American football is home to a lot of greats and legends. Some opt to branch out of the field and take on other opportunities and yet still aim to be the best in whatever they do today. While the others stay on the field as an NFL (National Football League) coach or head coach.
Harbaugh is a household name in American football, and only two names come to mind - John and Jim Harbaugh, two of the greats and legends in the field. The Harbaugh siblings have made their name as former players and are now top-of-the-line coaches of some of the best teams in the country.
Let's take a trip and check out the life and success of head coach John Harbaugh and head coach Jim Harbaugh.
Who is John Harbaugh?
John Willliam Harbaugh has been an integral part of the National Football League (NFL) for a good portion of his career. After serving as the Philadelphia Eagles special teams coach and defensive backs coach from 1998 to 2007, John Harbaugh was appointed head coach of the Baltimore Ravens in 2008.
John immediately made an impact as the Ravens head coach, leading them to their first playoff appearance since 2003, followed by five consecutive postseason berths, four AFC North titles, and ultimately a Super Bowl victory.
John Harbaugh has become one of the most successful NFL head coaches of all time, with a career record of 145 wins and 92 losses; surpassing 100 victories faster than any other head coach in NFL history.
He's widely known across the football world for his expertise and immense success within the sport over the past decade.
Early Years
John was born in Toledo, Ohio to Jack Harbaugh and Jacqueline Harbaugh and is the middle of three boys. John's mother had a great love for sports and encouraged him and his two brothers to pursue this passion.
The boys were members of the football team at Annapolis High School and John was actively involved in the team's offense as well as the defense. John had an incredible work ethic which only deepened with age; he has credited his parents for instilling in him the values that are essential for a successful life outside of sports too.
John spent much time studying and eventually earned a degree from Miami University before becoming the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens in 2008. It was then that John truly achieved success through hard work and determination, pushing forward with the same spirit imbued by his parents during his early life.
Career
Head coach John Harbaugh is renowned for being a professional head football coach in the NFL as well as his stint as a college defensive coach. He has been coaching for over 20 years and still holds the head coach position at the Baltimore Ravens.
John aims to foster an environment of excellence within his team by stressing communication, respect, and success through hard work. His commitment to developing strong leaders on and off the field has earned John Harbaugh a strong reputation on the professional football circuit.
John is most well known for leading the Baltimore Ravens to their winning season in 2012 where they achieved a Super Bowl championship victory against the San Francisco 49ers, coached by none other than his brother Jim Harbaugh. Through hard work and dedication, John Harbaugh has solidified his presence in NFL history, proving himself as one of the top coaches of this generation.
Who is Jim Harbaugh?
Jim Harbaugh has had a successful football career; his early life was marked by many awards that signified his skills and dedication to the sport. Jim gained recognition through various coaching stints, including at San Diego, Stanford, NCAA, and NFL teams.
Jim inspiringly found success in each of these institutions and became renowned for his unique strategies involving collegiate players. Jim prides himself in taking risks while simultaneously pushing boundaries which changes the way people perceive football today. His contagious enthusiasm has made Jim a figurehead in this field as he promises an amazing experience to all those who join him.
Early Years
Jim Harbaugh was born on December 23, 1963 in Toledo, Ohio. He developed a passion for football at an early age, fostered by his father who played college football and was an assistant coach at several universities. Jim's father instilled in him the drive to work hard and succeed right away. Harbaugh attended and graduated from Michigan University with a degree in economics.
Jim also had a successful football career starting in high school, where he established himself as one of the most popular stars of his class. Being recruited by several Midwest colleges, Jim chose to attend Michigan University and play for their team. Jim continued his passion for football when he left college, playing professional football with four different teams over 14 seasons between 1987-2001 before making the switch to coaching until today. Jim Harbaugh has proven that success comes through hard work and dedication that began in his early life, now working as the head coach of his alma mater, Michigan University.
Career
Following his successful college career, Jim achieved even more success in professional sports, playing for several clubs including the Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, and the San Diego Chargers. He eventually ended his career with the Baltimore Ravens.
After retiring from playing football Jim began coaching and since then has worked with Stanford University and San Francisco 49ers before being appointed at Michigan Wolverines. Jim has been recognized around the world as one of America’s most talented coaches and continues to inspire people - players, coaches, and fans alike - around him through his passion, commitment, and hard work.
John and Jim Harbaugh Highlights
John Harbaugh has had an impressive coaching career. During his time as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, he led the team to a Super Bowl championship in 2013 and eight playoff appearances in just eleven seasons with the franchise.
John Harbaugh has won four AFC North Division titles since 2012 and has achieved over one hundred wins as head coach of the Ravens. Additionally, John Harbaugh was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2011, providing further evidence of his successful coaching career.
He also held a prestigious position at the University of Pennsylvania as a Special Teams Coordinator from 1994-1996 and at Western Kentucky University where he acted as Defensive Backs Coach and Passing Game Coordinator.
John Harbaugh is not only an experienced coach but also a leader whose impact will be felt for years to come.
Jim doesn't fall behind John at all. As for Jim, his career shines brightest in this College football coaching stint. His team won the Orange Bowl during his tenure at the University of San Diego, and Jim was named Division 1-AA National Coach of the Year while he was at the University of San Diego.
Jim went on to become head coach of Stanford in 2007, turning around a then one-win program into a two-time BCS Bowl participant before leaving in 2010. Jim continued his success with the San Francisco 49ers where he led them to three consecutive NFC Championship game appearances and Super Bowl XLVII.
Jim is now back to being a college coach as Head Coach for The University of Michigan. Jim's achievements in football are numerous and noteworthy and have earned him respect from fellow coaches across the US.
Unlike most brother pairs, the Harbaugh brothers have proven that having your brother in the same field as you doesn't necessarily mean you two will be competing against each other.
If there is one thing we can pick up from the Harbaugh brothers it is that it is possible to make a name for yourself even if you have family on the same path. By locking in on their goals of greatness they both were able to achieve the highest coaching position in their respective teams. This was made possible by their dedication to their craft, and their love for football.
For most stories like this, Jim would've been outshined by John. But it goes to show that focus, and dedication to your craft will really help you establish your own name!
Another notable thing we can pick up from John and Jim is that, before becoming greats, they were just mere members of the coaching staff. John started off as a special teams coach and college defensive coach, Jim also started off as the head football coach in the teams he joined.
Today John still coaches the Baltimore Ravens, while Jim is with the Michigan Wolverines. Both are still football head coaches but on their own paths.
Although there did come a point where they both had to literally compete against each other in the NFL when Jim was the Head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, with John and the Ravens coming out victorious. Jim was able to best John once at the Super Bowl XLVII
This just goes to show how dedicated they both are to football, being able to go on the field against each other, and showing who is better at that time.
Goes to show that there's nothing wrong with a little family competition on the field to make things more interesting.
