Mark Snyder

Detroit Free Press

With the end of the NFL regular season approaching next weekend, NFL coach names are beginning to leak into the Michigan coaching pool.

San Francisco 49ers' coach Jim Harbaugh remains the top candidate and the job appears to be his to decide on next week after the 49ers' season ends.

But Michigan's backup plan has cut a wide path, making contact with many names in the coaching profession. U-M is employing the search firm Korn Ferry to assist interim athletic director Jim Hackett in the process.

CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora, a former Free Press writer, reported this morning that U-M is targeting other NFL coaches, most who would be available at the end of next week.

"Michigan has maintained a desire to land Harbaugh's brother, John, as well, sources said, but the Ravens coach has made it clear he has no interest in leaving Baltimore. Other NFL coaches on the school's radar include New Orleans' Sean Payton, Buffalo's Doug Marrone and Dallas' Jason Garrett (who is expected to sign an extension with the Cowboys shortly after the season)"

Marrone was Syracuse's head coach from 2009-2012.

The Jim Harbaugh news pertains more to the 49ers and how motivated they'll be to cut ties with Harbaugh quickly. With a competitive NFL market out there, cutting ties with Harbaugh quickly after the season -- whether he goes to U-M or they trade him for a draft pick to another team -- allows them to be in the market early.

La Canfora also reported that "Harbaugh initially briefly accepted the Michigan job back in 2011, when he was preparing to leave Stanford for other opportunities, then reached out to the search firm running the process shortly thereafter to say he had changed his mind."

Michigan's coaching search officially began on Dec. 2, when Hackett fired Brady Hoke after four seasons.

Contact Mark Snyder at msnyder@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at @mark__snyder.