The rumors surrounding the open head coaching job for Texas are about to get crazy. Mack Brown has not even left his office and yet and already names are swirling around the upcoming vacancy. Several coaches have already denied their interest in heading to Austin, while both Jon Gurden and Jim Harbaugh appear to be the leading candidates whether they like it or not.
Harbaugh is still very much the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and fans should put zero stock into unnamed sources, but ESPN and Pro Football Talk are reporting that if Harbaugh decided to make the jump back to college, the team would not stop his departure. There has been talk that Harbaugh is unhappy in the NFL and has considered heading back to college football after bringing plenty of success to Stanford. He and general manager Trent Baalke reportedly had creative differences over the direction of the team. However, when speaking to the media, Harbaugh denied every single report.
"It's the 49er way," Harbaugh said, via ESPN.com. "It's the team, the team, the team. Everybody does a little, and it adds up to be a lot. Nobody above the team. Nobody more important. Nobody less important. Hundreds of people in this organization, and we all have a role and we all contribute to the best of our ability. And that's the team, the team, the team. We win as a team. That's how we do it."
The head coach said he is absolutely interested in being the long-term option for San Francisco. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting the two sides are already starting negotiations for a new contract that will give Harbaugh more power within the team and more say over draft picks and things of that nature. He is currently in the third year of a five-year, $25 million contract. 49ers owner Jed York confirmed the reports that the team was working on an extension. With that, Harbuagh likely will not be headed to Texas.
"In Judge Judy's court, hearsay is not admissible evidence," Harbaugh said. "I think we can all agree that an unnamed source is hearsay. ... In the court of public opinion, why would you give any of that credibility?"
So with Harbaugh out, does that make Jon Gruden the best option. Gruden is the ultimate tire kicker when it comes to college coaches, but CBSSports.com and Orangebloods.com is reporting the current NFL analyst would be open to hearing from Texas about the job opening. Gruden's name has been tossed around more than any other person when it comes to coaching vacancies. Would Texas be the one to land him?
Denial from coaches has been heard before. However, once money starts getting tossed around, anyone can change their mind.
