John Harbaugh: Family not encouraging Jim to take Michigan job

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is disputing a report that said his family is steering 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh to take the vacant Michigan job

SI Wire | Dec 25, 2014

John Harbaugh: Family not encouraging Jim to take Michigan job /

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is disputing a report that said his family is steering San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh to take the vacant Michigan job.

Jim Harbaugh is not expected to return to the 49ers next season, even though he has one-year remaining on his contract.

Michigan has reportedly offered Harbaugh a six-year contract, worth as much as $48 million, to return to his alma mater.

Odds Jim Harbaugh will coach Michigan in 2015 are 1/1

Sports Siblings

Chris and Kyle Long

Rams defensive end Chris Long and Chicago Bears right guard Kyle Long ? both the sons of Hall of Fame defensive end Howie Long ? faced off on the field for the first time when the two teams played Sunday Nov. 24, 2013. The Rams won 42-21, but Chris made the biggest bit of news by saving his little brother from a possible in-game ejection. About six minutes into the second quarter, a fight broke out near the St. Louis sideline that had Kyle Long in the middle, and Chris running over from the sideline to pull his brother away from the action. In the end, Kyle was given a 15-yard penalty for pushing off a Rams player.

B.J. and Justin Upton

The power-hitting siblings -- who are on the same major league team for the first time in their careers -- hit back-to-back homers for Atlanta in a 10-2 win against the Rockies on April 23, 2013. It was the 27th time in major league history that brothers homered in the same game, but only the second time they went deep in consecutive at-bats. (Lloyd and Paul Waner of the Pittsburgh Pirates also accomplished the feat on Sept. 15, 1938).

Staal Brothers

If you want to make it to the NHL, being a Staal brother is a good start. Eric was drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2003; Marc by the New York Rangers in 2005; Jordan by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006; and youngest brother Jared by the Phoenix Coyotes in 2008. On April 25, 2013, Eric, Jordan and Jared started a game on a line for Carolina -- the 10th time in North American pro sports history that three brothers have played for the same team during the same season -- vs. the Rangers. (Marc sat out due to an eye injury.)

Eli and Peyton Manning

The sons of signal-calling patriarch Archie Manning became the first siblings to win back-to-back Super Bowl MVP awards.

Pau and Marc Gasol

From NBA Rookie of the Year, to four-time All-Star, to MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship, to two NBA Championships with the Lakers, Pau's growing resume continues to impress. Although Marc has some catching up to do, the Grizzlies center was named an All-Star in 2012 and Defensive Player of the Year in 2012-13.

Rex and Rob Ryan

Born five minutes apart, Rex and Rob Ryan are as close as can be. The two cut their teeth together as defensive position coaches in Arizona before moving on to defensive coordinator positions, and during the season, the two exchange phone calls almost daily. But all that falls to the wayside on game day. Head coach Rex's New York Jets are 3-0 against teams with Rob as the defensive coordinator. Rob's Cleveland Browns lost 26-20 in overtime on Nov. 14, 2010, his Dallas Cowboys lost 27-24 on Sept. 11, 2011, and his New Orleans Saints lost 26-20 on Nov. 3, 2013.

Dizzy and Daffy Dean

In 1934, Dizzy and Daffy became the only brothers in history to combine for 40 wins as teammates in a single season. They'd end up leading the Cardinals to a World Series triumph, combining for each of the team's four fall classic wins with 28 strikeouts and a 1.43 ERA.

Paul and Lloyd Waner

The Waner brothers manned the outfield for the Pirates during the '20s and '30s. Paul was a lifetime .333 hitter and won the National League MVP award in 1927, while Lloyd amassed a reputation as one of the premier slap hitters of his day. Paul (3,152) and Lloyd (2,459) hold the all-time record for most combined hits by brothers.

Dominique and Gerald Wilkins

Dunking, apparently, ran in the family. Dominique was a two-time NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1985 and 1990), while Gerald dunked in the 1986 and 1987 contest. The two brought their high-flying ways together during the 1998 season when they both played for the Orlando Magic.

Vince, Joe and Dom DiMaggio

The Yankee Clipper won MVP awards in 1939, '41 and '47, helping the Bronx Bombers to a mind-boggling nine World Series titles. Dom was a seven-time All-Star and a lifetime .298 hitter, while Vince made a pair of All-Star teams as a journeyman center fielder during a seven-year career.

Jesus, Matty and Felipe Alou

The brothers from the Dominican Republic enjoyed prominent careers which peaked during the 1960s. On Sept. 10, 1963, as members of the Giants, they became the first trio of brothers to bat consecutively in the same game.

Maurice and Henri Richard

Maurice, nicknamed "Rocket" for his blazing speed on the ice, helped the Canadiens to eight Stanley Cups and became the first player in NHL history to score 500 goals in a career. Henri, nicknamed "Pocket Rocket" for his diminutive 5-foot-7 frame, played 20 seasons in Montreal and joined his older brother in the Hall of Fame with his 1979 induction.

Bengie, Yadier and Jose Molina

Hailing from Puerto Rico, the Molina brothers share the distinction of being the only trio of brothers in major league history to have each won a World Series ring. Bengie and Jose did it together as members of the 2002 Anaheim Angels; Yadier did it with the 2006 and 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. Considered defensive stalwarts, they have a combined eight Gold Gloves between them (six belonging to Yadier).

Jack and Bobby Charlton

England won its first and only World Cup in 1966 at Wembley Stadium with a 4-2 victory over West Germany in extra time. Jack (back left) and Bobby (back right) both played the entire game, weeping openly in one another's arms when the victory was complete.

Phil and Tony Esposito

Older brother Phil played 18 seasons as a forward for the Blackhawks, Bruins and Rangers, winning Stanley Cups with Boston in '70 and '72. Younger brother Tony is best known for his long tenure with the Blackhawks, helping popularize the butterfly style prevalent among goaltenders today.

Leon and Michael Spinks

Leon landed on the cover of Sports Illustrated after winning a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He would defeat Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight championship in a 15-round decision just two years later. Brother Michael, who also won gold at the Montreal Olympics, held various light heavyweight and heavyweight titles from 1981 through 1987.

Phil and Joe Niekro

Phil and Joe used their unorthodox knuckleball pitch to combine for 539 victories, the most by any set of brothers in major-league history.

Ron, Brent, Duane, Darryl, Brian and Rich Sutter

During the '70s and '80s, no less than six Sutter brothers reached the NHL. The Alberta natives played more than 5,000 games and brought home a combined six Stanley Cups.

Sterling and Shannon Sharpe

In 1992, Sterling became one of seven players in history to lead the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and receptions in the same season. He made five Pro Bowls with the Packers before a neck injury cut his career short in 1994. Brother Shannon won a pair of Super Bowls with Denver and a third with Baltimore before retiring as the NFL's all-time yardage leader among tight ends.

Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko

The towering Ukranian brothers have emerged as two of the most imposing heavyweights of their generation, each holding the championship belts during stretches over the past decade.

Cal and Billy Ripken

Considered one of the greatest shortstops in history, Cal made 19 All-Star teams and shattered Lou Gehrig's longstanding record for consecutive games played. Billy was a light-hitting but defensively sound infielder, perhaps best known for his infamous 1989 Fleer baseball card featuring an expletive visible on the knob of his bat.

Rob, Chris and Dan Gronkowski

Rob, a 2010 second-round draft pick, is a tight end with the New England Patriots. Chris, undrafted, was once a fullback with the Dallas Cowboys and Dever Broncos. Dan, the next-to-last player selected in the 2009 draft (by Detroit), was once a tight end with the Denver Broncos.

Phil and Steve Mahre

The fraternal twins dominated alpine skiing during the '70s and '80s, with strong performances on the World Cup and Olympic stages. Phil and Steve took home the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the slalom at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo.

Jason and Jeremy Giambi

The brothers Giambi played alongside one another with the Oakland A's during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Jason won an MVP award in 2000, while Jeremy is best remembered for not sliding at the plate during Game 3 of the 2001 ALDS against the Yankees. Both brothers however, were implicated in the Mitchell Report in 2007.

Charles and Ed O'Bannon

Ed, a senior power forward, and brother Charles, a sophomore small forward, comprised two-fifths of the starting lineup for the UCLA team which won the 1995 NCAA men's basketball tournament. Known for their trademark shaved heads and explosive style of play, the O'Bannon brothers have been credited with returning UCLA basketball to national relevance during the mid-'90s.

Cheryl and Reggie Miller

Following a standout career at UCLA, Reggie became the NBA's all-time leader in three-point field goals and won a gold medal the 1996 Summer Olympics. Sister Cheryl, considered one of the greatest women's players in history, was a four-time All-America at USC and won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Tiki and Ronde Barber

Rarely are twin athletes as gifted as the Barbers. Tiki was a three-time Pro Bowl running back with the New York Giants and Ronde a five-time Pro Bowl shutdown defensive back with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ronde is the only NFL player with 25 or more sacks and 40 or more interceptions. In 2006, Tiki became just the third NFL running back in history to rush for 10,000 and rack up 5,000 receiving yards.

Rob and Scott Niedermayer

Scott had already won three Stanley Cups with the New Jersey Devils by the time the defenseman went to Anaheim as a free agent in 2005. There, Scott teamed with brother Rob to win a title with the Ducks in 2007, becoming the first brothers to win the Cup together since Brent and Duane Sutter with the Islanders in 1983.

Bobby and Terry Labonte

The Labontes remain the only brothers in NASCAR to each win a series championship. Terry won Winston Cups in 1984 and 1996, while Bobby brought home the title in 2000.

Robin and Brook Lopez

Twin 7-footers, who dominated at Stanford, Brooke and Robin Lopez are pretty distinguishable in game and looks. Brooke has a near buzz-cut, was selected 10th overall by the Nets and averages close to 20 points per game over the past few seasons. Robin has a scraggly afro, was selected 15th overall by the Phoenix Suns and isn't a prominent scorer and rebounder like his brother.

Serena and Venus Williams

As two of the most successful women's players of their generation, Venus and Serena have combined to win 24 grand slam singles titles, while each has spent a significant stretch ranked No. 1 in the world. They are 13-0 as Grand Slam doubles partners.

Livan and Orlando Hernandez

In 1997, Livan helped lead the Marlins to the franchise's first World Series title as a rookie pitcher. A year later, half-brother Orlando dominated the American League during his rookie season with a 12-4 record and 3.13 ERA, firing seven shutout innings in Game 2 of the World Series against San Diego.

Pedro and Ramon Martinez

Always humble, Ramon repeatedly told Dodgers brass that his brother, Pedro, was an even better pitcher than him. That was saying something as he won 20 games and was an All-Star in 1990. Too worried about Pedro's small frame though, the Dodgers traded away Pedro, who would go on to win three Cy Youngs with the Boston Red Sox. The brothers would be reunited again during Ramon's two years with the Red Sox in 1999 and 2000.

Marat Safin and Dinara Safina

Dinara enjoyed a breakout performance in the 2009 French Open despite falling short against Ana Ivanovic in the final. Older brother Marat is a former World No. 1 who collected a pair of Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open (2000) and the Australian Open (2005). They are the first brother-sister combo in tennis to both earn a No. 1 ranking.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin

Learning to trust your teammates can be difficult. When your teammate is your identical twin though, it becomes infinitely easier. Henrik and Daniel have played together for their entire career, and their styles perfectly compliment one another: Henrik is the playmaker, and Daniel buries pucks in the net.

Joel and Henrik Lundqvist

Another pair of Swedish NHL players, Joel was selected by Dallas and played for the Stars from 2006 to 2009 (he's now a center on Frolunda HC). Henrik is a three-time All-Star goaltender for the New York Rangers and won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12.

Angela and Amber Cope

Angela and Amber Cope are NASCAR's first set of twins to compete in the same race in one of the sport's top-3 series. Inspired by their uncle and former Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope, the twins made their Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville in 2010.

John and Patrick McEnroe

By all accounts Patrick had a great tennis career. He won 16 career titles and served as the Davis Cup captain when the team won the Cup in 2007. Compared to his brother John however, Patrick's accomplishments lose their luster.

George and Ken Brett

George may be the most memorable, but three other Brett brothers played professional baseball. Bobby and John (not pictured) played minor league ball, while Ken became the youngest pitcher to ever pitch in the World Series when he appeared in relief in Game 4 of the 1967 World Series. Like his brother, Ken was an outstanding hitter, especially for a pitcher. In 347 career at-bats he slugged .406.

Champ and Boss Bailey

Originally drafted by the Lions, Boss signed a five-year contract with the Broncos in 2008, joining brother Champ in the defensive backfield. The two became the fourth pair of brothers to play for the Broncos, and joined Dave and Doug Widell and Eldon and William Danehauer as the only brothers to play for the franchise concurrently.

Brett and Aaron Boone

The Boone baseball bloodline runs deep. Bret and Aaron's father, Bob, was a former catcher and manager; their brother Matt played for the Cincinnati Reds minor league team; and grandfather, Ray, also played in the major leagues. Aaron and Bret were able to play together, and during the 1998 season, the Reds made history by starting the only infield ever composed of two sets of brothers: Aaron and Brett and Barry and Stephen Larkin.

Thomas and Julius Jones

Julius, drafted by the Cowboys in 2004, is the younger brother of Thomas, who was drafted by the Cardinals in 2000. During the 2006 season the two became the first pair of brothers to ever rush for 1,000 yards in the same season.

Bob and Mike Bryan

When opponents see double across the net during a double's match, they are usually in trouble. Doubles partners and twin brothers Bob and Mike Bryan have been the world's top ranked doubles tandem longer than any other, have won the most career doubles titles and Grand Slam doubles titles, and were named the ATP team of the 2000's.

Roberto and Sandy Alomar

Another baseball family, brothers Sandy and Roberto both played in the majors only after father, Sandy Sr., blazed the trail for them. Both played on the Indians from 1999-2000 with Jaret Wright, whose father, Clyde, played with Sandy Sr. with the California Angels from 1969-73.

Michael and Brian Laudrup

The Laudrup's are considered the greatest Danish football players in history. Brian won the Danish Footballer of the Year award a record four times, and Michael was officially named the best Danish footballer of all time by the DBU in November 2006. The two announced their international retirement following Denmark's World Cup elimination in 1998.

Phil and Gary Neville

Simply said, the Neville's are an athletic bunch. Phil captained Everton and played for England alongside Gary, who captained Manchester United. Their sister, Tracey, played netball; their father, Neville, played cricket for Lancashire; and their mother, not wanting to be left behind, was a receptionist for Bury F.C.

Horace and Harvey Grant

Identical twins Horace and Harvey were drafted into the NBA a year apart from one another in 1987 and 1988. Harvey was never the rebounder that Horace was, but both donned the iconic goggles during game time.

Jon and Brent Barry

Of all the sports family, the Barrys might be the best. Father Rick was a Hall of Famer; Brent won an NBA title with the Spurs; brothers Jon and Drew played in the NBA, while eldest brother Scooter played collegiate basketball; and stepmother Lynn also played basketball while in college.

Paul and Morgan Hamm

Twin brothers Paul and Morgan both won silver medals at the 2004 Olympics in the gymnastics team all-around competition. Paul won the gold in the men's individual all around as well, though the medal was disputed due to a scoring issue.

Hank and Tommie Aaron

Everyone knows `Hammerin Hank,' but few remember his younger brother Tommie. The two became the first brothers to appear together in a League Championship Series as teammates in 1969 when the Atlanta Braves took on the New York Mets. Though Tommie only has 13, the brothers hold the record for most career home runs between two brothers (768).

Jose and Ozzie Canseco

Jose was a member of the 'Bash Brothers,' but his real brother, Ozzie, never hit a major league home run. The two did play together with the Oakland A's in 1990, and they later appeared together in a courtroom in 2002.

Markieff and Marcus Morris

The twins from Philly, Markieff and Marcus Morris, committed at the same time to play for the Kansas Jayhawks, and four years later they were drafted 13th and 14th overall, respectively, in the 2011 NBA draft. Markieff has averaged 7.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 145 games in two seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Marcus joined the Suns in a midseason trade with Houston and averaged 5.7 points in 23 games with Phoenix.

Jason and Jarron Collins

Jason and Jaron Collins were standout twin basketball players at Stanford well before the Lopez brothers. Jason had an outstanding senior season in 2000-2001 and Jaron was a two-time All-America. Both were drafted by the NBA but have bounced around throughout their respective careers. Jason played an integral part of the New Jersey Nets 2002 NBA Finals run.

Ashley and Courtney Paris

The California natives and University of Oklahoma twin towers were a force between 2006 and 2009. Courtney was named to four consecutive first team All-America teams and won the Associated Press player of the year award in 2007. Both were drafted into the WNBA.

Kelly and Coco Miller

Kelly and Coco Miller became the first set of twins to win the James E. Sullivan award (1999), presented to the nation's top amateur athlete. After illustrious careers at Georgia, both were drafted by the WNBA in 2001. Kelly was taken second overall by the Charlotte Sting and Coco ninth overall by the Washington Mystics.

Devon and Ricardo McDonald

These NFL-bound twin linebackers separated when deciding where to play college football. Devon played for Notre Dame and was an integral part of the 1988 championship defense. Ricardo enrolled at Pittsburgh. Devon played four seasons in the pros while Ricardo suited up for 119 games in eight seasons, from 1992 to '99.

Devin and Jason McCourty

While both McCourty brothers roamed the secondary at Rutgers from 2005 to 2009, Devin enjoyed the quicker start in the NFL. He picked off seven passes as a rookie with the Patriots, finished second in Rookie of the Year voting, and was named an AP Second-Team All-Pro. Jason was an unheralded sixth round pick by the Tennessee Titans and got his first career interception in Week 3 of the 2010 season.

Joey and Stephen Graham

They began their college basketball careers at Central Florida, then transferred to Oklahoma State in 2002. Joey was drafted 16th overall by the Toronto Raptors in 2005 and Stephen went undrafted. Joey signed as a free agent in 2010 to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Peter and Chris Ferraro

The second set of identical twins to play on the same team in the NHL, Peter and Chris joined the league in 1992. They native Long Islanders were fortunate to have the opportunity to play together on the New York Rangers during the 1995-1996 season, but bounced around among various NHL teams thereafter.

Josh and Daniel Bullocks

Both twins were highly recruited out of high school and wound up at Nebraska. Josh had an outstanding junior season, when he picked off 10 passes, prompting him to leave school early. He was the 40th overall pick in 2005 by the New Orleans Saints. Daniel had a solid four-year career at Nebraska, was co-captain his senior year, and, just like his brother, was drafted 40th overall, but by the Detroit Lions in 2006.

Heather and Heidi Burge

The 6'5 Burge twins were the tallest set of female twins for a period while they were playing in the WNBA. Heather was a member of the Sacramento Monarchs and Heidi played for the Los Angeles Sparks and Washington Mystics. The 2002 Disney movie <italics>Double Teamed</italics> was based on their lives.

Tom and Dick Van Arsdale

The Van Arsdale twins were guards at Indiana, shared a spot on the NBA All-Rookie team in 1966, and both retired after 12 years. Tom was drafted by the Pistons and played for six teams. Dick was picked by the New York Knicks but after three seasons was selected in the 1968 expansion draft by the Phoenix Suns, where he spent the remainder of his career.

Keith and Kerry Cash

The Cash twins formed a dual threat receiving option at the University of Texas. Kerry was a tight end who was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1991 and Keith was a wide receiver selected by the Washington Redskins, also in 1991. Their NFL careers ended in 1996.

Rich and Ron Saul

Despite never winning more than half their games in each of the three seasons they played at Michigan State, twins Rich and Ron Saul made an impact on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Rich was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams and Ron was picked by the Houston Oilers. Ron made six Pro Bowls as a guard and Rich extended his career to 142 games played.

Karen and Sarah Josephson

Twins Sarah and Karen won the duet event in synchronized swimming for the U.S. in the 1992 Olympics and earned silver medals at the 1988 Games in Seoul.

Herbert and Wilfred Baddeley

While you may not have heard of the Baddeley twins, they made their mark in tennis in the late 1890's. Herbert and Wilfred were doubles partners who won the Wimbledon doubles championship four times (1891, 1894-1896) before opting to pursue law in 1897.

John Harbaugh says he doesn't know where the reports came from about his family trying to steer Jim to Michigan.

"The report that says that his family is encouraging him to go to Michigan by Adam Schefter is absolutely incorrect," John Harbaugh said. "There's been no family that I know of that has given him any advice at all. That's a personal decision, that's his to make. And that's just absolutely false."

Harbaugh has refused to offer any thoughts about his coaching status with the 49ers or rumors about him taking the Michigan job, saying, "As you know, I only talk about the job that I have."

San Francisco 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said that Michigan did reach out to the team about its interest in Harbaugh.

- Scooby Axson

Published Dec 25, 2014

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