Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh came out in support of players making money off their name, image and likeness, but he does have some reservations around the NCAA's new policy.
During a conversation on the Jed Hughes Podcast, Harbaugh said it makes sense for players to make money off merchandise
āBefore we jump to how it can be exploited in a bad way, as we all know, human nature, thatās something that is definitely a possibility. I think we can all agree, take jersey sales for example, or T-shirts, memorabilia, those kinds of things that every school has, every school has the bookstore or the shop where fansā orders can go to buy their gear. It makes sense that the player whose number is on that jersey, their name is on that jersey, should share in that revenue,ā Harbaugh said, āThat example right there, I think, we all agree on.
āAlso, to profit off their name, their image and their likeness, I support it. You just support anybodyās ability to do that. Thatās all in the positive light and the way weāre approaching things here at Michigan.ā
But Harbaugh also said that athletes who come to Michigan to play football are there for a "transformational experience, not a transactional experience."
āWhat that literally means exactly, is weāre not going to pay signing bonuses for players to come onto the team," Harbaugh said.
"Weāre not going to pay recruits to sign here.ā
Without naming names, Harbaugh said those who are looking at NIL as a way to buy players are going down the wrong path.
ā(If) the policy on your team is to buy some of your recruits, I donāt think itāll sit well,āā Harbaugh said, āFrom that standpoint and others, thatās our decision."
For Harbaugh, the NIL game is simple.
āSome are making it sound like the coach is making a salary cap or something, the one that is writing the checks,ā Harbaugh continued, āThatās not what itās designed for. This is designed for players to profit off their name, image and likeness, period.ā