Why Jim Harbaugh Is the Perfect Future Fit for the Oakland Raiders
When the San Francisco 49ers come to the Coliseum to play the Oakland Raiders, more eyes will be on Jim Harbaugh than the opposing players.
The swirling rumors about San Francisco’s discontent with its head coach led to speculation about possible destinations for Harbaugh.
According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets will inquire about trading for the 49ers' coach to run their respective teams.
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Casual fans may ask, why would a winning coach like Harbaugh come to a dump like Oakland and coach a team that hasn’t been relevant since 2002 with a young unproven quarterback? Well, if you remember where the 49ers were before Harbaugh arrived you’d know he’s not afraid of a challenge and making changes to resurrect a storied franchise.
Secondly, Harbaugh is very fond of his roots. The late Al Davis gave him his first full-time coaching opportunity in the NFL as a quarterbacks coach in 2002.
In an interview with Contra Costa Times reporter, Cam Inman, Harbaugh recalled some fond memories he experienced working within the Raiders organization under Davis.
The backstory to a potential hire is clearly present, but why do the Raiders need to close this particular deal to revive a franchise that hasn't been competitive in over a decade?
Harbaugh isn’t afraid to shake up the roster and mold it to his liking. For some coaches this can be a treacherous deal, but it has worked in his favor. In Harbaugh's second year in San Francisco, Colin Kaepernick was elevated from a relatively unknown second-round draft pick to a Super Bowl contender—foot steps Derek Carr would love to follow.
Most analysts questioned the move due to the success he cultivated with Alex Smith in the previous year reaching a 13-3 record. Harbaugh stood his ground and made the 49ers and Kaepernick a surprise success story.
The Raiders boast about the potential of their own second-round draft pick at quarterback. Carr was elevated to starter after an impressive preseason surpassing veteran Matt Schaub and second-year Matt McGloin. If Harbaugh likes what he sees in Carr, Oakland can further develop the centerpiece of its future.
The Raiders' first win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 12 resembled a Super Bowl-like atmosphere as players and fans rejoiced (almost prematurely) as the Raiders won their first game in a little over a year. The culture of the locker room and the franchise has to change.
Before Harbaugh arrived in San Francisco, the 49ers fell into a period of mediocrity, struggling to win eight games for eight consecutive seasons.
| Year | Wins | Losses |
| 2003 | 7 | 9 |
| 2004 | 2 | 14 |
| 2005 | 4 | 12 |
| 2006 | 7 | 9 |
| 2007 | 5 | 11 |
| 2008 | 7 | 9 |
| 2009 | 8 | 8 |
| 2010 | 6 | 10 |
Oakland doesn’t have as much talent on the roster as San Francisco had in 2011, but Harbaugh’s collegiate background aids the ability to scout talent in the draft.
Harbaugh’s prowess is on offense, but his teams have had a reputation for playing solid defense with exceptional play at the quarterback position. While at Stanford, he spent two years developing Andrew Luck into a prototypical NFL quarterback. In his final year at Stanford, the school was 10th in the country in points allowed per game (17.4 ppg).
The 49ers defense ranked top five in points allowed per game in the first three years of Harbaugh’s tenure—currently the defense ranks eighth. He's able to see the larger picture when assessing a team’s needs or is capable of placing the right personnel in position to carry out his vision on the defensive side of the ball.
Khalil Mack and Sio Moore are potential anchors to a solid interior defense in Oakland—and with Carr under center, Harbaugh has a solid foundation on both sides of the ball.
Of course there are some snags with bringing Harbaugh aboard. Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area and Bleacher Report’s Adam Lefkoe dug into the details:
Bair gave a 40 percent chance of Harbaugh landing in Oakland. One of the major reasons is the uncertainty of the general manager position. Will Reggie McKenzie retain his position in 2015? The ambiguity within the front office works in Harbaugh's favor.
If McKenzie is relieved of his responsibilities, it allows the head coach to impact the hiring of the general manager. Initially, the two would have to be cohesive in devising a future for the Raiders. This is ideal as opposed to forcing a marriage between a head coach and a general manager from a previous regime that could potentially cause a detrimental conflict in philosophies.
The cost of bringing Harbaugh to Oakland is another major caveat. Bair is correct when he highlights the Raiders are still in need of talent. Surrendering draft picks could hinder roster progression.
Whoever the general manager is in 2015, he cannot be shy about dipping into the cap space to sign impact free agents.
Free agents don’t always pan out as witnessed with Maurice Jones-Drew, Justin Tuck and Antonio Smith this season. The Raiders have the worst rushing attack in the league, a weak pass rush accumulating only 13 sacks and allow 130.5 rushing yards per game. However, the shortage of picks will force the need to roll the dice yet again on the free-agent market.
What about the big picture with Harbaugh?
How long will it take before he rubs management the wrong way and they want him out? Sounds silly if you’re winning, but this is an issue the 49ers are currently facing. San Francisco has played in three consecutive NFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl during Harbaugh’s four-year tenure.
They’re currently 7-5 and still have a slight chance of making the playoffs, but the front office isn’t shy about entertaining the idea of letting Harbaugh go. Do the intangibles affect the bottom line—winning?
Harbaugh can bring all that passion, attitude and fiery ruthless competitiveness to Oakland. The front office should be able to handle his attitude better than the head honchos in San Francisco. After all, the slogan reads “Just win, baby” and that’s what Harbaugh does—wherever he goes.
| Team | Year | Wins | Losses |
| University of San Diego Toreros | 2004 | 7 | 4 |
| University of San Diego Toreros | 2005 | 11 | 1 |
| University of San Diego Toreros | 2006 | 11 | 1 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 2007 | 4 | 8 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 2008 | 5 | 7 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 2009 | 8 | 5 |
| Stanford Cardinal | 2010 | 12 | 1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2011 | 13 | 3 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2012 | 11 | 4 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2013 | 12 | 4 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 2014 | 7 | 5 |
Advanced statistics provided by espn.com
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