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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Jim Harbaugh sidesteps questions about Michigan job

Jim Harbaugh continues to deflect talk of his future. (Associated Press)
Mark Snyder Detroit Free Press

Jim Harbaugh may have the Michigan fan base frenzied, but it’s tough to tell if he knows it.

At his weekly news conference Thursday afternoon, previewing Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, Harbaugh brushed off the attention.

Playing off the NFL Network’s Wednesday report of a six-year, $48 million offer from Michigan for the vacant head coaching job, the San Francisco 49ers’ coach was asked if he was offered a contract by the school.

“As you know, I only talk about the job that I have,” Harbaugh replied, calmly, to reporters at the team facility in Santa Clara, California. “We’ve been together a long time, it’s a longstanding policy.”

But he wasn’t really interested in talking about his current job either.

Harbaugh, the former Michigan star quarterback, is being pursued by UM brass and has been the primary target since Brady Hoke was fired Dec. 2.

Yet Harbaugh still has a year remaining on the five-year contract he signed with the 49ers in January 2011. So, even though many consider his rift with management beyond repair, he still is their employee.

Asked if it is still his intention to coach out his contract, Harbaugh avoided a direct answer.

“Yeah, I’ve said we’re going to finish this to the end,” he said. “My focus is the same as the players’ focus, the same as the coaches’ focus. Focus on the practice field, the focus on the meetings by our players and our coaches and by me. That is our focus in our football game against the San Diego Chargers. Playing well and winning, that’s where our energy is.”