National Football League

49ers GM: Michigan contacted team to interview Jim Harbaugh

Published Dec. 23, 2014 11:21 a.m. ET

foxsports

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke confirmed during a radio interview that the University of Michigan reached out to him, looking for permission to interview Jim Harbaugh for its vacant head-coaching job.

"I think the University of Michigan, in reaching out, did handle it correctly," Baalke said during an interview with 95.7 The Game. "As I look at it, it's very simple. He's the head football coach of the San Francisco 49ers."

Reports swirled last week at the university had offered Harbaugh a six-year, $48 million contract to take over for the fired Brady Hoke. FOX Sports NFL Insider Jay Glazer also reported that Harbaugh would be fired within 24-48 hours after the 49ers' last regular season game. Neither the team nor Harbaugh has commented publicly about either report.

"We heard the same thing last year with the University of Texas and USC and a couple of others making overtures to him. He's a good football coach. And people want good football coaches. So anytime there's an opportunity for a place like the University of Michigan or University of Texas to look into a good football coach, they do that. And that's to be expected. You'd rather have somebody that's coveted than somebody that's not."