Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh focused on winning a national title after brief flirtation with NFL return

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Jim Harbaugh spoke to reporters for the first time since his flirtation with the Minnesota Vikings in January and February. The process of Harbaugh signing a new contract with the UM brought about questions of whether or not this would be an annual topic.

Harbaugh told the Michigan athletic director that he doesn't want these rumors to persist beyond this year, and that he has ended his interest in the NFL for the duration of his new contract.

Harbaugh was interested in returning to the NFL to win the Super Bowl, which was reported to be a driving factor in pursuing a new opportunity. He said on Tuesday that he was focused on the possibilities at Michigan.

Harbaugh said that they could win the greatest trophy in college football and win a national championship.

He acknowledged his interest in the NFL, but said what he and the team are building in Ann arbor was exciting and has refueled his energy, saying he could coach forever with this type of team.

Harbaugh said that he decided this was where he wanted to be and that he was a lot of grateful for that. The law of averages is going to catch up with you at some point, but that is the place where you want to be.

Harbaugh said the program is still going strong despite the loss of Gattis and Macdonald, despite the fact that the program just made its first trip to the College Football Playoffs.

Harbaugh was surprised by the departure of Gattis to Miami, but said the departure was replaced quickly and completely.

Most of the team's offensive starters are returning with the co-offensive coordinators being Matt Weiss and Sherrone Moore. J.J. McCarthy is dealing with arm soreness from the season.

He is resting his arm at the moment because doctors consulted on the issue, which will not require surgery. Harbaugh said there is a short-term plan and a long-term plan for his arm, but did not think it would affect the season.

Harbaugh expressed his excitement for the program and that the team has put any uncertainty about his future behind them. He talked about building this team around players who love football, getting rid of players who don't love football, and talking about this current team as it heads into spring ball.

The whole state of the program. Harbaugh said that people who want to keep different stories going or love to hate us or love us, but we are having a blast. Whatever word you want to use, that is what we are having.