Dolphins Head Coaching Rumors: Could Miami Lure Jim Harbaugh Away From Michigan?

The Miami Dolphins have a litany of questions to answer in the offseason, the first of which involves who will lead the team on the sidelines in 2019. Head coach Adam Gase was let go after a 42-17 blowout at the hands of the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, leaving an opening in south Florida.

Prior to firing Gase, owner Stephen Ross explicitly said the Dolphins would not hire Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, as the Miami Herald pointed out, there are reasons to believe that could change. Ross had not yet made the decision to fire Gase when he made those comments, and he is a Michigan alum.

The Dolphins also reportedly tried to lure Harbaugh away from Stanford in 2011. Harbaugh eventually became the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, while Miami kept incumbent head coach Tony Sparano.

Finally, former Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik said on Twitter that he believes the Dolphins will make a run at Harbaugh.

The case for Harbaugh is clear: He has a 44-19-1 head coaching record in the NFL and a 67-35 record in college. He was a few yards away from winning the Super Bowl in 2012. Lopsided losses to Ohio State and Florida to close out Michigan’s season could, theoretically, give him reason to leave his alma mater for Miami.

Still, there has been no indication from Harbaugh that he would rather be anywhere but Ann Arbor. In fact, he has said the opposite. Miami’s head coaching vacancy is arguably not the most desirable this offseason, given the team’s lack of consistent success in recent years and the possibility of starting over at quarterback.

The Dolphins have several other options if there is truly nothing to the Harbaugh rumors. They have at least four interviews scheduled in the coming days, according to the Florida Sun-Sentinel. Some of the names include Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Kris Richard and Chicago Bears Vic Fangio.