NFL might impose suspension on Jim Harbaugh, if he tries to return

The NFL’s approach to its free farm system raises concerns of potential antitrust violations and collusion.

In a report published on NFL.com, the league’s media conglomerate suggests that Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh may face obstacles if he chooses to leave the NCAA for a job with an NFL team. According to league sources, the NFL is unlikely to provide a safe harbor for Harbaugh to escape potential NCAA discipline. This raises the strong possibility that Harbaugh would need to serve a suspension if he returns to the pros.

The report also acknowledges that there is no specific NFL bylaw governing this matter. However, this lack of regulation does not prevent the NFL from acting as it pleases. If the league chooses to support the entity governing college football, it will do so.

The report refers to a precedent from 2011 involving the hiring of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel by the Indianapolis Colts as a replay consultant. Tressel had been suspended by the NCAA for five games after lying to investigators about benefits received by players. Consequently, the Colts, presumably under pressure from the league, suspended Tressel for six games.

This incident parallels the suspension imposed in the same year on former Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor by the NFL, despite him not breaking any NFL rules. Pryor’s suspension was based on allegations of manipulating eligibility rules.

In this context, the manipulation is carried out by the league, prioritizing the satisfaction of those who develop NFL talent at no cost to the league.

If the NFL were to suspend Harbaugh without any supporting rule, it could potentially be considered an antitrust violation or collusion. If a team wants to hire Harbaugh and employ him from Week 1, the NFL would have no grounds to prevent it.

Moreover, the broader question is whether the ongoing NCAA investigation into sign-stealing by Michigan will harm Harbaugh’s reputation among NFL owners. Despite attempting to return to the NFL in the past two years, Harbaugh was not hired by the Vikings or the Broncos. Will the current situation make him more or less attractive to potential employers? As more information emerges about the sign-stealing operation that Harbaugh claims to have been unaware of, an NFL owner may find it easier or harder to sell Harbaugh to fans and the media.

Ultimately, today’s report from the league’s outlet may aim to sway a decision. If a team considering hiring Harbaugh is already unsure about the move, the knowledge that the NFL may impose consequences could be the deciding factor, leading teams to treat Harbaugh similarly to his former quarterback in San Francisco.

Should this scenario unfold, the question is whether Harbaugh would take legal action. The fact that the NFL is already revealing its strategy suggests that they believe he won’t.