San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh is still under contract with the organization for another season, but it is becoming rapidly clear that his future will be elsewhere in 2015.
We might be a step closer in determining where, exactly, that will be this weekend.
According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, University of Michigan officials, including interim athletic director Jim Hackett, will be in the Bay Area this weekend following the 49ers' finale to speak with Harbaugh face-to-face for the first time. Many believe that a return to Michigan is in the cards for the former Wolverines quarterback after Rapoport reported a six-year, $48 million offer was made to the embattled head coach by the school earlier this month. Harbaugh has refused to elaborate on his future in recent weeks, though.
Michigan won't be the only suitor in the mix for Harbaugh this weekend. According to Rapoport, Oakland Raiders officials will also be nearby (or at least closer than they already are) and plan to speak with Harbaugh about their head-coaching vacancy.
Harbaugh, 51, led remarkable turnarounds during his time leading the University of San Diego and Stanford before moving up the road and turning the 49ers into Super Bowl contenders in each of the past three seasons.
With San Francisco eliminated from playoff contention, the drama about where Harbaugh will go next is a compelling storyline heading into the final week of the NFL regular season.
You can follow Bryan Fischer on Twitter at @BryanDFischer.