/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44411652/460737642.0.jpg)
The San Francisco 49ers have not yet wrapped up their season, but we are getting numerous reports that Jim Harbaugh is headed to Michigan as soon as Monday or Tuesday. Bleacher Report's Jason Cole and Ann Arbor based New York Times bestseller John Bacon are both reporting Harbaugh is headed back to his alma mater. Cole said it is 98 percent likely, while Bacon has said it is a done deal. This comes after we have already heard from one of our own readers with his own source on the subject.
There have been numerous reports this was going to happen, and at this point it seems like there is very little that could stop the momentum. I suppose something could change when Black Monday opens up a variety of NFL jobs, but given how far along this is, I would be surprised if he ended up anywhere but Michigan at this point.
It is disappointing to see this end without a Lombardi Trophy, but clearly the relationship between Jim Harbaugh, Jed York and Trent Baalke has grown beyond repair. People will look to blame York and/or Baalke exclusively, but it is important to remember that this is likely not a simple black and white issue. You can blame who you want, but from the random rumors and speculation floating around, this is not a simple case of A or B being wrong.
This whole situation has seen egos and selfishness run amok on BOTH sides.
1. If Harbaugh already has a deal or close to done, then clearly he has not been 100 percent focused on his job as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. We don't know when the distractions began, but his comments about only being focused on game X or game Y can be seen as just talk.
2. On the other side of things, there are plenty of rumors, Jed York is involved in some of the Harbaugh related leaks. It could have been to ease the fall when the team eventually parted ways with Harbaugh. Even if not, we have not seen much in the way of leadership from this organization as it has leaked worse than a sieve.
I have heard enough from both sides that I am going to put together a bit of a rumor dump that lists a lot of the random things I've heard about all this. It is one reason I am not prepared to totally crush one side or the other. This is all about personalities run amok. I am inclined to blame everybody. York and Baalke will bare the brunt of it from fans because Harbaugh won games and is no longer going to be around, but in reality, I blame all sides on this. It's stupid crap, and they all should be embarrassed.