Inside John and Jim Harbaugh’s First Meeting Since the Super Bowl
Here's a rewritten version of the article:
John and Jim Harbaugh: The Sibling Rivalry Reignites After Over a Decade
John Harbaugh never imagined that the pinnacle of his football career would look the way it did after Super Bowl XLVII. As a child, he’d watched Super Bowl-winning coaches get lifted off the field, drenched in Gatorade, surrounded by triumphant players.
But when John’s Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII 34-31 against Jim's San Francisco 49ers in 2013, John found himself standing alone on the field. In that moment, it hit him — he knew exactly what he had to do.
After coaching against each other in the first Super Bowl between sibling head coaches, John approached his younger brother Jim and offered his hand. Jim, however, responded by blocking a potential embrace with a forearm to John's chest.
"There will be no hug," Jim told him firmly.
The Rematch
On Monday, more than 11 years after that historic, emotionally charged matchup, John and Jim will face off again, this time as head coaches of the Ravens (7-4) and the Los Angeles Chargers (7-3), respectively. Their teams are both vying for playoff positioning, but the stakes are much lower than they were during the Super Bowl.
While the rivalry is still intact, those closest to the brothers don’t expect a repeat of the drama that surrounded their first meeting. The title of "Har-Bowl Part 2" doesn’t quite carry the same weight, but bragging rights are still on the line. John, who is 2-0 against Jim in regular-season games, reminds everyone that the Ravens beat the 49ers in a 2014 preseason game as well — meaning he’s 3-0.
Reflecting on the week before the Super Bowl, John recounted something Jim had told him:
"‘When that game starts, my brothers are going to be the guys on the sideline with me,'" John remembered Jim saying. "That's how it works. When you're on that sideline, you stake out your territory, and you're with your family over there.
The Harbaughs’ Unique Legacy
John and Jim are the only brothers in NFL history to face off as head coaches, making their rivalry a part of football folklore. Their first encounter came on Thanksgiving 2011, when John's Ravens defeated Jim's 49ers 16-6. The following year, the Super Bowl matchup ended with another Ravens victory — a result rarely discussed between the brothers.
It wasn't until three years ago that Jim finally acknowledged the Super Bowl defeat when he visited John in Maryland with his son Jack. As they walked into John's barn, Jim remarked, "That was a great day for Uncle John. We're happy to celebrate that."
Even so, some believe Jim is still processing the loss. Their father, Jack, mused, "I think he's still working on it."
Family Dynamics: A Tale of Two Coaches
The story of Super Bowl XLVII has become a favorite family anecdote, though it’s not without controversy. Jim recalls struggling to sleep after the loss, channel surfing when he saw his father celebrating at the Ravens’ victory party. Jim claims Jack was on TV dancing while smoking a cigar — something John vehemently denies. Their father insists, "I've never had a cigar in my mouth."
For Jim, it’s the controversial no-call on the 49ers’ final offensive play that still stings. In the dying minutes of the game, San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick's pass was deemed uncatchable after contact with wide receiver Michael Crabtree in the end zone. Jim, however, was adamant that a penalty should have been called.
The fallout from the Super Bowl led to five days of silence between the brothers, though they eventually spoke when John was en route to New York for an appearance on the "Late Show with David Letterman." Jim, who called John during the train ride, didn’t hold back on the officiating issue, but the conversation eventually faded.
A Shared Football Philosophy
Now in his 17th season with the Ravens, John has become one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NFL, only trailing Mike Tomlin. Jim, meanwhile, is in his second year with the Chargers after spending nine seasons as Michigan's head coach, where he won the national championship in 2023.
Despite their different teams, the Harbaughs remain in close contact. Both send game film to their father, Jack, a former college coach who is still known for providing insightful feedback.
This year, however, things are a bit more complicated, as Jim is back in the NFL coaching against his brother. Their father is keenly aware that certain strategies cannot be shared between them, especially with playoff implications at stake.
The Harbaugh Brothers: Still Competing Like Kids
Though they’re now coaching professional teams, the Harbaugh brothers' rivalry dates back to their childhood. Growing up, their competitive nature was evident in games like "chicken," where they would throw a football at each other from close range until one dropped it. Their driveway battles with tennis balls and hockey sticks were just as fierce.
John, the defensive back at Miami (Ohio), often faced off against Jim, a star quarterback at Michigan and later in the NFL. “Jim was one of the most underrated quarterbacks in the history of the NFL,” John has often said.
Throughout their competitive journey, they’ve always had each other’s backs, from high school football games to family moments like Jim guiding John from the stands during a pivotal moment in a game.
Even in their youth, the Harbaughs never lacked for intensity. When John played for a higher-level travel baseball team and Jim’s team, coached by their father, faced off, it was John’s team that triumphed 1-0. “So I won that one too,” John says with a smile.
A Family Affair: The Ravens-Chargers Game
This year, the Ravens-Chargers game falls on November 25, the 63rd wedding anniversary of Jack and Jackie Harbaugh. The couple, who now watch games separately, are used to the tension between their sons. Jackie, ever the football enthusiast, tends to stand while watching, often calling out plays and critiquing the officials, while Jack remains more reserved.
While Jack and Jackie won’t be attending the game in person, they plan to watch it with their daughter in Florida. It will be a bittersweet moment for the family, reflecting on the rivalry that, over the years, has come to be a staple of the Harbaugh family’s football legacy.
Though the drama of Super Bowl XLVII has faded, for the Harbaugh family, the competition between John and Jim remains an important thread in the tapestry of their careers — and their lives.
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