EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — The NFL is down one Harbaugh in its coaching ranks, although Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh doesn’t expect his older brother to be out of a job for long.
«He’ll be a head coach next year,» Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday. «We’ll be playing against him in some form or fashion.»
John Harbaugh was fired as coach of the Baltimore Ravens a day earlier after 18 seasons that included a Super Bowl championship in which he famously beat Jim, who coached the San Francisco 49ers at the time. The Ravens were 8-9 and missed the playoffs this season.
Jim Harbaugh will guide the visiting Chargers (11-6) against the New England Patriots (14-3) in an AFC wild-card game Sunday.
Giants were expected to emerge as a favorite for Harbaugh.
And there’s also a chance a team without a current opening could pursue him.
«As I told him, whatever team he goes to is going to be formidable,» Jim Harbaugh said. «Just hope it’s in the NFC.»
John Harbaugh, older than Jim by 15 months, is 3-0 coaching against his younger brother.
«He’ll be attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind the next opportunity,» Jim Harbaugh said.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
