Saturday, February 22, 2014
The Plain Dealer
INDIANAPOLIS
The Browns nearly pulled off a trade with the 49ers for the rights to coach Jim Harbaugh, profootballtalk.com reported today — and the Browns didn’t deny it.
Team spokesman Zak Gilbert said in a statement released to the media, “The team conducted an extensive coaching search, and explored several options. That search produced an outstanding head coach in Mike Pettine and we’re excited about his future with the club.’’
However, 49ers CEO Jed York later tweeted “the report isn’t true.’’
Former Browns general manager Mike Lombardi, who was fired Feb. 11, is extremely close with Harbaugh, who hired Lombardi’s son, Mick, as his personal assistant last year.
Harbaugh was involved in contract extension talks with the 49ers last summer, but talks grew contentious and broke off. Harbaugh has reportedly had a strained relationship with 49ers GM Trent Baalke for the past several months.
Harbaugh, who led the 49ers to three straight NFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl in the past three seasons, just finished the third year of a five-year contract that pays him $5 million a year.
Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com reported that a deal was in place with the Browns that would’ve sent multiple picks to the 49ers for Harbaugh, but that Harbaugh ultimately decided not to leave the 49ers.
It would’ve been the first trade for a coach since the Raiders traded the rights to Jon Gruden to the Bucs in 2002 for first-round picks in 2002 and 2003 and second-round picks in 2002 and 2004.
Two high-ranking 49ers source told NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that the report was “completely false. Ridiculous.’’
Profootballtalk.com tweeted in response to Rapoport’s report: “Your source is lying or misinformed.’’
Lombardi helped both of the Harbaugh brothers get their first jobs in the NFL, Jim in Oakland and John, the current Ravens coach, in Philadelphia.
Florio said on 95.7 The Game in the Bay area Friday that Harbaugh was seriously considering the move, but that his family, specifically Sarah, didn’t want to move to Cleveland.
In Cleveland, Harbaugh — who was born in Toledo and whose grandparents live in Bainbridge — would’ve faced his brother John twice a year.