Meyer calls for NFL suspension of Harbaugh

Urban Meyer argues that the NFL should suspend Jim Harbaugh after NCAA penalties against Michigan, invoking past league actions.

Meyer presses NFL to suspend Harbaugh

The NCAA recently issued the final punishment for Michigan over the Connor Stalions sign stealing case, including a 10-year show-cause order against Jim Harbaugh. Urban Meyer, a former Ohio State and Jacksonville coach, said on The Triple Option podcast that the NFL should mirror that sanction for Harbaugh, referencing a past incident in which Jim Tressel was suspended by the NFL after being fired by Ohio State. The Colts reportedly honored the NCAA stance by suspending Tressel for the first six games, a precedent Meyer cites as a model for professional football.

The NFL has not commented on the matter, and league officials have not publicly outlined how it would handle a cross-sport sanction. The discussion underscores a broader question: should the NFL apply its own disciplinary standards in cases connected to college history, or keep punishment solely within football’s professional realm? While some see merit in a clear, public standard, others warn that action or inaction could shape the league’s credibility and fan trust.

The episode tests how the NFL defines accountability beyond the field. If the league follows a punched-in precedent, it risks confirming a unified standard that may set a higher bar for staff and coaches across football’s pecking order. If it stays silent, it may fuel cynicism about inconsistent governance and the league’s willingness to police its own.

This moment matters for viewers, sponsors, and players who care about transparency. The challenge is to balance due process with timely clarity. What the NFL chooses to do will speak as loudly as any play on the field.

Highlights

As the league weighs its next move, clear reasoning matters more than headlines.