Jimmy Haslam: 'We did approach San Francisco 49ers for Jim Harbaugh'

Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has revealed that his side did approach the San Francisco 49ers about a possible trade for head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The 49ers and Harbaugh himself denied a report that suggested that the Browns were close to pulling off the deal, before they appointed Mike Pettine.

"There was an opportunity there, and it didn't materialise," Haslam told USA Today.

Harbaugh has been head coach of the 49ers since 2011, and has led them to the NFC championship game in each of his three seasons in charge of the club.