Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross talks to Brian Flores. Greg Lovett via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross shoots down Jim Harbaugh rumors

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 1/10/22

The Miami Dolphins hadn't even fired Brian Flores yet when talk of the team hiring Jim Harbaugh began to catch fire.

According to GM Stephen Ross, the Dolphins are not looking to tear the veteran coach away from his post at Michigan.

"I'm not going to be the one who takes Jim Harbaugh away from the University of Michigan," Ross stated in a news conference on Monday.

"I'm not going to be the person that takes Jim Harbaugh from the University of Michigan." - Stephen Ross

I guess you can rule Jim Harbaugh out for the Dolphins jobpic.twitter.com/JTtRVT9zb6
— Action Network NFL (@ActionNetNFL) January 10, 2022

Speculation that Harbaugh could take over the Dolphins' coaching job didn't come completely out of left field given Ross is a Michigan alumnus and connected to the infamous coach.

Then again, the Harbaugh rumors don't die with the Dolphins as there are several teams with coaching vacancies that Harbaugh could potentially fill. With the Bears, Vikings and Broncos relieving coaches this week and the Jaguars and Raiders ending their regular seasons under interim coaches, there is no shortage of places for Harbaugh to go if he decides to return to the NFL.

Harbaugh, 58, had a successful run in his four-year NFL coaching career, registering a 44-19-1 record with the San Francisco 49ers. He has a 61-24 coaching record over seven seasons at Michigan, although he has not been as successful in bowl games, and his Wolverines are coming off of a 34-11 Orange Bowl loss to the Georgia Bulldogs. The bowl game losses, however, clearly haven't deterred NFL teams from wanting to bring him back to the professional stage.

As for Flores, the now-former Dolphins coach is expected to garner interest from other teams looking to fill head coaching positions. Flores released a statement Monday following his dismissal from the Dolphins.