from one of his sources, indicating that the time for Jim Harbaugh to make his return to the NFL could be imminent. Russell Wilson's Broncos appear to be the frontrunner to land Harbaugh's services, provided that they outbid Michigan University by a significant amount.

“The Denver Broncos job, if it is offered, I am told the salary is $20 million (per year) for Harbaugh,” Cowherd said. “It would be greater for Sean Payton, mid-20s. That’s what I know.”

With a record of 4-12, the Denver Broncos will finish 2022 in last place in the AFC West. They also lack draft capital. The team's franchise quarterback, Russell Wilson, is in the midst of the worst statistical year of his career. Going into week 18 of the regular season, he is ranked 31st (out of the 32 quarterbacks listed) in quarterback rating. Thus, if the new ownership team of the Broncos does decide to offer Jim Harbaugh $20 million per year to coach their team, he will be tasked with fixing Wilson's mechanics the same way that he once helped former 49ers quarterback Alex Smith regain form back in 2011. 

 

Source: MSN