Jim Harbaugh says 49ers told him he wouldn't be back after Seattle loss (w/video)

DETROIT — Jim Harbaugh knew on Dec. 15 he was done coaching the San Francisco 49ers. And it wasn't his decision, he says.

Dec. 15 would be the Monday after the 49ers lost 17-7 at the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15, with two games remaining in the NFL regular season and the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention.

'I was told I wouldn't be the coach anymore,' Harbaugh told Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury-News on a podcast Friday. 'I wasn't going to put the 49ers in a position to have a coach that they didn't want anymore. That's the truth of it. I didn't leave the 49ers, I felt like the 49er hierarchy left me.'

Harbaugh, who has since taken the Michigan head coaching job and finished up the 2015 recruiting class earlier this month, joined Kawakami on Friday to chat for a half-hour on a number of topics, including his 4-year coaching stint with the 49ers, the adjustment to Michigan, his alma mater, and more.

When he officially parted ways with the 49ers on Dec. 28, right after the 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 in the regular-season finale, Harbaugh reiterated he wasn't looking at any other NFL opportunity and that this was a 'decision from the heart.'

Michigan was it.

'For me, there's a lot of great jobs, great opportunities I know in coaching but, for me, the Michigan job was the best job for me,' Harbaugh said. 'That was the decision I made. . And I'm having a blast and really enjoying being in Ann Arbor. I love the leadership there, I love our president Mark Schlissel; Jim Hackett, our athletic director.

'I believe in Michigan, and it's been a great month. There's a lot of work to do and it's very, very, very enjoyable.'

Harbaugh also discussed Ohio State a little bit, but stayed even-keeled on the rival Buckeyes after they won college football's national championship.

He previously stated he would root for OSU to win it all and said he's glad it happened.

'It was good to see for the Big Ten, for the Midwest, for our conference,' Harbaugh said. 'Understanding the bar is set very high at the highest level, and that's what we'll aspire to be. It'll take fierce competition to determine playing time, starters, positions and our place in the conference.'

— Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press