NFL coaching vacancies: 5 college football coaches who could make the jump ft. Jim Harbaugh

The NFL regular season has come to an end, and seven teams are already looking for a new coach.

With seven franchises searching for a new head coach, several college football coaches have been rumored to be making the jump to the NFL.

If NFL teams do look toward college, here are five coaches who could make the move to the pro league.

Jim Harbaugh and 4 other college football coaches who could make the jump to the NFL

#1 Jim Harbaugh, Michigan

Jim Harbaugh led Michigan to the national championship

The most highly sought-after coach in college will be Michigan's Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh has been linked to the NFL for a couple of seasons now, but after winning the national championship, he has nothing else to prove in college.

Jim Harbaugh also hired Don Yee as his agent, which many thought indicated he would be off to the NFL. However, he wouldn't comment on his future after winning the national championship.

“I just want to enjoy this. I hope you give me that. Can a guy have that?” Harbaugh said. “Does it always have to be, ‘What’s next, what’s the future?’”

The Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders have reportedly expressed their interest in him.

#2 Lincoln Riley, USC

Lincoln Riley is the head coach of USC

The next college football coach who could be off to the NFL is USC Trojans' Lincoln Riley.

Riley has been a college football head coach since 2017 when he led Oklahoma to a 12-2 record in his first season. He was with the Sooners for five seasons, going 55-10, and then left to join the Trojans.

In two seasons in USC, Riley has gone 19-8 but could go to the NFL to reunite with his quarterback, Caleb Williams.

After Riley left for USC, his QB followed him there, and the two could become a package deal in the NFL. Riley is a great offensive mind who should get a look in the NFL.

#3 Kirby Smart, Georgia

Kirby Smart has been the head coach of Georgia since 2016

Kirby Smart is considered one of the top coaches in college football right now, if not the top, and would no doubt have an interest from the NFL if he explores it.

Smart led Georgia to back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022 and has a 94-16 record as the Bulldogs coach. Smart is a defensive-minded coach who could get a look as a defensive coordinator in the NFL or be a head coach.

#4 Ryan Day, Ohio State

Ryan Day could leave Ohio State for the NFL

After the Ohio State Buckeyes lost to the Michigan Wolverines for the third straight season, there were rumors of Ryan Day exploring his NFL interest.

Day has experience coaching in the NFL, as he was the quarterbacks coach with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2015 and held the same role with the San Fransico 49ers the following season.

If Day leads Ohio State to a national championship next season, his NFL interest would skyrocket.

#5, Luke Fickell, Wisconsin

Luke Fickell is the head coach at Wisconsin

Luke Fickell is the current coach of the Wisconsin Badgers but could receive NFL interest.

Fickell is 71-31 all-time as a head coach in college football and led the Badgers to a 7-6 record in his first season there. However, his stock went through the roof when he led the Cincinnati Bearcats to the College Football Playoff as a Group of Five program.

Fickell may not be as big a name as the others on this list, but he still is an excellent coach.