A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | CH | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9
_(cropped).jpg) Harbaugh with Michigan in 2018 | |||||||||||||
| Los Angeles Chargers | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Head coach | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | December 23, 1963 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 215 lb (98 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Palo Alto (Palo Alto, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Michigan (1982–1986) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft: | 1987 / Round: 1 / Pick: 26 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| As a player: | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| Head coaching record | |||||||||||||
| Regular season: | NFL: 44–19–1 (.695) NCAA: 128–45 (.740) | ||||||||||||
| Postseason: | NFL: 5–3 (.625) NCAA: 6–7 (.462) | ||||||||||||
| Career: | NFL: 49–22–1 (.688) NCAA: 133–52 (.719) | ||||||||||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||||||||||||
James Joseph Harbaugh (/ˈhɑːrbɔː/ HAR-baw; born December 23, 1963) is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the head coach at the University of Michigan from 2015 to 2023, the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, Stanford University from 2007 to 2010 and the University of San Diego from 2004 to 2006.[1][2]
Harbaugh played college football at Michigan from 1983 to 1986 and played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons from 1987 to 2000 with his longest tenure (1987–1993) as a player with the Chicago Bears.
Harbaugh was born in Toledo, Ohio. His father, Jack Harbaugh, was a football coach, and the family lived in Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, and California. He attended high school in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Palo Alto, California, when his father was an assistant coach at Michigan and Stanford, respectively. After graduation from high school in Palo Alto in 1982, Harbaugh returned to Ann Arbor and enrolled at the University of Michigan and played quarterback for the Wolverines, starting for three seasons. As a fifth-year senior in 1986, he led Michigan to the 1987 Rose Bowl and was a Heisman Trophy finalist, finishing third.
The Chicago Bears selected Harbaugh in the first round of the 1987 NFL draft. He played 14 years as a quarterback in the NFL, with Chicago from 1987 to 1993, the Indianapolis Colts from 1994 to 1997, the Baltimore Ravens in 1998, and the San Diego Chargers in 1999 to 2000. He first became a regular starting quarterback in 1990 with Chicago. In 1995 with Indianapolis, he led the Colts to the AFC Championship Game, was selected to the Pro Bowl and was honored as NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
From 1994 to 2001, while still playing in the NFL, Harbaugh was an unpaid assistant coach at Western Kentucky University, where his father Jack was head coach. In 2002, he returned to the NFL as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders. Harbaugh returned to the college ranks in 2004 as the head coach at the University of San Diego. After leading San Diego to consecutive Pioneer League championships in 2005 and 2006, he moved to Stanford in 2007, where he led the Cardinal to two bowl berths in four seasons, including a win in the 2011 Orange Bowl. Immediately afterward, Harbaugh signed a five-year deal as head coach of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers, where he led the team to the NFC Championship game in each of his first three seasons after the franchise missed the playoffs for eight consecutive seasons beforehand. He and his older brother, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh, became the first pair of brothers to serve as head coaches in NFL history. Their teams played in a Thanksgiving Classic game in 2011 and in Super Bowl XLVII at the end of the 2012 season.[3]
Harbaugh accepted a job as the head coach for the University of Michigan Wolverines in 2015. Harbaugh led the team to berths in the College Football Playoff in 2021–22 season and the 2022–23 season, eventually winning the College Football Playoff National Championship in 2024, the school's first undisputed national championship since 1948.[4]
On January 24, 2024, Harbaugh left Michigan to return to the NFL, signing a five-year contract to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers.[5]
Early life and education
Born in Toledo, Ohio, on December 23, 1963, Harbaugh is the son of Jacqueline M. "Jackie" (née Cipiti) and Jack Harbaugh.[6] His mother is of half-Sicilian and half-Polish ancestry and his father is of Irish and German ancestry.[citation needed] Both Jim and his brother John were born in Toledo, while his father was an assistant football coach at nearby Perrysburg High School in Perrysburg.[7]
During Harbaugh's childhood, the family moved frequently, as his father held assistant coaching positions at Morehead State (1967), Bowling Green (1967–1970), Iowa (1971–1973), Michigan (1973–1979), Stanford (1980–1981), and Western Michigan (1982–1986). Harbaugh played for the junior league Ann Arbor Packers and then for Tappan Junior High before moving on to Pioneer High School. When his father became defensive coordinator at Stanford, he transferred to Palo Alto High School, graduating in 1982.[8][9]
Harbaugh received a Bachelor of Arts with a major in communications from the University of Michigan in 1986.[10]
College playing career
1982 and 1983 seasons
In February 1982, Harbaugh committed to play football for Bo Schembechler's Michigan Wolverines football team.[11] He came to Michigan with a "high school reputation as a slick California passer."[12]
As a freshman in 1982 Harbaugh, age 18, and junior Dave Hall were backups to quarterback Steve Smith who had broken Michigan's single season record with 2,335 yards of total offense in 1981.[13] In the 1982 season, Smith started all 12 games, and Hall handled the limited backup role.[14][15] Even as Smith struggled, coach Schembechler expressed a reluctance to play Harbaugh, saying, "To suddenly pull some freshman out of the bag, I don't think you can do that in today's football."[16] Harbaugh did not see any game action in 1982, registered no statistics, and retained four years of eligibility under the NCAA's redshirt rule.[14][17]
Harbaugh performed well in the annual spring game in April 1983, completing 10 of 15 passes for 116 yards. After the game, coach Schembechler noted, "Harbaugh is a fresh talent who'll be all right, but he has a lot to learn."[18] While Harbaugh was touted as the team's "pass-oriented quarterback of the future,"[17] he spent the 1983 season as Michigan's No. 3 quarterback behind Steve Smith and Dave Hall. Smith started 11 games, and Hall started one game, while Harbaugh completed two of five passes for 40 yards in limited action.[19][20] Harbaugh completed his first pass for Michigan on November 5, 1983, in a 42–10 victory over Purdue.
1984 season
In the spring of 1984, Harbaugh was in a three-way competition for Michigan's starting quarterback job. Three-year starter Steve Smith had graduated, and his backup, Dave Hall, was lost to a knee injury. The 1983 competition pitted Harbaugh against sophomores Chris Zurbrugg and Russ Rein.[21] In April 1984, Schembechler said, "Harbaugh is coming along pretty well. He's having a pretty good spring. Zurbrugg has emerged as a good prospect. There's kind of a battle in there."[22] In the 1984 spring game, Harbaugh impressed observers as he completed 17 of 26 passes for 161 yards and an interception. Schembechler said after the game, "We've been happy with Jim all spring. He's shown a lot of maturity."[23] After spring practice, Schembechler announced his depth chart with Harbaugh as his No. 1 quarterback.[24]
In his first collegiate start, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 22–14 upset victory over a Miami Hurricanes team that was led by Bernie Kosar, had won the 1983 national championship, and was ranked No. 1 in both the AP and UPI polls. Harbaugh completed 11 of 21 passes for 162 yards and two interceptions.[25] The Detroit Free Press praised Harbaugh for "pinpoint passing" that "kept Miami's defense on the run."[26]
In his second start, the Wolverines (ranked No. 3) lost to a Washington team that finished the season ranked No. 2 in both the AP and UPI polls. Harbaugh threw a career-high 37 passes in the game, completing 17 passes for 183 yards, three interceptions, and his first collegiate touchdown pass to Vince Bean.[27]
After the loss to Washington, Harbaugh led Michigan to victories over Wisconsin (20–14) and Indiana (14–6). Harbaugh completed 25 of 39 passes for 272 yards in those games. On October 6, 1984, a 19–7 loss to Michigan State in the fifth game of the season, Harbaugh sustained a badly broken left arm in the third quarter when he dove for a loose ball and collided with Spartan linebacker Thomas Tyree. Harbaugh had to be carried from the field on a stretcher and missed the remainder of the season.[28][29] Harbaugh completed 60 of 111 passes for 718 yards, three touchdowns and five interceptions during his shortened 1984 season.[30]
1985 season
By April 1985, Harbaugh's arm had healed, and he completed 10 of 16 passes for 146 yards in the annual spring game.[31] Harbaugh was the starting quarterback in all 12 games for the 1985 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled a 10–1–1 record, outscored opponents 342–98, defeated Nebraska in the 1986 Fiesta Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 2 in the final AP and UPI polls.[32]
On October 26, 1985, Harbaugh set a school record with 283 passing yards in a 42–15 victory over Indiana.[33] After the game, Harbaugh was asked for his reaction to setting the school's passing record and responded, "Records are nice, but everything we do here is team oriented. Everyone's telling me about the record, but they should tell it to Paul Jokisch and Eric Kattus and John Kolesar. They caught the passes."[33]
On November 16, 1985, in a 48–7 victory over Minnesota, Harbaugh completed 13 of 18 passes for 243 yards and three touchdowns. After the game, Harbaugh praised the offensive line, noting, "I've never had more time to throw in my life—junior high, high school."[34] Harbaugh's 13 completions against Minnesota gave him 123 for the season, breaking the school record of 118 set by Steve Smith in 1982.[35]
On November 23, 1985, Harbaugh led Michigan to a 27–17 victory over Ohio State. In the fourth quarter, Harbaugh completed a 77-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver John Kolesar, giving Michigan a 10-point lead with nine minutes remaining. Coach Schembechler said after the game that the 77-yard touchdown was "a play that took the starch right out of their sails."[36] Columnist Mitch Albom wrote after the game that Harbaugh's pass to Kolesar was an image that would last: "The image that repeats will be that of Jim Harbaugh dropping back in the fourth quarter and uncorking a soaring spiral that rose high and long as flanker John Kolesar ran underneath it, his steps seemingly in sync with the revolutions of the ball, so when it fell, it fell right into his arms, almost gently."[37] Harbaugh completed 16 of 19 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns.[36]
In the final three games of the 1985 regular season, Harbaugh completed 41 of 50 passes for 706 yards, nine touchdowns, and no interceptions.[38] For the season as a whole, he completed 145 of 227 passes for 1,976 yards, 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.[30] He also led the nation with a 163.7 passing efficiency rating in 1985.[39]
1986 season
In 1986, his final season at Michigan, Harbaugh started all 13 games at quarterback for the 1986 Michigan Wolverines football team that compiled an 11–2 record, lost to Arizona State in the 1987 Rose Bowl, and finished the season ranked No. 8 in the final AP Poll and No. 7 in the final UPI Poll.[40]
In the first game of the season, Harbaugh led Michigan to a 24–23 victory over Notre Dame. Harbaugh completed 15 of 23 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown.[41]
In the fourth game of the season, he broke his own Michigan school record with 310 passing yards in Schembechler's 200th career victory, a 34–17 victory over Wisconsin.[42]
Harbaugh caused controversy when he guaranteed a victory over Ohio State in 1986.[43] Harbaugh's guarantee proved valid as the Wolverines defeated the Buckeyes, 26–24. Harbaugh completed 19 of 29 passes with two interceptions.[44]
For the season, Harbaugh completed 180 of 277 passes for 2,729 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.[30] His 2,729 passing yards set a Michigan season record that stood until 2002. He also finished second in the country in passing efficiency behind Heisman Trophy winner Vinny Testaverde.[45] Harbaugh won numerous honors in 1986 including the following:
- He won the Chicago Tribune Silver Football trophy as the most valuable player in the Big Ten Conference.[45]
- He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting with 458 points and 25 first-place ballots, trailing Testaverde (2,213 points, 678 first-place ballots) and Temple running back Paul Palmer (672 points, 28 first-place ballots).[46]
- He was selected by the Associated Press (AP) and United Press International (UPI) as the first-team quarterback on the 1986 All-Big Ten Conference football team.[47]
- He was selected by the AP and UPI as the second-team quarterback behind Testaverde on the 1986 College Football All-America Team.[48][49]
- He was named to the Big Ten's All-Academic team.
- He was named Big Ten Player of the Year[50]
Harbaugh finished his college career as Michigan's all-time record holder for passing yards with 5,449 yards. He also tallied 620 passing attempts (second in Michigan history at the time), 387 completions, a 62.4% completion percentage, 31 touchdown passes (third in Michigan history at the time), and 22 interceptions. He held the career NCAA Division I-A passing efficiency record (149.6) for 12 years.[51] Harbaugh earned a B.A. in communications from Michigan's College of Literature, Science, and the Arts in 1986.[52]
NFL playing career
Chicago Bears
1987 season
The Chicago Bears selected Harbaugh in the first round (26th overall) of the 1987 NFL draft.[53] During the 1987 season, playing under head coach Mike Ditka, Harbaugh completed only one of 15 passes in an August 27 exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals.[54] During the regular season, he played in a reserve capacity in six games.[55] On November 22, in a 30–10 win over the Detroit Lions, Harbaugh took only one snap and was sacked for 15 yards.[56] On December 14, in a 41–0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh threw his first NFL passes, completing 8 of 11 (72.7%) for 62 yards, was sacked 3 times for 30 yards, and rushed 15 yards on three carries.[57]
1988 season
Harbaugh played 10 games in 1988 and completed 47 of 97 passes (48.5%) for 514 yards and two interceptions. He rushed 110 yards on 19 carries. Harbaugh started his first game on Week 14 (December 5), a 23–3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in which he completed 11 of 30 passes for 108 yards and two interceptions, rushed 32 yards on six carries, and was sacked twice for nine yards. The following game on December 12, Harbaugh earned his first win as an NFL starter with a 13–12 victory over the Detroit Lions. Harbaugh completed 18 of 26 passes for 174 yards and rushed 36 yards in seven carries.[58][59]
1989 season
Harbaugh saw more playing time in 1989 after Jim McMahon left the team and started five games for Chicago while Mike Tomczak started 11 in a 6–10 season for Chicago.[60] 1989 was his first season with over 1,000 passing yards, completing 111 of 178 passes in 12 games for 1,204 yards for five touchdowns and nine interceptions and was sacked 18 times for 106 yards.[61] His 62.4% completion rate earned him the team record for single-season completion percentage.[62]
1990 season
In 1990, Harbaugh played and started in the first 14 games of the season.[63] Chicago improved to 11–5 and won the NFC Central division, and Harbaugh passed for 2,178 yards with 180 of 312 (57.7%) passes completed for 10 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. He was sacked 31 times for 206 yards and rushed 321 yards in 51 carries.[64] Due to a shoulder injury, Harbaugh sat out the last two games of the year as well as the playoffs.[65]
1991 season
Harbaugh passed for a career-high 3,121 yards with Chicago in 1991 and became the first Chicago quarterback since Vince Evans to start all 16 regular season games.[66] He completed 275 of 478 (57.5%) passes for 15 touchdowns and 16 interceptions, was sacked 24 times (including a franchise-record 9 times on October 25 against the Minnesota Vikings) for a loss of 163 yards, and rushed 338 yards on 70 carries.[67] Chicago finished the season 11–5 like the year before, but in second place in the NFC Central.[68] On December 29, 1991, he made his postseason debut in the NFC Wild Card Round, a 17–13 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The Dallas defense overwhelmed him throughout the game, sacking him three times; and in the final drive of the game that started from Chicago's 4-yard line with 1:50 left, he threw an interception to Bill Bates on the fourth play from scrimmage. He went 22-of-44 for 218 yards.[69][70]
1992 season
Chicago regressed to a 5–11 record in 1992, and the team fired coach Ditka afterwards.[71][72] Harbaugh played all 16 games but started only 13 and had a 5–8 record as starter. He completed 202 of 358 (56.4%) passes for 2,486 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, was sacked 31 times for 167 yards, and rushed 272 yards over 47 carries, including one rushing touchdown.[73]
1993 season
In 1993, Chicago went 7–9.[74] Harbaugh played in and started 15 games and completed 200 of 325 (61.5%) passes for 2,002 yards, seven touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. He was sacked 43 times for 210 yards and rushed 277 yards over 60 carries.[75] Harbaugh ended his tenure with Chicago with a 35–30 (.538) record.[76]
Indianapolis Colts
1994 season
On April 7, 1994, Harbaugh signed with the Indianapolis Colts.[77] He played and started in just nine games in the 1994 Colts season, completing 125 of 202 (61.9%) passes for 1,440 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions. Harbaugh took 17 sacks for 72 yards and rushed 223 yards over 39 carries.[78] For the first eight games, Harbaugh was starter, and coach Ted Marchibroda re-instated Harbaugh as starter for Week 15 (December 18) after Indianapolis struggled on offense under quarterback Don Majkowski.[79][80]
1995 season
In 1995, Harbaugh achieved career highs in completion percentage (63.7%), passer rating (100.7), and touchdown passes (17) and led Indianapolis to the AFC Championship Game. Harbaugh played 15 games in the regular season and started 12, with a 7–5 record as starter for a 9–7 team.[81] Harbaugh completed 200 of 314 passes for 2,575 yards and just 5 interceptions with his 17 touchdowns and was sacked 36 times for 219 yards. In 52 carries, Harbaugh rushed for 235 yards and two touchdowns.[82] He strained his right knee after being sacked six times and left the Week 14 (December 3) game against the Carolina Panthers in the third quarter.[83]
Indianapolis lost to the defending AFC champion San Diego Chargers in Week 16 (December 17) 27–24, with John Carney kicking the winning field goal with three seconds left after Harbaugh's drive with three straight passes had led to Cary Blanchard's field goal that tied the game at 24 with 48 seconds left.[84]
In the regular season finale on December 23, Harbaugh's 32nd birthday, Indianapolis clinched a playoff berth with a 10–7 win over the New England Patriots. Completing 20 of 30 passes, he threw for 225 yards and a touchdown.[85]
On December 31, 1995, in the AFC Wild Card Round against San Diego, Harbaugh scored on a 3-yard quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter after a 32-yard interception return by Jason Belser and Indianapolis won 35–20.[86] Indianapolis won the Divisional Round game on January 7, 1996, over the Kansas City Chiefs 10–7, despite only 112 passing yards (with 12 of 27 passes completed, one touchdown, and one interception) from Harbaugh.[87] In the AFC Championship Game on January 14, Harbaugh completed 21 of 33 passes for 267 yards and a touchdown and rushed 29 yards on six carries.[88] Aaron Bailey dropped Harbaugh's last-second Hail Mary pass in the endzone, and the Pittsburgh Steelers won 20–16 and went on to Super Bowl XXX, which they lost to the Dallas Cowboys.[89] For the season, he was voted to the Pro Bowl, was named the PFWA Comeback Player of the Year and AFC Player of the Year.[90][91][92]
1996 season
With new coach Lindy Infante,[93] Indianapolis again finished 9–7 and made the playoffs in 1996 with Harbaugh as signal caller.[94] Harbaugh played and started in 14 games with a 7–7 record; he completed 232 of 405 (57.3%) passes for 2,630 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, with 36 sacks for 190 yards lost and 192 rushing yards on 48 carries and a touchdown.[95] Defending AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers defeated Indianapolis in the Wild Card Round 42–14 as Harbaugh completed only 37.5% of his passes (12 of 32) for 134 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.[96]
1997 season
Indianapolis fell to 3–13 in 1997.[97] Despite passing for 2,060 yards, 10 touchdowns, and four interceptions in 12 games and 189-for-309 (61.2%) passing, Harbaugh had a 2–9 record as starter. Harbaugh was sacked 41 times for a career-high 256 yards lost.[98] Harbaugh missed four games of the season after he punched former quarterback Jim Kelly in the face because Kelly had called him a "baby."[99]
Baltimore Ravens
On February 14, 1998, the Indianapolis Colts traded Harbaugh to the Baltimore Ravens for third-round and fourth-round draft picks in the 1998 NFL draft.[100] With that trade, Harbaugh reunited with his former Colts coach Ted Marchibroda.[101] During the 1998 season with Baltimore, Harbaugh played in 14 games and started 12, with a 5–7 record as starter in a 6–10 season for the Ravens.[102] Harbaugh completed 164 of 293 (56.0%) passes for 1,839 yards, just his third season with fewer than 2,000 passing yards since 1989. He had 12 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in passing, was sacked 23 times for 145 yards, and rushed 172 yards on 40 carries.[103]
The Ravens opened a new stadium for 1998, Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards (renamed M&T Bank Stadium in 2003).[104] Starting the game in Week 1 (September 6) and completing 4 of 7 passes for 33 yards, Harbaugh left during the second quarter after injuring a finger, and with backup Eric Zeier in for Harbaugh, Baltimore lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 20–13.[105][106] Baltimore won its next game 24–10 over the New York Jets on September 13; Harbaugh started and made 5 of 10 passes for 36 yards but again left early and was replaced by Zeier due to injury.[107] Coach Marchibroda again split quarterbacking duties in the following game on September 20, a 24–10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, with Harbaugh starting and Zeier taking over during the second quarter. With 4 of 9 passes completed for 59 yards, Harbaugh led a drive for a Matt Stover first quarter field goal.[108]
Harbaugh then sat out two games and played as Zeier's backup for Weeks 7 (October 18) and 8 (October 25). Those two games had poor performances: Harbaugh completed none of six passes and had one 3-yard rush in the Week 6 loss to Pittsburgh.[109] Despite only 9 of 20 passes completed and two interceptions in the Week 7 28–10 loss to the Green Bay Packers, Harbaugh made his first passing touchdown as a Raven, a 46-yard pass to Jermaine Lewis in the fourth quarter.[110] In the next game on Week 8 (November 1), Harbaugh improved in his first full game, with 27 of 34 passes completed over 243 yards for three touchdowns and one interception and 57 rushing yards in 10 carries.[111] In Week 9 (November 8), with Baltimore winning 13–10 over the Oakland Raiders, Harbaugh got his first win in a full game started despite passing for only 102 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception.[112] In the final two drives of the game, Harbaugh made crucial first-down conversion passes of a 28-yard pass to Jermaine Lewis and 10- and 11-yard passes to Michael Jackson.[113] In Week 12 (November 29), a 38–31 win over the Indianapolis Colts, Harbaugh had his first interception-free full game, with 16-for-25 passing over 198 yards for two touchdowns.[114] It was the Colts first trip back to Baltimore after the team left it for Indianapolis. In an emotional moment, Harbaugh presented Johnny Unitas with the game ball.[115]
Referee Ed Hochuli called a controversial unnecessary roughness penalty against Joe Bowden in Baltimore's 16–14 loss to the Tennessee Oilers for his hit on Harbaugh on a 2nd-and-24 play with Tennessee leading 14–13 after his 9-yard scramble towards the sideline, ruling that Harbaugh was in bounds when hit. On 3rd-and-15 in the next series, however, Harbaugh was sacked and Baltimore was forced to punt, so the penalty did not hurt the Oilers.[116] Harbaugh completed 15 of 28 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception and rushed 22 yards over five carries.[103] After a three-game losing streak, Harbaugh won the final game of the season (and his final game with Baltimore) on December 27, 19–10 over the Detroit Lions with 17 of 26 passes completed for 141 yards and a touchdown.[117]
San Diego Chargers
1999 season
Harbaugh played two years with the San Diego Chargers. Signed as the backup to Ryan Leaf, Harbaugh played most of the 1999 season after Leaf sustained a season-ending injury in training camp.[118] Harbaugh started 12 games out of 14 played and had a 6–6 record as starter in an 8–8 season, completing 249 of 434 (57.4%) passes for 2,761 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions. He was sacked 37 times for a total loss of 208 yards and rushed for 126 yards over 34 carries.[119]
In his debut with San Diego in the September 19 season opener (Week 2), Harbaugh threw two touchdowns in 15-for-27 passing for 159 yards in a 34–7 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.[120] However, San Diego lost their next game to Harbaugh's former team, the Indianapolis Colts, 27–19. Harbaugh completed 15 of 37 passes for 188 yards.[121] With very few seconds left and the ball on the Colts' 24, Harbaugh threw an interception to Tyrone Poole.[122] Harbaugh started the Week 4 (October 3) game against the Kansas City Chiefs completing 6 of 9 passes for 38 yards and an interception before leaving due to a bruised right elbow;[123][124] he missed the Week 5 (October 10) and Week 6 (October 17) games because of that injury and two broken ribs.[125][126] Harbaugh returned in Week 7 (October 24) in a 31–3 loss to the Green Bay Packers as backup to starter Erik Kramer; both quarterbacks threw 3 interceptions each.[127] Harbaugh next started a game on Week 9 (November 7) and completed 25 of 39 passes for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions and rushed 14 yards in two carries in a 33–17 loss to defending champion Denver Broncos.[128] The Chargers lost its sixth game in a row after a 4–1 start in Week 12 (November 28) to the Minnesota Vikings 35–27.[129] Robert Griffith intercepted a Harbaugh pass at the Vikings' 1-yard line with 4:29 left, and Minnesota ran out the clock to seal the win.[130]
A 12–9 loss to the Miami Dolphins on December 19 (Week 15) disqualified the Chargers from the postseason. Miami's defense sacked Harbaugh five times, and Rich Owens strip-sacked Harbaugh at San Diego's 20-yard line. Harbaugh finished the game with 20 of 40 passes completed for 178 yards. With 17 seconds left, Chris Penn caught Harbaugh's attempt at a game-winning touchdown pass albeit slightly outside the back of the end zone. John Carney missed a game-tying 36-yard field goal.[131] After failing to make a passing touchdown for three games, Harbaugh made two passing touchdowns and just one interception on 23-for-36 passing over 325 yards in San Diego's 23–20 win over the Oakland Raiders on the home finale on December 26 (Week 16).[132]
2000 season
Following an 8–8 season in 1999, San Diego finished 1–15 in 2000 with a rotation of Ryan Leaf, Harbaugh, and Moses Moreno as starters.[133] Playing in seven games and starting five, Harbaugh completed 123 of 202 (60.9%) passes for 1,416 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions, was sacked 14 times for 96 yards, and rushed 24 yards on 16 carries.[134]
Harbaugh played his first game in Week 4 (September 24), a 20–12 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. On 8-for-14 passing, Harbaugh passed for 67 yards and an interception.[135] He became starter in Week 5 (October 1). In the 57–31 loss to defending champion St. Louis Rams, Harbaugh was 27-for-40 for 348 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception and was sacked three times for 15 yards.[136] Starting the Week 6 (October 8) game, a 21–7 loss the Denver Broncos, Harbaugh was 18-for-43 for 237 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions.[137] Two of Harbaugh's interceptions led to short Denver touchdowns, and Harbaugh threw his third interception on fourth-and-goal at Denver's 5-yard line.[138] In Week 7 (October 15), an overtime 27–24 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Harbaugh's second interception of the game, by Henry Jones, was in overtime and paved way for Steve Christie's game-winning field goal.[139] Following the game, coach Mike Riley said he regretted rotating between Harbaugh and Moses Moreno in the first half, as Moreno lost two fumbles, one of which Buffalo returned for a touchdown.[140]
San Diego had an ESPN Sunday Night Football game in Week 9 (October 29) following a bye week, lost to the Oakland Raiders 15–13, and fell to 0–8. San Diego took a 13–12 lead with 5:47 left after Harbaugh made a 21-yard touchdown pass to Freddie Jones, but failed the two-point conversion attempt paving the way for the Raiders' Sebastian Janikowski to kick the winning field goal with 13 seconds left.[141] In the final play of the game, following a 47-yard kickoff return by Ronney Jenkins, Marquez Pope intercepted Harbaugh's attempt at a 50-yard Hail Mary pass that was intended for Trevor Gaylor in the end zone.[142][143] In that game, Harbaugh completed 25 of 35 passes for 222 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception and was sacked three times for 27 yards.[134] The following game on November 5 (Week 10), San Diego lost its ninth straight in a 15–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. In the second quarter, Harbaugh lost two fumbles, both of which preceded 10-yard Seattle passing touchdowns. Having completed 22 of 32 passes for 236 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, he left the game after the third quarter due to groin and abdomen injuries.[144]
Harbaugh played what would be his final career game in Week 11 (November 12), a 17–7 loss to the Miami Dolphins. In the final drive of the game he filled in poorly for an injured Ryan Leaf, completing only 2 of 5 passes for 19 yards and throwing an interception.[145] By that time, coach Riley had relegated Harbaugh to emergency duty due to injuries including a mild hernia.[146] Riley had planned to start Harbaugh for the next game on Week 12 (November 19), but decided to start Leaf instead.[147][138]
Detroit Lions and Carolina Panthers
Harbaugh signed with the Detroit Lions prior to the 2001 season, where he was expected to back up incumbent starter Charlie Batch.[148] However, on the eve of the regular season, the Lions cut him and traded for Ty Detmer.[149] He closed out his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2001, where he dressed for six games but did not play.[150] The 2001 Panthers, like the Chargers the year before, finished with a 1–15 record.[151]
Legacy
For his NFL career, Harbaugh played in 177 league games with 140 starts. He completed 2,305 of 3,918 passes for 26,288 yards with 129 touchdowns.[152] Particularly during his time with Indianapolis, such as when he led the Colts to come-from-behind wins over the Chiefs and Chargers in the 1995–96 NFL playoffs and a near upset over the No. 2 AFC seed Steelers, he earned the nickname "Captain Comeback" (the second player to be so nicknamed after Roger Staubach) for his ability to win games in the fourth quarter when his team was significantly behind.[153][154][155]
Harbaugh is second in the Bears' record book for completions with 1,023, while Jay Cutler holds the record with 1,034.[156][157] Harbaugh also ranks second with 1,759 attempts and third in yards with 11,567.[156] In January 2005, he was inducted into the Indianapolis Colts Ring of Honor as one of the most successful and popular players in the club's Indianapolis era.[158]
NFL career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |