Ben Liebenberg / NFL.com

While Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is out on the recruiting trail, he and his school are trying to finalize a long-term contract extension.

Chances are, the extension gets done; Harbaugh’s priority is to stay.

But the NFL is watching and waiting to see if the deal is completed. If it isn’t, the Detroit Lions, St. Louis Rams and New York Jets each have reached out to Harbaugh to see if he would be interested in interviewing for their head coaching vacancies. Detroit would be a logical fit. Harbaugh was a star quarterback at the University of Michigan, where he went on to become a first-round draft pick for the Chicago Bears.

Yet the Lions, and any other NFL team, might not get that chance. Harbaugh and Stanford are trying to avoid it.