The matchup for Super Bowl XLVII is set after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game last night. It followed the San Francisco 49ers win over the Atlanta Falcons earlier in the day in the NFC title showdown. The Super Bowl will feature a showdown of coaching Harbaugh brothers with Jim leading the 49ers and John in charge of the Ravens. The game marks only the second time brothers have faced each other in NFL history with the previous game including the Harbaughs when the Ravens defeated the 49ers, 16-6, on Thanksgiving night in 2011.
Coaching is in the genes of the Harbaugh family, as their father compiled a record of 117-94 in 19 seasons as a college head coach at Western Michigan and Western Kentucky. His 2002 Western Kentucky team won the NCAA Division 1-AA Championship. Here is a brief primer on what you need to know on the NFL’s new first family in coaching.
Age
Jim (49); John (50)
Football career
Jim started 140 games at quarterback during a 14-year NFL career that included stops in Chicago, Indianapolis, Baltimore and San Diego. He made one Pro Bowl and was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor in 1995. John played defensive back at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
Coaching Start
Both brothers can trace their coaching starts to their father. Jim was an unpaid assistant at Western Kentucky under Jack during his final eight years as an NFL QB. He consulted on the offense. His first paid gig was in 2002 as an offensive assistant coach with the Oakland Raiders. John’s first job was as a graduated assistant under his dad at Western Michigan from 1984 to 1987.
Coaching Stops
John spent 14 years as an assistant coach in college at Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Morehead State and Cincinnati before nabbing a job as the Philadelphia Eagles Special Teams Coordinator in 1998. John was hired in 2008 to be the third head coach in the history of the Ravens. It was his first head coaching job at any level. Jim landed the head coaching job at the University of San Diego after two years as an assistant with the Raiders. He coached Stanford for four years, including a 12-1 record in 2010 and an Orange Bowl victory. The 49ers hired Jim in 2011.
NFL Coaching Salaries
John’s original four-year deal was worth $8 million. He signed a three-year extension in 2011 worth a reported $12 million. Jim signed a five-year, $25 million deal in 2011. He was a highly sought after coach after his turnaround of the Stanford program. The Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins were also interested in Jim, which helped him land such a lucrative deal.
NFL Coaching Highlights
John is the first head coach since the 1970 NFL merger to win a playoff game in each of his first four seasons (his streak is at five and counting). The Ravens 62 wins (including playoffs) over the past five years are more than other team besides the Patriots. Jim is 27-8-1 in his first two seasons with the 49ers. He was the NFL’s Coach of the Year after the 2011 season.
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