Harbaugh vs. Harbaugh: A Rivalry Rekindled as Ravens Face Chargers
It wasn’t the picture-perfect moment John Harbaugh had imagined growing up. As a kid, he watched Super Bowl-winning coaches hoisted into the air by their players or drenched in celebratory Gatorade showers. But when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 to win Super Bowl XLVII, John found himself standing alone on the field. That’s when it hit him—he had something more personal to handle.
In the only Super Bowl to feature siblings as head coaches, John approached his younger brother, Jim, for a handshake and a hug. But Jim, the 49ers’ head coach, had other plans. With an outstretched arm, he stopped John in his tracks and said, “There will be no hug.”
Fast forward 11 years, and the Harbaugh brothers are set to meet again as opposing head coaches. On Monday night, John’s Ravens (7-4) will travel to SoFi Stadium to face Jim’s Los Angeles Chargers (7-3) in a primetime showdown (8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC). While the stakes aren’t as high as their Super Bowl clash, the competitive fire between the brothers is as strong as ever.
The Har-Bowl Legacy
The Harbaugh brothers made history as the only siblings to face off as head coaches in the NFL’s 105-year history, and their Super Bowl matchup remains a unique chapter in sports lore. Their first meeting came on Thanksgiving in 2011, when John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s 49ers 16-6. The following season, they met again on football’s biggest stage, with John once again emerging victorious. For John, the record stands at 3-0, including a preseason win in 2014. For Jim, the Super Bowl loss still stings.
“I think he’s still working on it,” their father, Jack Harbaugh, said. The family has rarely discussed that game, but three years ago, Jim finally acknowledged it during a visit to John’s home. Standing in John’s recreational barn, which features a photo from the Super Bowl, Jim told his son, “It’s OK to talk about that. That was a great day for Uncle John. We’re happy to celebrate that.”
Still, the competitive tension lingers. Jim has often pointed to a controversial non-call in the final minutes of the Super Bowl as a pivotal moment. With the 49ers trailing by three, a fourth-down pass from Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree fell incomplete after contact from Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith. Officials ruled the contact incidental, but Jim has long argued it should have been a holding penalty.
Family Dynamics and Football Philosophy
Born just 15 months apart, John and Jim have always been close, yet fiercely competitive. Their mother, Jackie, describes them as “almost like twins.” From their football philosophies to their wardrobes, the similarities are striking. Both favor a physical, run-heavy style of play, often donning ball caps and khakis on the sidelines. They even share coaching mantras passed down from their father, a longtime college coach.
Jim’s Chargers roster features seven former Ravens players, including J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards. Meanwhile, John’s Ravens staff includes Doug Mallory, a former college teammate of Jim’s. The connections run deep, with several coaches and executives having worked for both brothers at different points in their careers.
Sibling Rivalry: From Backyard to Big Leagues
Long before they were NFL head coaches, John and Jim honed their competitive edge in the backyard. They played a game of “chicken,” throwing a football at each other from increasingly closer distances until someone flinched. In the driveway, they battled with tennis balls and hockey sticks, often breaking windows in the process. “We didn’t have any pads or anything, and we would go for hours,” John recalled. “Knocked out every window eventually.”
Jim, the more physically gifted athlete, starred as a quarterback at Michigan and later played in the NFL. John, a defensive back at Miami (Ohio), took a different path, eventually becoming one of the league’s longest-tenured head coaches. Despite their different journeys, the brothers have always supported each other. In high school, Jim once warned John about an opponent’s double move, helping him make a key defensive play. “I’m glad we got to him,” Jim said.
Monday Night Showdown
As the Ravens and Chargers prepare to face off, the Harbaugh family is bracing for another emotional night. The game falls on Jack and Jackie’s 63rd wedding anniversary, adding another layer of significance. The couple plans to watch the game with their daughter, Joani, and her family in Florida. “It was the quietest any of us have ever been watching a game,” Joani said of the Super Bowl. “So I think I’m expecting that … maybe.”
For John and Jim, Monday’s game is another chapter in their lifelong rivalry. While it’s not the Super Bowl, the stakes are still high, with both teams vying for playoff positioning. And no matter the outcome, the Harbaugh brothers will continue to push each other, just as they’ve done since their backyard battles.
Originally Written by: Kris Rhim
