There’s been no official statement yet, but Jim Harbaugh all but admitted that he’s not going to be the 49ers coach in 2015.
After the 49ers beat the Cardinals 20-17 in their season finale, Harbaugh met the media and offered no specifics about where he’s going — “Is the NFL going somewhere?” was his response when asked if he’d miss the NFL, presumably after taking the job at the University of Michigan that he’s reportedly going to take — and said that the team would release a statement about his future soon. He left little doubt that his time with the 49ers is done, though.
“It’s been the time of my life,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh’s time with the 49ers comes to an end with a 44-19-1 record in the regular season and a 5-3 playoff record compiled while going to the Super Bowl once and the NFC Championship game three straight years. That makes for a fitting 49 wins for Harbaugh in four years with the 49ers, leaving the team in much better shape than when he found it and leaving a high bar for the next coach to reach.
UPDATE 8:09 p.m. ET: The statement from the 49ers has been released and, as Mike Florio of PFT reported on Sunday Night Football, it is a mutual parting of the ways that leaves Harbaugh clear to take any job.