by MATT GORDON Editor-in-chief
For the first time in NFL history, two brothers will face off against each other as head coaches in the Super Bowl. Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and John Harbaugh, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, have each led their respective teams to the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 3.
In the NFC Championship game, the younger Harbaugh, Jim, coached his team back from a second half deficit against the Atlanta Falcons with the help of flashy quarterback Colin Kaepernick. After the conclusion of his game, Jim watched his older brother, John, coach his team past the almighty New England Patriots on the arm of stellar quarterback Joe Flacco.
Each has stated that they try not to focus on the sibling rivalry, but rather, the game itself.
Jim Harbaugh said, “Well, I think it’s [playing against his brother] a blessing and a curse. 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 brothers have stopped calling each other and have only exchanged a few text messages as they prepare for the other brother’s attack.
Their parents have also tried to refrain from picking sides and giving advice to either of their sons. The only advice that their father, Jack, a longtime coach and mentor to the brothers, is to “Get ahead, stay ahead.”