Signs pointing to Harbaugh’s exit?

By MARK SNYDER

Tribune News Service

Following Saturday’s gut-wrenching loss, Jim Harbaugh was out of answers.

After his team blew a three-touchdown lead in a 38-35 overtime loss to the San Diego Chargers, the San Francisco 49ers’ coach faced the news media and admitted there wasn’t much to explain about his 7-8 team.

With only a week to go in the NFL season and everyone outside wondering about his future — whether in the NFL or as Michigan’s top candidate for its open job — he was just disappointed by the game itself late Saturday night.

The former Wolverines star quarterback is U-M’s primary candidate, and it’s believed he has serious interest in the position. There was an NFL Network report last week about a contract offer of six years for $48 million, crushing his current five-year, $25-million deal with San Francisco.

Seems like a perfect match, right?

It’s just that he is still working for his current position — Harbaugh has been very clear that he talks publicly only about the job he has — and that job has another week remaining, so the waiting game continues.

Asked whether Saturday’s game was a microcosm of the season with a hot start, falling back, revving up again then losing, Harbaugh wouldn’t go there.

“It doesn’t feel like a lot to say right now, tough loss,” he said in the news conference, where he was not asked about his future.

Which left others to speak for him.

Before Saturday’s game, it was the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, saying Harbaugh will meet with the 49ers’ brass in the two days after the Dec. 28 finale to tell them whether he’s interested in going to Michigan or staying in the NFL, where he can be traded to another team with his permission.

Though he has one year remaining on the five-year contract he signed in 2011, NFL experts are unanimous that he won’t be in San Francisco next season.

The 49ers finish their season next week, hosting the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium and, like the Chargers, who were fighting for a playoff spot, Arizona will be fighting for playoff home-field advantage.

For the first time in Harbaugh’s four years, the 49ers will miss the playoffs.

During the San Diego game, the commentary came from the fans.

One pair attended the game with Michigan signs that said “Come Home Jim” with U-M logos and one that said “Ann Arbaughr.”

Harbaugh’s primary in-game highlight came after quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s third-quarter 90-yard touchdown run. When the quarterback came to the sideline Harbaugh leapt, and the two met in the air for a quasi-chest bump/hug, one of the increasingly rare explosions of emotion from Harbaugh recently on the field or off.

Those speaking for him also were on the Web during the game. On Twitter, someone used Photoshop to replace the 49ers’ logo on Harbaugh’s play sheet with a block M. He let it sit on Twitter for a while, but fans took it seriously, so he later posted the regular photo with his altered version.

After the late night, the Harbaugh speculation revved up again Sunday morning when CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora, a former Free Press writer, offered a bit of insight.

He echoed Rapoport’s report that the 49ers also will be motivated to get a quick Harbaugh decision after the season finale, so they can beat other teams to the hot coaching candidates.

Harbaugh is scheduled to speak twice this week on his normal 49ers schedule, and, by all accounts, he remains focused on the job he’s doing. Competitive and loyal to his players, he feels he owes them all his energy, those who know him insist.

One potential Harbaugh destination faded Sunday when Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced that his coach, Joe Philbin, would return in 2015. Ross is also Michigan’s biggest financial booster.

Though Harbaugh remains the primary target, Michigan apparently continues to work on the safety net in case it doesn’t work out with Harbaugh, as occurred in the 2011 search when Brady Hoke was hired.

Part of La Canfora’s report pointed out that U-M’s search has targeted NFL coaches Doug Marrone (Buffalo), Sean Payton (New Orleans), John Harbaugh (Baltimore) and Jason Garrett (Dallas), though it noted that John Harbaugh is not interested and Garrett is on the verge of an extension with the Cowboys.