CBS Sports’ Jason La Confora stirring the pot on Jim Harbaugh and the NFL:
There are several teams falling well below expectations already — the Buccaneers and Giants, most notably, and the Browns are still searching for their first win after earning one victory a year ago under Hue Jackson — and with a limited pool of coordinators and potential first-time head coaches emerging, Harbaugh will be in demand, according to sources with some front offices where a coaching change is expected. A year ago, sources said, Colts owner Jim Irsay reached out to see if Harbaugh, a former Colts quarterback, had any interest in his job, while three years ago Browns owner Jimmy Haslam made the most comprehensive approach to land him.
At that time, the 49ers approached the Browns about potentially trading the coach, who was nearing the end of his contract and had no long-term prospects in San Francisco due to strained interpersonal relationships with ownership and management, as was widely reported at the time. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam was enamored with the prospect of adding Harbaugh and, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, agreed to send two third-round picks to the 49ers for him, and offered the coach a five-year, $40 million contract to coach the Browns.
Harbaugh balked at going to Cleveland, which was in turmoil, at the time and believed he would have a multitude of options open to him if he played out his situation in San Francisco.