Just when Michigan football fans worried that Jim Harbaugh might leave Ann Arbor for the NFL (again) were just about to relax, with his likeliest destinations apparently moving on, there’s a report of a potential new spot for the Wolverines’ coach.
The Minnesota Vikings are interested in interviewing Harbaugh for their vacant head coaching gig. Harbaugh and the Vikings had exploratory conversations about the team’s coaching vacancy Saturday, a person with knowledge of the process told the USA TODAY Network.
The Associated Press was first to report the talks between the Vikings and Harbaugh.
The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the team was not publicizing the meeting, said both sides are gauging interest.
Harbaugh had been linked this offseason to the Miami Dolphins (who are owned by Michigan mega-donor Stephen Ross), the Chicago Bears (for whom he played seven seasons) and the Las Vegas Raiders (the one-time cross-Bay rivals when he coached the San Francisco 49ers).
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But Ross nixed raiding his alma mater for a coach, the Bears hired Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus and the Raiders appear to be leaning toward New England Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels after interviewing him Friday.
Enter the Vikings, who fired coach Mike Zimmer on Jan. 10 after…