Carolina Panthers owner David Tepper has reportedly reached out to Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh about the Panthers’ head coaching vacancy.
According to a source, Harbaugh will likely be in high demand for an NFL return this offseason, with the Denver Broncos also rumored to be interested in him for their head coaching job.
It is believed that if an NFL team offers Harbaugh a job, he will leave the Wolverines, for whom he has a $3 million buyout.
The Panthers fired Matt Rhule in mid-October after a 1-4 start to the season, and Steve Wilks took over as interim head coach.
While Wilks led the Panthers to five victories in the following 10 games, the team was eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
This is not the first time that Tepper has expressed interest in Harbaugh, who coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014.
Harbaugh recently returned to Michigan after an interview with the Minnesota Vikings, and has previously stated that he is not interested in seeking a return to the NFL.