John Harbaugh and Jim Harbaugh said very little to each other on the field after the Baltimore Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Considering they are two of the most competitive people in sports, that did not really surprise anyone. What might surprise you is that Jim wouldn’t let John hug him.
John was honored at Miami University (Ohio) over the weekend when he was inducted into the school’s Cradle of Coaches. At his reception, he told the 260 in attendance the story about his and Jim’s famous postgame handshake. The Ravens’ website has video of him sharing the story.
“I walk up across the field to shake his hand, and he’s a big, strapping guy,” Harbaugh said. “I look at him and I’m going to give him a little man hug, a little bro hug to say congratulations…”
Harbaugh then demonstrated the exchange with a person who was sitting next to him, showing how Jim gave him a stiff outstretched arm when he tried to go in for the hug.
“It was like then he says, ‘There will be no hug!’” John joked.
Remember, John also went on David Letterman after his Super Bowl victory and said he had yet to speak with Jim after the game. That was nearly a week later. We’re not surprised Jim wasn’t in the mood to get sentimental after losing the biggest game of his life.
