Chargers News: Jim Harbaugh's Relentless Ambition A Credit To His Family

How Jim Harbaugh's family has supported him.

As Jim Harbaugh has navigated his way from high school to college to playing in the NFL and coaching, he's had the support of his family every step of the way.

Long before Jim and brother John Harbaugh became highly respected NFL and college football head coaches, they were part of a football family and played in high school.

After the Chargers hired Jim, marking his return to the NFL after nine years with Michigan, his father Jack recounted a story that showed both brothers' knack for football early on. 

Back when John was playing cornerback on his high school's varsity football team, Jim ran down the field to alert him of a play the offense was about to run, as Sam Farmer of the Los Angeles Times writes.

“I can remember the play like it was yesterday,” Jack said. “They threw an out-route against John, and he jumped all over it. He knocked the ball loose, knocked the receiver down. Great play and the crowd was excited.”

“Jim said, `Dad, the out-and-up, the out-and-up,’ ” Jack said. “I said, `Well, go down and tell him.’ So Jim sprinted down the stands and got to the fence separating the stands from the field and said, `John! Out-and-up! Out-and-up!’”

Though John had already anticipated the play without Jim running down to tell him about it, the story shows the close bond between the family and football, as well as the football intelligence both brothers had from a young age.

Their family continues to propel to the heights of football, with Jim returning to the Chargers as their head coach after leading Michigan to a National Championship win while John just led the Ravens to an AFC Championship Game appearance.