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Latest On Jim Harbaugh

February 18th, 2022 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

After failing to receive an offer from the Vikings, Jim Harbaugh will remain at the University of Michigan. For now. Harbaugh agreed to a new $36.7MM deal to coach the Wolverines for the next five years, in theory. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though, this extension does little to ensure a long marriage between the two parties involved. 

For the most part, the contract is fairly standard. Harbaugh is set to make around $7.05MM in his first year, a raise of more than $3MM per year, with his salary gradually increasing until he reaches $7.63MM in 2026.

The deal is laced with incentives. Winning the Big Ten East earns Harbaugh $500,000. Winning the conference altogether nets Harbaugh $1MM. An appearance in a New Year’s Six bowl game or the College Football Playoff would gain Harbaugh bonuses of $200,000 and $500,000, respectively. A national title would pay out another $1MM to Harbaugh. He also has award incentives that would pay him $50,000 if he is named Big Ten Coach of the Year and $75,000 if he is named the winner of one of the national coach of the year awards.

Where Harbaugh’s contract differs from what is expected is in the buyout. In the first year, Harbaugh’s contract only lists a $3MM buyout, meaning if a team wanted to hire Harbaugh after next season, Michigan would only be due $3MM despite Harbaugh having four years and $29.65MM remaining on his contract. The buyout gradually decreases each year until, in the fourth and penultimate year of his contract, it totals less than $1MM.

This low buyout will do little to deter any teams eager to hire Harbaugh. It will do even less to keep Harbaugh from looking. It’s an ideal contract for the eighth-year Wolverines head coach. He nets a hefty raise for his accomplishments in the 2021 season, while ensuring an easy exit for the next NFL team that comes calling.

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