Jim Harbaugh and his brother John have already set a milestone by coaching against each other and Jim can add another one to that list: he will be coaching against his own son on Sunday.
The two brothers held the first joint press conference for head coaches in Super Bowl history and spoke about the situation surrounding the game as the first two siblings to go head-to-head. The two also spoke about Jim's son Jay, who is a coaching intern for the Baltimore Ravens, where his uncle is head coach John Harbaugh.
"I'm really thankful and proud that Jay is doing what he loves to do," Jim Harbaugh said Friday from a stage with his brother. "This week has been tough. I haven't been talking to him or calling him. I've sent a few texts to let him know how I feel about him. I don't want to get him where people are thinking I'm talking to him. I've heard he's done a great job and that means the world."
Jay, who is 23-years-old, spoke with the LA Times about the whole situation:
"I'm having the time of my life," said Jay, who will sit in the booth with Ravens offensive coaches during the game. "The entire experience is everything that you dream about. I'm just ecstatic about the whole thing. Really, it's incredible, with your first year in the NFL to be in this situation. It's really incredible to be a part of."
Much like how the brothers have kept things simple, Jay is not worried about coaching against his father Jim.
"I couldn't fathom even considering not being all in with the team that I'm a part of," he said. "Any true competitor feels the exact same way. You have to be totally all in with your team, sold on the vision. Otherwise, there's no point. No point to being a part of it, putting in all the time that you do and making the sacrifices."
Jay was low key during the run up to the game on Sunday, but he was outed on Wednesday by his grandfather Jack Harbaugh.
"One story I want to mention is Jay Harbaugh, how many know who Jay Harbaugh is?" Jack asked reporters. "Anybody know Jay Harbaugh? ... It's kind of an interesting story. He does video and works in the weight room ... so you've got father and son competing on Sunday night as well."
Jay is the oldest son of Jim and according to the LA Times, "played three years of high school football in Southern California after his dad had retired as an NFL quarterback and was coaching at the University of San Diego. Jay missed his senior season because of an injury, then spent a postgraduate year at a Connecticut prep school in hopes of playing there. He was injured again, however, and turned his attention to becoming a coach."
"I'm really thankful and proud at the same time," Jim Harbaugh said. "Jay is doing what he loves to do, and that's a real blessing. And he's doing it with the Baltimore Ravens, a tremendous organization, great coaches around him to mentor him. I hear he's doing a phenomenal job, something I'm really proud of.
"This week, I haven't been talking to him or calling him. Sent him a couple of texts to let him know how I feel about him."
Jay worked as an undergraduate assistant at Oregon State and then he was hired as an intern in the 49ers' scouting department during the summer of 2011, Jim's first year as San Francisco's coach. Now he is with his uncle and the Ravens.
"I do a little bit of everything," he said. "I help with special projects, help in the weight room, help with video on occasion. Whatever needs to get done, whatever's going to help the team I'm going to do. That slightly ambiguous role is the biggest blessing because you're talking about a building that's chock full of experts, people that are detailed and motivated and do phenomenal work."
The two brothers showed off their differences at the press conference, with John wearing a suit and giving elaborate answers to questions, while Jim wore a long-sleeve T-shirt with khaki pants and kept his words to a minimum.
Reporters asked about celebrations after the game and the two said that a win or a loss won't affect their relationship.
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.
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.
