Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers Will Meet About Head Coach Job, According To Report

The San Francisco 49ers and Stanford Cardinal head coach Jim Harbaugh will meet at some point Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen. The meeting is set for “an undisclosed location away from the team’s training facility,” whatever that means.

Though they’ve been mentioned for several days now as candidates in the Harbaugh race, the Niners have suddenly emerged as the front-runners. According to Tuesday reports, the team solicited Harbaugh’s approval in selecting its next GM; hired Trent Baalke, one of Harbaugh’s thumbs-up’d choices; and are willing to offer the coach a role in the team’s personnel hierarchy.

Harbaugh had been widely expected to take over for Rich Rodriguez at Michigan, but was essentially ruled out of that before Rodriguez was even fired. Despite playing quarterback for the Wolverines while in college and growing up in Ohio, Harbaugh may have simply become a California guy during his four years at Stanford and three previous years at the Pioneer League’s San Diego.