Michigan's Jim Harbaugh, Raiders reportedly have mutual interest

The Las Vegas Raiders are planning to kick their coaching search into gear after the regular season ends Sunday, and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is a candidate for the job, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

"Harbaugh is expected to have some interest in the Raiders," Rapoport said on "NFL GameDay." "Now they're also set to do a real search, not an anointing like they did last time with Jon Gruden. So we'll see where this search takes them, but at the least, there's enough interest on both sides to make us think this is at least somewhat real. As one source who is informed of this told me last night, 'Harbaugh loves to be courted.'"

Harbaugh, 58, has been the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines since 2015. Prior to that, he spent four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, leading the team to a 44-19-1 record with three NFC championship game appearances and an appearance in Super Bowl XLVII.

Michigan earned a spot in the College Football Playoff in 2021, but was beat by the Georgia Bulldogs, 34-11, in the Orange Bowl. On Thursday, 247Sports reported that Harbaugh told a Michigan signee that he plans to "entertain" his NFL options this offseason.

The Raiders are 9-7 this season, securing their first winning record since 2016. The team can also earn a spot in the postseason by beating the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 18.