Jack Harbaugh is the proudest man in football, challenged only by Archie Manning.
While Archie got to see his sons win Super Bowls in back-to-back seasons, as Peyton and Eli did in 2006 and 2007, the elder Harbaugh will have some sort of joy once the confetti rains down on the Superdome field, as both his sons Jim and John are coaching in the game. It is the first time in NFL history that two brothers have coached against each other and the siblings have already decided to handle things strictly as business.
According to the Associated Press, the two brothers have exchanged a few text messages and feel that those are enough. The two decided no phone calls or contact is necessary as they prepare for the biggest game of their lives.
"It doesn't matter who the coach is, what relationship you have with the person on the other side," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said so matter-of-factly Monday afternoon.
The Super Bowl has already spawned a number of nicknames, including the "Harbowl" or "Superbaugh".
The idea of two brothers coaching against each other will be the dominating storyline in the game, but there is are many different angles for the Super Bowl this season, including Ray Lewis' pending retirement as well as a last shot for wide receiver Randy Moss to take home a championship.
"Well, I think it's a blessing and a curse," Jim Harbaugh said Monday. "A blessing because that is my brother's team. And, also, personally I played for the Ravens. Great respect for their organization. ... The curse part would be the talk of two brothers playing in the Super Bowl and what that takes away from the players that are in the game. Every moment that you're talking about myself or John, that's less time that the players are going to be talked about."
The Harbaugh parents said they are not picking sides for the Feb. 3 game, but will enjoy the two brothers competing against each other. One thing their father will do though, is give advice. His main mantra is: "Get ahead, stay ahead." The two coaches have taken that to heart in their careers, which is one reason why they are in the Super Bowl.
"Probably the greatest advice that I've ever been given and the only advice that I've ever found to be true in all of coaching, I think we mentioned it to both John and Jim ... the coaching advice is, 'Get ahead, stay ahead,'" Jack Harbaugh said. "If I'm called upon, I'll repeat that same message."
The brothers have already coached against each other in the past, matching up for the first time in 2011 in Thanksgiving, which saw the Ravens beat the 49ers 16-6, in Jim's first season as head coach after coming over from Stanford.
"I just want everybody to know, that was a four-day deal and every story has been told," John said. "We're not that interesting. There's nothing more to learn. The tape across the middle of the room story, OK, you got it? It's OK. It was just like any other family, really. I really hope the focus is not so much on that. We get it, it's really cool and it's exciting and all that."
The 49ers are the early favorite by Las Vegas, but that doesn't make the game any less historic or exciting. The two are separated by 15 months, with John being the older sibling. Jim played professionally for the Chicago Bears and Ravens after starring at Michigan, but never made it to the Super Bowl. John did not play professionally, but has spent more time coaching.
"I like reading a lot of history ... I guess it's pretty neat," John Harbaugh offered Monday. "But is it really going to be written about? It's not exactly like Churchill and Roosevelt or anything. It's pretty cool, but that's as far as it goes."
During his playing career, Jim made it to the Pro Bowl and was a first round pick by the Bears. Adding another interesting wrinkle into the game: Jim was the first career sack for Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis back in 1996, when he played for the Indianapolis Colts. Harbaugh and the Colts defeated Lewis and the Ravens, 26-21.
"My legend grows," Harbaugh joked. "Ray Lewis' first sack."
Both teams suffered heartbreaking losses last year in the championship round before breaking through this season. The 49ers gave up two crucial fumbles to the Giants, while the Ravens missed two opportunities to possible extend their game before falling to New England, including Lee Evans' end zone drop and a missed kick from Billy Cundiff.
This season, Baltimore was left for dead against the Denver Broncos in the AFC championship with 30 seconds left in the game, but instead the Ravens battled back and scored an amazing touchdown on a deep pass to send the game to overtime. Following a back-and-forth quarter or play, the Ravens finished things off early in the second overtime, with Justin Tucker kicking the game winning field goal.
The 49ers won't be discouraged if they go down early in the Super Bowl either, as the team made the biggest comeback victory in the history of the NFC Championship Game by erasing a 17-point Falcons deficit. The defense will need to play at its regular season form to keep the Ravens at bay. The 49ers were ranked fourth in rushing offense and defense, but have given up at least 28 points in two playoff games so far this year.
Both brothers have learned from their experiences in the NFL and no matter what happens on Super Bowl Sunday, the Harbaugh parents will be very proud.
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