After leading no. 4 ranked Stanford to a 12-1 record this season that resulted in an Orange Bowl appearance, beating Virginia Tech 40-12, Cardinal's head coach Jim Harbaugh lands a new gig. Just 4 days after his bowl game triumph, Harbaugh's dreams of coaching an NFL team come true, agreeing to a 5 year, $25 Million dollar deal with the San Francisco 49ers. Compiling an overall record of 58-27 at the collegiate level split between time at the helm of Stanford University and the University of San Diego, Harbaugh helped turnaround a Stanford football program that tasted its first bowl game victory since 1996. Unsure about leaving his northern California home to coach for other suitors most notably on the east coast and up north, Harbaugh will stay put, as the only moving he'll do is from college to the pro's.
Before the announcement of Harbaugh coaching in the city by the bay became official, critics believed he should have returned to Stanford, where he and Heisman Trophy runner-up Andrew Luck became staples of the program, capturing the first BCS bowl win in school history. Many thought Harbaugh was leaning towards a return, when Luck announced his decision to ditch the NFL Draft to serve his redshirt junior season at Stanford, despite being unanimously projected as the first overall pick in the Draft (Carolina Panthers). Instead, Harbaugh leaves behind a successful legacy, to pursue another golden opportunity that awaits. According to sources, other NFL teams interested in Harbaugh, included the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins.
If you asked me, I'd say Harbaugh made the move that makes all the sense in the world. Not only will he be living his dream of being an NFL coach, but he'll be doing so in an environment and division that is capable of winning right away. Not to mention in the bay area, where he's already gained superstardom. Why would anyone want to coach a team (Miami) in a powerhouse AFC East division that includes facing the Jets and Patriots four times a year, when he can contend for a title as soon as 2011 in the pathetic NFC West? Harbaugh also made it clear that his wallet wasn't a factor, leaving nearly $2 Million dollars per year on the table, offered by the Dolphins. But at the end of the day, the 49ers were most aggressive in lobbying Harbaugh, as sources say both sides met for five hours a day before a deal was reached.
Similar to the recently ousted head coach Mike Singletary, Harbaugh's roots linked to the NFL are deep. Playing at the QB position, Harbaugh saw action with six different teams, most remembered for his days as an Indianapolis Colt, and a Chicago Bear where he served as Singletary's teammate for four years. Harbaugh also spent two seasons as a quarterback coach with the 49ers' cross-bay rivals -- the Oakland Raiders. Jim's older brother John, is head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, making the Harbaugh duo the first pair of brothers in NFL history to coach at the same time. And although Jim has bragging rights out of the two, coaching a team that's currently in the first round of the Playoffs, John will get to see his brother up close and personal, as both teams are scheduled to face one another come next season in Baltimore.
Now that the 49ers found their head coach, the only thing missing is a QB, who Harbaugh knows a thing or two about. However, the question remains, who will it be?
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