Jim Harbaugh Relishes Challenge of Guiding 49ers to Glory Again

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West

Twenty-four hours after it seemed he'd slipped through their fingers, San Francisco found that Jim Harbaugh wasn't as elusive as all that Friday.

The veteran Stanford coach struck a five-year, $25 million deal with the 49ers, passing up a deal offered by the Miami Dolphins that would have netted him a reported $2 million or more per year.

The deal comes in the wake of the 49ers' signing Trent Baalke earlier this week to be the general manager and puts San Francisco in position to formulate plans going forward toward the draft as the club tries to bring to an end a streak of eight consecutive years without an appearance in the playoffs.

"This was the perfect competitive opportunity for me,'' Harbaugh said. "We have the opportunity to put together a team that has a chance to win for the San Francisco 49ers,

Baalke and Harbaugh have met several times over the last few years as Baalke was scouting some of Harbaugh's players, and once it became clear midseason that San Francisco might have a coaching opening, Harbaugh was the primary target.

 

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