NFL coaches: Harbaugh may get $48 million at Michigan

After four seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh is expected to accept a six-year, $48 million offer to become the next head coach at the University of Michigan, sources close to the negotiations with the university confirmed to The Sports Xchange.

The source expects a press conference to announce Harbaugh’s hiring early next week, likely on Tuesday.

“That’s what everybody on staff believes is going to happen this week,” one of the sources told the Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole. “Jim has figured out that his style is best-suited for the college game. His shtick works better with young guys who are gone after three or four years.”

FOX Sports also reported that Harbaugh’s family is headed to Michigan for Tuesday announcement

While Harbaugh might listen to pitches from the Oakland Raiders or other NFL teams, a contingent from the university reportedly is in the Bay Area this weekend to talk to Harbaugh, whose tenure in San Francisco is expected to end with a year left on his contract. Harbaugh did not discuss his job status when asked by local media Friday.

Before leading the 49ers to three NFC title games in his first three seasons, Harbaugh was a successful coach at San Diego State and Stanford.

According to Cole’s sources, Harbaugh was leaning against a return to college but has changed his mind because he is not enamored with the NFL options, which potentially include the Raiders and New York Jets.

Harbaugh is expected to bring 49ers assistants with him to Michigan, including Reggie Davis and John Morton, sources told Cole.

The Wolverines fired Brady Hoke at the end of this season, which saw Michigan compile a 5-7 record and miss playing in a bowl game.

—Rex Ryan is expected to be fired by the New York Jets despite a season-ending victory at Miami for the second consecutive season. Ryan said he was not informed that he would be fired.

“Last time I checked, I am under contract,” Ryan said Sunday night.

Reports indicated that Ryan’s office at the team’s Florham Park, N.J. headquarters had been cleared out over the weekend. There were also reports that the team is searching for a general manager with a stronger personnel background than current GM John Idzik, a financial specialist who is expected to be fired as well.

Idzik would not comment Sunday, saying without a change in expression “I’ll get you guys later” after passing a horde of reporters.

“I’m proud to be the head coach of this team,” Ryan said.

— Sunday’s 34-3 home loss to the Carolina Panthers that cost the Atlanta Falcons the NFC South title may have been the last game for head coach Mike Smith.

Before the game, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported members of the Falcons’ coaching staff believe Smith’s job wasn’t completely safe even if the team had beaten Panthers.

ESPN reported search firm Korn Ferry was retained to identify potential head-coaching candidates.

According to NFL.com report, Smith’s assistants believe he will be fired if the Falcons lose and finish at 6-10, and that even a victory won’t necessarily ensure he returns in 2015. Smith is 66-56 as the Falcons’ head coach, but the team is 10-21 over the past two seasons while dealing with a constant string of injuries.

—Coach Marc Trestman and his staff have not been informed of their fate following Sunday’s finale against the Minnesota Vikings but some assistant coaches are bracing for the worst. Trestman said after the loss to the Vikings that he is planning to come to work Monday to begin repairing the team.

“I’m getting ready for (Monday) at 11 o’clock,” Trestman said of his usual day-after-game press conference, adding that he expects to return in 2015. “My plan is to continue to finalize my notes now that the season is over. Make sure that, if the opportunity arises, I’ll be able to explain how we fix this thing.”

—New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin is expected to return for the 2015 season with several emerging young players helping the team show progress over the final half of this season.