Jim Harbaugh is a 61-year-old accomplished and celebrated college football coach. He used his experience as a former quarterback to lead several university teams to glory.
Today, he has returned to the NFL with a lucrative five-year contract to head The Los Angeles Chargers. He is married to Sarah and has seven children, three of whom are from a previous marriage.
Jim Harbaugh’s Early Life
Jim was born James Joeseph Harbaugh on December 23, 1963, in Toledo, Ohio. He is currently 61 years old and is the second of three children. His older brother is named John, a football coach; his sister is called Joani and is married to a former college basketball coach. Their father, Jack was a career football coach. He made a great impression on his two sons who followed his steps.
The nature of his father’s job meant that they frequently changed locations. Whenever a new opportunity popped up, the Harbaughs packed their bags and followed their father. Before Jim became old enough to be on his own, he lived in Ohio, Kentucky, Iowa, Michigan, and California. The frequent relocations also impacted his schooling. While he was in high school at Ann Arbor in Michigan, his family moved to California. He enrolled at the Palo Alto High School where he finished in 1982.
Jim’s heart belonged to football even though he excelled in baseball and basketball. In high school, he established himself as a three-sport student a feat not many of his peers could attain. After high school, offers from various colleges came flying in.
They saw Jim’s football talent and wanted to make the most of him. He however enrolled at the University of Michigan in 1982. He played for the college’s football team, the Wolverines, and was instrumental in their success. During this time, he was one of the most efficient passers in NCAA history.
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A Look at His Career
Before becoming a coach, Jim Harbaugh played for 5 different NFL teams in a career that spanned 15 years (1987-2001). Not a man to be caught sitting idle, the retired quarterback sought to become a football coach. He got his first head coach experience with the University of San Diego’s team. He led them for 4 seasons with a 29-6 record. Harbaugh became the head coach of the Stanford University football team, the Cardinal, and had a successful outing with them. He spent four seasons there.
Eager for more success he moved to the NFL and took charge of the San Francisco 49ers. He oversaw them for four seasons. While there, his team got 3-straight NFC Championship Game berths and appeared in the 2013 Super Bowl against his brother’s Baltimore Ravens. Jim Harbaugh returned to his alma mater not as a student but as the 20th head coach of the university’s football team in 2015. And he came along with his Midas touch. He guided the Wolverines to 5 10-win seasons and 7 bowl games. Fifteen of his players earned All-America honors under his watch.
Jim Harbaugh’s Net Worth and Current Contract
Jim Harbaugh is worth $35 million and is back in the NFL after a 10-year break. He signed a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Chargers that will see him receive more than $12.5 million per year. He requested $18 million but it was rejected. His former team offered $12.5 million to keep him but he had his sights on the NFL. Although the Chargers aren’t taking him up on his initial offer, it is most likely they have given him something better than the college football team had put on the table.
Harbaugh was one of the highest-paid coaches in the NCAA. In 2011, he signed a five-year contract of $25 million with the San Francisco 49ers. When he joined the Michigan Wolverines in 2015, the contract details weren’t disclosed. In 2021, the team renewed his contract with the whooping sum of $35 million. While there, his basic salary was $550,000 with an additional compensation of $5 million and $2 million for his life insurance policy.
Who is the Coach Married to?
Jim Harbaugh is currently married to Sarah Feuerborn Harbaugh. Born on September 20, 1978, in Belton, Missouri, the 46-year old is the second wife of the veteran coach. The 61-year old was formerly married to Miah Harbaugh.
Their union lasted a decade (1996-2006). They had 3 kids together. In 2006, Jim met his second wife at a Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas. They tied the knot in 2008 two years after meeting. They have 4 four children together, (two girls) Addison and Katheria and (two boys) Jack and John.
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