‘Tighten up.’ John Harbaugh cautions the NFL about brother Jim’s return

admin | February 28, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

A month into Jim Harbaugh’s second NFL season, his brother offered some counsel to those working with him in Los Angeles.

Perhaps unintentionally, the two-word phrase could be construed as a warning to the rest of the league.

“Buckle up,” Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said on Tuesday.

The older Harbaugh told reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine that he had spent a significant amount of time with the new Chargers head coach in recent days. On Sunday, the two brothers and their father, Jack, were seen watching an Indiana Pacers basketball game together. Then, on Monday and Tuesday, teams and leagues held meetings in preparation for the five-day combine event, which was geared to help teams with their draft plans.

“He’s going to do great,” John Harbaugh said. “We’ve been together for a number of days, and he’s fired up and eager about talking to players. He knows a lot of these guys, I believe, so it’s been enjoyable. “He is wired and ready to go.”

Jim Harbaugh has been working overtime in recent weeks to finalize his coaching staff in Los Angeles, which includes several familiar faces to Michigan fans: defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale, defensive line coach Mike Elston, assistant Dylan Roney, and analyst Rick Minter.

Another significant figure in Ann Arbor, Ben Herbert, has been assigned to oversee player performance, and requests for additional equipment and an expanded strength and conditioning facility appear to have been approved.

“He’s excited about this,” John Harbaugh stated. “I think he’s very thrilled about the Chargers. I believe he’s enthused about the (Spanos) family. It goes way back. He has tremendous relationships there. Everybody in the building, I believe, is starting to form bonds with him. He knows the guys he’s brought over and feels at ease with.

Perhaps most crucially, “he loves the quarterback,” John Harbaugh says, referring to Justin Herbert. Jim Harbaugh has praised Herbert since taking over in late January, describing him as the type of gunslinger around whom an offense can be constructed. Throw in some crucial defensive pieces, and it’s easy to see why Harbaugh chose the Chargers.

His move to the NFL came at an opportune time, capping a nine-year career at Michigan, where he won three Big Ten championships and a national title. He left Ann Arbor with an 86-25 record and a 60-17 Big Ten record, highlighting his winning history. The accomplishment, however, was not without controversy, with Michigan currently facing two separate NCAA investigations for suspected rule infractions.

That on-field success extends to the NFL, where Harbaugh coached the San Francisco 49ers for four seasons from 2011 to 2014, leading the team to three NFC championship games and a Super Bowl berth.

“He’s a great person, and he’s competitive,” said Joe Hortiz, the Chargers’ first general manager. “He wants to win games.” (With him), it’s always about improving and being the greatest.”

Hortiz applauded ownership for investing in the coaching staff and accommodating all requests, describing their first few weeks on the job as “a blast.” He claims Harbaugh’s zeal and energy have been on display in their southern California office.

“Every day I’m there in the morning, coming into his office and you feel the energy,” he remarked. “Our players sense it. Our coaching staff feels it. Scouts detect his presence as he enters the draft room during meetings. “It is exciting.”

While the majority of league coaches and executives spoke with the media on Tuesday, Harbaugh was not accessible. He is not scheduled to speak on Wednesday, either. However, that did not prevent him from being a topic of discussion elsewhere.

Trent Baalke, the Jacksonville Jaguars’ general manager who worked directly with Harbaugh in San Francisco, predicted Harbaugh’s return to the NFL.

“He’s a good football coach,” Baalke explained. “He has triumphed everywhere he has gone. He deserved a chance to return to the league, and I am delighted he got it.”