Could Jim Harbaugh wind up with the Cardinals in 2023?

With it now very clear that Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is interested in an NFL return, could he end up as the next head coach of the Arizona Cardinals?

It’s definitely possible that the 2022 season could wind up being the last for Kliff Kingsbury as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals. If this ends up being the case, would the Cardinals have any interest in replacing Kingsbury with Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh?

Harbaugh appeared to be heading toward a return to the NFL this year when he wound up as a finalist for the head coach opening with the Minnesota Vikings. However, the Vikings decided to go in a different direction, and Harbaugh will be returning to Michigan for the 2022 season.

But it’s now very clear that the veteran coach has an interest in returning to the pros. So if Arizona ends up being in need of a new head coach in 2023, could they turn to Harbaugh?

Why Jim Harbaugh could be a good fit as the Arizona Cardinals head coach

Part of the reason why Minnesota didn’t end up hiring Harbaugh had to do with the current state of their roster. The Vikings’ current cap situation is unfavorable and they have several high-priced veterans that are reaching the end of their tenure with the franchise. They’re closer to rebuilding than contending at this point.

When looking at the Cardinals and what their roster might look like in 2023, they seem like a much better landing spot for Harbaugh than Minnesota, especially when it comes to the quarterback position.

As the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, Harbaugh was able to lead Arizona’s NFC West rivals to three-straight NFC Championships and one Super Bowl appearance with Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick as the team’s starting quarterbacks.

Harbaugh has a track record of getting the most out of his starting signal-callers, especially in the NFL, and he could potentially do the same for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray.

When it comes to landing spots, the best fit for a 58-year-old Harbaugh would likely be with a team that is in a position to contend immediately. In 2023, Arizona will probably still fall into that category.

There’s still a long time for this to even be a consideration, and hopefully, Kingsbury is able to lead the Cardinals to even more success in 2022 than what they achieved in 2021. But if he doesn’t and Arizona ends up needing to replace him in 2023, Harbaugh could potentially be a fit as the team’s next head coach.