Forget the fact that the San Francisco 49ers have made the playoffs every year since Jim Harbaugh took over in 2011. A rocky relationship with general manager Trent Baalke, a shtick that is wearing thin with players and a disappointing third-place finish in the NFC West this season will likely result in Harbaugh's ouster from San Fran.
The 49ers will reportedly begin to seek out trade options shortly after the season, according to ESPN.
The Oakland Raiders, New York Jets and New York Giants have emerged has the most likely landing spots. The Raiders are suffering through a dismal 1-11 season right now and the rumor is that Harbaugh would like to remain in the Bay area. Remember, Harbaugh's first NFL coaching experience was as an assistant for Oakland in 2002. The Jets, meanwhile, are expected to axe head coach Rex Ryan in the early offseason as the team is poised to miss out on the playoffs for the fourth straight season. Neither team is especially rich in talent.
The Giants offer the most intriguing potential of the three. Despite their struggles, Eli Manning is a two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback and there are some decent pieces in place.
"A dark horse candidate could be the New York Giants," Greg Price of IBTimes.com wrote. "The Daily News indicated that the Giants might also pursue Harbaugh if they decide to part ways with Tom Coughlin, a possibility that gained more traction after Week 13's crippling, last-second loss to the downtrodden Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the Daily News points out, the Giants are unlikely to give Harbaugh total control of the team, which could mean a repeat of his tenure in San Francisco."
Another impediment to a trade with any team is the asking price. The 49ers reportedly almost sent the coach to the Cleveland Browns in February for two third-round pick. However, Grantland's Bill Barnwell argues that Harbaugh is worth much, much more than that.
This much we know: Harbaugh is a good NFL coach with proven success in the league. He's the guy who saved quarterback Alex Smith from a historic bust label. He's been to three consecutive NFC Championship Games. What we don't know is where he'll be next year.
