Take heart, Raiders fans. Salvation - wearing khaki pants and a black sweatshirt - may be just around the corner. Or at least just across the Bay, as it were.
Jim Harbaugh, the grating, agitating coaching personality who currently helms the San Francisco 49ers, could be on the move after this season, and according to a report from NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, it may not be a very involved relocation.
According to Rapoport, via Kevin Patra of NFL.com, Harbaugh is a "real candidate" to land with the Oakland Raiders.
When we connect the dots, the Oakland Raiders --- who fired Dennis Allen earlier this season -- become a real candidate for landing Harbaugh, per Rapoport.
Harbaugh's wife is apparently enamored with the Bay Area and has no interest in moving the family away, a source told Rapoport.
Despite that, it would be a "surprise" if Harbaugh were to return to the 49ers next season, Rapoport reports. There has been much smoke, if not yet any confirmed fire, that Harbaugh has worn out his welcome in San Fran. From personality clashes with front office members like GM Trent Baalke to varying reports about his treatment of players - less as professionals and more as college students that need to be hovered over and micro-managed - the list of reasons for Harbaugh's eventual departure has grown considerably this season.
Miami had been floated as a possible destination, but it seems that is no longer a potential landing spot as team owner Stephen Ross is apparently not interested in firing coach Joe Philbin.
"First of all, Joe Philbin appears safe at this point," Rapoport said, via Patra. "Owner Stephen Ross does not want to fire him unless he absolutely is forced to. Plus, even if there was an opening, I am told Harbaugh is not on the Dolphins' radar."
The University of Michigan has also been mentioned in conjunction with Harbaugh's name, but there have not been any substantive reports to truly connect him there.
With Miami no longer in the running and his wife's stated interest in staying in the Bay Area, if Harbaugh is out of San Francisco next season, keep an eye on Oakland as a possible new home for those trademark khakis.
