The Harbaugh Brothers: Is Coaching That Important?

Every once in a while the question gets raised, is coaching more important than having a talented roster?

In my opinion, YES it is.  Having a good coach is far more important than having a talented roster.  If you can get the right coach, and then build a talented roster, you have the ingredients for long term success.  

Ravens - John Harbaugh & 49ers - Jim Harbaugh (left to right)

First DNS will take a look at the history of the Harbaugh brothers, then provide you with examples of two other successful teams with great a coach:

John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh began coaching the Baltimore Ravens in 2008.  The Ravens were just 5-11, when John took over for Brian Billick.  John turned the team around in his first season going 11-5 and taking his team to the AFC Championship game before losing to the then 18-0 New England Patriots.  The Ravens management was looking for a change and John Harbaugh was their man. 

Ravens fans just imagine this… the number one coach the Ravens had on their radar was none other than Jason Garrett.  Garrett had a breakout season as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys in 2007.  Fans, thank Jerry Jones for ponying up the money to keep Garrett in Dallas.  Can you imagine the Ravens almost hired Garrett over John Harbaugh?  Wow!

Cam Cameron

John and the Ravens management also made a big move to release the offensive coordinator Cam Cameron after blowing a big lead to the Washington Redskins on December 9, 2012, according to ESPN.com.  Then John promoted QB coach Jim Caldwell as the new offensive coordinator.  This change was huge.  It was so huge, Caldwell helped assist Joe Flacco’s development in his decision making by calling plays that change the game.   It was so huge, the media and NFL players were silenced when the Ravens beat the Patriots in Foxborough.   

Jim Caldwell

Was Cam Cameron holding Joe Flacco back all these years?  Maybe?  We don’t know, but we know Jim Caldwell let Flacco loose and it has made a complete difference.  This coaching move was important.

Each year John Harbaugh has been coach of the Ravens he has lead them to the post season.  In five years of being a head coach, John’s current post season record is 8-4 and still counting depending on what happens in Super Bowl 47.  John has reached the AFC Championship three (3) times in five (5) years.  Remarkable!  Truly great coaching!

Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh

Jim Harbaugh began coaching the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.  The 49ers were just 5-10, when Jim took over for Mike Singletary, according to Pro Football Reference.com.  Similar to his brother John, Jim turned the team around in his first season going 13-3 and taking his team to the NFC Championship game before losing 20-17 in overtime to the eventual Super Bowl champ New York Giants.

Mike Singletary

Mike Singletary coached the 49ers from 2008 to 2010.  During that time span, he embarrassed one of the most gifted tight ends in Vernon Davis by sending him to the locker room during a game.  Then coach Singletary went on a post game rant of Vernon Davis, according to Yahoo Sports.com.  At a different time, coach also embarrassed himself by pulling his pants down to make a point, according to NBC Sports.com.  Not sure what point he was trying to make, but his coaching methods just were not working.

Jim came in the door and changed the attitude of QB Alex Smith, considered a bust by many to a positive attitude.  He gave Smith the confidence to believe in himself and his abilities.  Smith was John Harbaugh’s QB leading the team to the NFC championship.  What a difference a coach makes.

Either way, Jim Harbaugh has two years under his belt with the 49ers and two NFC Championship visits.  Now he has his first Super Bowl visit.

The Harbaugh brothers are coaches who get their point across in a hurry.  So far, neither coach has missed the post season during their coaching years.  Obviously their parents had old school, hard nose, tough rules growing up around the house.  In order for these two coaches to get the best out of grown, high paid athletes is phenomenal.

Here is another coach you may know who has made a big difference with teams who could not reach the top:

Phil Jackson – Chicago Bulls

Phil Jackson - Bulls

In six years of basketball, Michael Jordan could not win an NBA championship with the few coaches he had.  Enter Phil Jackson and Jordan became a household name.  Jackson became coach of the Bulls in the 1989 and won his first NBA ring in his second season of 1990-1991, according to Basketball-Reference.com.  Jackson went on to win a total of six (6) championships in nine (9) seasons with the Bulls.  Amazing!

Phil Jackson – Los Angeles Lakers

Phil Jackson - Lakers

The superstar tandem of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant was truly irrelevant due to the previous coaches the two had in their brief stint together.  Enter Phil Jackson during the 1999 – 2000 season and the era of Shaq and Kobe began instantly.  As soon as Jackson walked in the door the Lakers won three straight championships.  Phil ended up winning a total of five (5) NBA championships out of seven (7) tries during his 11 year run in LA.  Again I say, amazing!  

Coaching makes the biggest difference.  Ask any player who has played the game and see what the statistics are.