ESPN is back on its bull s*&!.
ESPN NFL Insider Dan Graziano published a story Thursday predicting 25 things that will happen in the NFL by 2021.
When it comes to things like this, one of the go-to predictions is to naturally bring up Jim Harbaugh heading back to the league.
It’s one of the laziest predictions out there, folks. It’s kind of like listening to Seven Nation Army by The White Stripes — it’s been played so many times at sporting events that it’s overstayed its welcome, and no one truly wants to hear it anymore.
But instead of turning off that nearly-20-year-old Jack White tune, Graziano instead put on his noise-cancelling headphones, cranked the volume to 11 and typed up his 17th prediction while headbanging and singing that overplayed stadium anthem.
No. 17: Jim Harbaugh returns to the NFL as a head coach.
Here’s his explanation:
No way that’s over, right? Harbaugh was too good for too short a period of time as an NFL head coach to not want to try it again. If things do fall apart in Miami, watch for Dolphins owner and Michigan man Steven Ross to make another major play for Harbaugh to come back and coach his team
Yet again, another lazy take on Michigan’s head coach.
Here’s the thing — I get why NFL analysts and fans want Harbaugh to return to the NFL. He had success in his short tenure at San Francisco, like Graziano pointed out. He’d instantly be one of the top coaches in the league. He’s a fiery, vocal head coach that would put butts in seats and eyes on the TV; it would give these analysts and writers something to talk about on a consistent basis.
Despite all that, he’s not going anywhere.
Harbaugh is — like it or not — the king of Ann Arbor. He has turned Michigan into a title contender, again, and a place kids not only want to play football at, but also want to attend school.
Harbaugh has invested a lot of time, effort and money into this program in his three years so far as the head coach. From overseas trips to satellite camps to crazy recruiting tactics, he has went to the end of the world for the university and the football team. He recruits kids that want to succeed both on the field and in the classroom — something not every head coach does.
If Harbaugh were to go back to the NFL, all those things that make him who he is at Michigan would go away. This is the perfect job and situation for him to be in. Why would he want to pack up all his stuff, move his family — again — and take a job that is more stressful and potentially less money?
The results haven’t been eye-popping yet, but there’s no denying his love and passion for the game and for the University of Michigan. The best is yet to come.
So, Mr. Graziano, do us all a favor. Delete Seven Nation Army off your iTunes, download something new and shut the hell up.