Harbaugh gets second interview with Vikings as Dolphins look at other candidates

Don’t pencil in Jim Harbaugh as the next coach of the Miami Dolphins just yet.

Harbaugh will meet for a second interview with the Minnesota Vikings on Wednesday, suggesting the University of Michigan coach is ready to return to the NFL.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Harbaugh showed legitimate interest during his first interview with the Vikings and that the team feels he is ready to make his return to the league.

The Dolphins have scheduled interviews this week with San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel and Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Dolphins owner Steve Ross, a big Michigan booster, said at the start of his coaching search the Dolphins wouldn’t hire Harbaugh.

“I’m not going to be the person who takes Jim Harbaugh away from Michigan,” said Ross, whose name is on the university’s school of business.

Harbaugh, the older brother of Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, also talked with the Chicago Bears before they hired Indianapolis defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, a source said.

Minnesota interviewed Harbaugh via Zoom video on Saturday, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, and is scheduled to meet with team officials on Wednesday. That meeting coincides with National Signing Day for high school recruits to makes their college choices, a day busy with other chores for most college coaches.

Add it all up and it appears Harbaugh is returning to the NFL after seven years at Michigan. He previously took the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl and two other NFC Championship games.

Harbaugh, 58, also could be reuniting with new Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who worked with Harbaugh in San Francisco when he was the 49ers’ manager of football research and development.

Harbaugh, who led the 49ers to a 44-19-1 record in four seasons and took them to a Super Bowl in his second year, has gone 61-24 at Michigan.