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Accessibility statementSkip to main content Democracy Dies in Darkness SubscribeSign in Advertisement Democracy Dies in Darkness NFL WHEN THE HARBAUGH BROTHERS MEET, IT’S BEST TO GET OUT OF THE WAY AND MARVEL The latest football family reunion came down to guts and will. Of course it did. 7 min 46 John Harbaugh, left, hugs his brother, Los Angeles Chargers Coach Jim Harbaugh after the Ravens' victory Monday night. (Ryan Sun/AP) Column by Jerry Brewer November 26, 2024 at 9:19 a.m. EST INGLEWOOD, Calif. — In the last hour of their parents’ 63rd wedding anniversary, John and Jim Harbaugh hustled to midfield, shed their coaching armor and yielded to brotherhood. They had spent three hours Monday night fighting as only brothers can, two stellar NFL strategists pushing their teams, two competition junkies turning back into boys scrapping in the yard. Then the clock hit zero. No more playing, especially with feelings. Subscribe for unlimited access to The Post Save up to 83% for a limited time. Get your first year for €0.99 every four weeks It was 11:17 p.m. Eastern time. Watching from Florida with their daughter’s family, Jack and Jackie Harbaugh lived through football once more. They saw what millions observed: Their boys, flanked by photographers and men toting television cameras, hugging and sharing the warmest moment in one of the least intimate settings. “You’re a great coach,” John, the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, said. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement “I love you,” Jim, the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, replied. 🏈 Follow Sports Follow “I love you, too,” John said. Jim, the eccentric little brother and acclaimed program fixer, helped his team punch first. John, the even-tempered big brother and a stabilizing representation of Baltimore’s model franchise, persuaded his team to punch hardest. The scoreboard favored big bro: Ravens 30, Chargers 23. But afterward, when the two met at midfield, you knew the Harbaugh legacy was the true winner. Skip to end of carousel THE SPORTS MOMENT NEWSLETTER (The Washington Post) Reporter Ava Wallace takes you through the buzziest, most engaging sports stories of the week. Sign up for the weekly newsletter End of carousel This game didn’t have the stakes of the last time they met almost 12 years ago, in Super Bowl XLVII. It didn’t carry the novelty of their first meeting in 2011. Har-Bowl III felt more like a celebration of the family’s enduring influence on football. In a fickle profession, the Harbaughs have made coaching the family business and managed to do so without becoming disillusioned. They’re still dreaming and talking about gratitude. They still invest in people before results. They still follow the wisdom of their father, who was a high school and college coach for more than 40 years. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement Over the past two decades, the brothers have come to signify two different forms of success. For John, the Ravens are the only head coaching gig he has ever had. He has spent 17 seasons as one of the most dependable winners in the sport, and if he captures a second Super Bowl, the 62-year-old will have a Hall of Fame résumé. On the other hand, Jim, 60, is a transient genius, with five jobs in the past 20 years, and he has been highly successful at every stop. His immediate transformation of the Chargers (7-4) may be his best work. They’re neither a soft team nor a catastrophe waiting to happen anymore. They administer punishment now. In Year 1 with Harbaugh, their ceiling isn’t high, but they’ll tear through the roof if you let them. Even when you beat the Chargers, you feel them. They’re already becoming the bruising team that Jim demands. “The best coach in the National Football League,” John said of his younger brother. And what does that make John? With the latest victory, he’s now 3-0 against Jim. Mention that to him, and he’ll correct the record to 4-0, claiming that an old preseason victory still counts for bragging rights. Advertisement Story continues below advertisement To ignite his team Monday, John uncorked some audacity. Late in the second quarter, he went bonkers. He knew he had to take a chance. If he didn’t, Jim might have pummeled his team. With two minutes left in the first half, Harbaugh kept the Baltimore offense on the field for a fourth down-and-1 play from their own 16-yard line. At the time, the Los Angeles Chargers led 10-7. If the Ravens failed to convert, they would gift-wrap a red zone opportunity for the Chargers to go ahead 13-7 or 17-7. In a game that was turning into a defensive slog, it seemed wiser to punt. But the Baltimore coach knows Jim too well. “The overriding thing was who we were playing,” John said. “We just felt like we were going to need it.” Story continues below advertisement The Ravens didn’t just go for it. John had no qualms about offensive coordinator Todd Monken calling a play that was even more unexpected than the decision to be ultra-aggressive. The Ravens chose to push their tight end’s tush. The play called for tight end Mark Andrews to take a direct snap, and as he moved forward, running back Derrick Henry and fullback Patrick Ricard shoved Andrews from behind. They borrowed from the Philadelphia Eagles’ famous short-yardage play — and then added a ridiculous degree of difficulty because Andrews isn’t used to taking snaps. Advertisement It worked. Andrews plowed forward two yards for a first down, sparking a 93-yard touchdown drive that ended with quarterback Lamar Jackson dropping a splendid 40-yard touchdown pass to Rashod Bateman. It gave Baltimore the lead, erasing an early 10-0 deficit and restoring the Ravens’ offensive electricity. Before he slammed into Andrews, Henry told the tight end, “I’m going to push the s--- out you. Be ready. We getting this.” Story continues below advertisement Jackson observed his coach as the call was made. “I thought we were going to punt the ball, but he was like, ‘It’s very short. We can convert it,’” Jackson said. “I was like, ‘Let’s just do it.’” Jim and the Chargers were stunned. After a slow start, Baltimore scored on five straight possessions. The Ravens ran for 212 yards, with Henry amassing 140 one day after Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley exploded for 255 on the same field. John remained bold all night, approving two more fourth-down attempts that the Ravens executed without incident. Advertisement “No guts, no glory,” John told ESPN at halftime describing his first decision to go for it. To the Baltimore players, the aggressiveness wasn’t about their coach gambling. They found confidence in his trust. They also realized how much this game meant to him. Coach Harbaugh needed to stay undefeated against Coach Harbaugh. The Ravens (8-4) needed to keep their hopes alive of catching Pittsburgh in the AFC North division. Story continues below advertisement “We knew deep down Harbs wanted this win,” Baltimore safety Kyle Hamilton said. “He’s going to have those bragging rights for the foreseeable future.” About 75 minutes before kickoff, the brothers greeted each other on the field. They had been texting all day, breaking some of their gameday protocols because they wanted to reminisce on their parents’ anniversary. When they first saw each other at SoFi, Jim wrapped his arms around John, who immediately went into big bro mode. He touched Jim’s biceps and asked him about his workouts. Advertisement “You been lifting?” John wondered. “Want to arm wrestle later?” He didn’t need to get physical, though. He just needed to push the right buttons for his players. It’s a must when his brother is on the opposing sideline. Story continues below advertisement “It’s an amazing thing to look back from where we came,” John said. “We had different paths, but we grew up in the same room and have always lived our life side by side.” Look at them now, both in their 60s but still offering fresh wrinkles to a classic, rugged brand of football. Add in their dad, and the Harbaughs are in their seventh decade of tinkering with how to play this game. The family influence is only growing. Share 46 Comments NFL HAND CURATED * When the Harbaugh brothers meet, it’s best to get out of the way and marvel Earlier today * What’s wrong with the Texans? Look at C.J. Stroud in the second half. Earlier today * A running back as the MVP? Saquon Barkley continues to make his case. 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