While many backyard Turkey Bowls pit brother against brother, this Thanksgiving marks the first time in NFL history that brothers will face off against one another as coaches.
While most kids were wrestling with wishbones over turkey dinners, the Harbaugh brothers were busy cracking football’s wishbone. That’s right. Football is a family affair in the Harbaugh household as Jim and John’s father, Jack, was a college coach with his own stops at Michigan, Stanford and Western Michigan.
To gear up for the inaugural “Har-bowl,” Page 2 has a tale of the tape:
Personal
Jim Harbaugh: 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, 47, former quarterback for the University of Michigan and five NFL teams, now San Francisco 49ers coach.
John Harbaugh: 6-foot, 200 pounds, 49, former Miami (Ohio) cornerback, now Baltimore Ravens coach.
Western tie
Jim Harbaugh: Started out coaching career as an assistant at Western Kentucky (1994).
John Harbaugh: Started out coaching career as an assistant at Western Michigan (1984).
Famous coaching calls
Jim Harbaugh: As the head coach of Stanford, Jim called for a two-point conversion late in the game despite being up big over rival USC, which prompted coach Pete Carroll to question, “What’s your deal?”
John Harbaugh: As an assistant coach of the Eagles, John called an onside kick the opening play of the game against rival Dallas in what would become known as the “Pickle Juice Game.”
Patriotic ways
Jim Harbaugh: Operation Skywalker. Upon playing the Redskins, Jim took the team to see the Tomb of the Unknown Solider, where Sgt. Dontae Skywalker spoke to the team.
John Harbaugh: Operation Teddy Roosevelt. After playing the rival Steelers, John recited a quote from the former president and soldier.
Outcome the last time they faced off in sports
Jim Harbaugh: Jim’s American Legion baseball squad, The Sheriff All-Stars, despite being coached by his father, lost 1-0.
John Harbaugh: John’s Baskin-Robbins team won and, according to Jim, also sported the “sweeter uniforms”.
Open all references in tabs: [1 – 3]