Dolphins Reportedly Pass on Jim Harbaugh, Will Retain Tony Sparano

Jim Harbaugh may still make the jump to the NFL next season. He just won't be doing so with the Dolphins.

According to multiple reports Thursday night, the Dolphins have decided to stop their pursuit of Harbaugh and will instead retain current coach Tony Sparano. FOX's Jay Glazer first reported Miami's surprising change of heart -- earlier in the day, rumors were flying that Miami and Harbaugh were closing in on a massive deal that would pay the current Stanford coach somewhere in the vicinity of $7 million per year to make the jump to the NFL.

Sparano's contract runs through the 2011 season, but all indications were that the Dolphins were ready to move on without him.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross -- an alumnus of and major contributor to the University of Michigan, where Harbaugh starred as a quarterback -- flew to California Thursday to meet with Harbaugh. That sit-down came about 24 hours after Harbaugh met with 49ers president Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke. Harbaugh's meeting with San Francisco also produced rumors that he was on the verge of joining that franchise.

Miami's withdrawal seems to leave the 49ers and Stanford in a head-to-head battle for Harbaugh's services, but a couple of other options may still be available -- Michigan, which must replace Rich Rodriguez; and the Broncos, who reportedly have tried to attain their own meeting with the highly-coveted coach.

Sparano led the Dolphins to an AFC East crown in 2008, his first year as coach of Miami, but the last two seasons have been letdowns. Miami finished 7-9 in both 2009 and 2010, and closed this season with a 1-7 mark at home, which included a Week 15 loss to Buffalo and Week 16 loss to Detroit. The Dolphins were blown out at New England in Week 17, 38-7.

The current Dolphins coach has tried to keep a business-as-usual mentality, despite the unusual circumstances. When Sparano arrived at the team complex Thursday for his daily run, he joked to the plethora of media in attendance, "You guys gotta get another hobby."