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It took nine seasons for Jim Harbaugh to bring championship glory back to Michigan, and now is an ideal time to rejoin the NFL.

Harbaugh has flirted with an NFL return in the past few offseasons, taking interviews as recently as last year. This offseason is no different, as Jim has already met with the Chargers and Falcons while Michigan works to extend the 60-year-old.

Harbaugh had a successful run as the 49ers head coach from 2011 to 2014, posting a 44-19-1 record and losing Super Bowl XLVII in just his second season. Harbaugh’s relationship with 49ers executives quickly soured, and after posting an 8-8 record, he was fired.

Here are some of the teams with top odds to land Harbaugh, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Please note that Harbaugh’s coaching search betting markets aren’t available in every state.

Where will Jim Harbaugh coach next season? Los Angeles Chargers (-150)

NFL insider Ian Rapoport called Harbaugh a “strong candidate” for the Chargers’ vacancy ahead of his interview with the team earlier this week. LA has been the team most commonly linked with Harbaugh.

Unlike the Titans, Commanders, Raiders, and Panthers, the Chargers have enough talent on their roster to become a playoff contender by Week 1. Much of that is thanks to Justin Herbert, who surpassed 4,300 passing yards and 25 touchdowns in three of four seasons in LA.

The Chargers also have Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, Khalil Mack, Rashawn Slater, and the fifth pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. However, one of the superstars may need to be dealt away or released considering Los Angeles is $35 million over the salary cap.

Where will Jim Harbaugh coach next season? Not the head coach of an NFL team (+150)

This market alludes to Harbaugh signing a massive extension with Michigan that would undoubtedly make him one of the highest-paid coaches in college football. However, the coaching climate in the college ranks has drastically changed for the worse in the past few years.

The transfer portal is great for players seeking new opportunities, but it’s a headache for coaches who must constantly recruit their players to stay with the team. Scouting transfer portal players to join a team is another time-consuming task in the already busy schedule of a head coach.

Signing high-school prospects has also been altered with NIL. Now, it’s becoming more about how much money a program can offer a player rather than what the player stands to gain on the field.

Coaching college football is a 24/7, 365 job with little free time to spend with family.

The NCAA also has two open investigations on Michigan that could result in further punishment in 2024. Harbaugh was already suspended for seven games last season for a possible recruiting infraction and the sign-stealing scandal.

If Harbaugh does return to Ann Arbor, he’ll have a minor rebuild on his hands, as J.J. McCarthy, Blake Corum, and other stars are entering the NFL Draft. Plus, the competition in the Big Ten is becoming much stiffer, with Washington, Oregon, USC, and UCLA set to join the conference.

All things considered, there won’t be a better time than the present for Harbaugh to relaunch his NFL career.

Where will Jim Harbaugh coach next season? Remaining odds leaders

Below are the other betting options for Harbaugh’s next coaching destination:

• Falcons: +500
• Any other NFL team: +1000
• Raiders: +1200
• Commanders: +2500
• Bears: +4000
• Titans: +4500
• Panthers: +6000
• Jets: +10000
• Giants: +10000
• Saints: +10000

Bill Belichick has also interviewed for the Falcons job and holds +125 odds to become Atlanta’s head coach. Belichick and the Falcons have been rumored to join forces for weeks now, and the team fits what Bill is reportedly looking for in his next stop.

The Bears are an interesting betting option despite general manager Ryan Poles announcing head coach Matt Eberflus will be back in 2024. Eberflus is 10-24 in two seasons with Chicago but a 4-2 record in the final six games has seemingly saved his job.

However, Harbaugh would be a massive improvement over Eberflus, especially if the Bears decide to clean house and select Caleb Williams in the NFL Draft. Jim has a connection with the Bears after Chicago spent a first-round draft pick on him in 1987.

Harbaugh was a QB in the Windy City for seven seasons and has the third-most passing yards in franchise history.

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