Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll are two of probably the most achieved coaches of their period. Each are quirky tradition setters who’ve turn out to be outlined by rebuilding groups into championship contenders on the faculty and professional ranges.
In some ways, these two strategy the job equally, and in contrast to most of their friends.
Carroll, 74, typically wears a long-sleeved Dri-FIT shirt, sweats and sneakers at follow, even now because the coach of the Las Vegas Raiders in triple-digit warmth. He joins practices, generally catching or throwing a go, whereas working round and energizing gamers, a few of whom are greater than 50 years youthful than their coach.
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Harbaugh, 61, the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, additionally has roughly the identical uniform every day: a Chargers polo shirt and hat, grey pants and cleats or tennis footwear. He joins exercises, pulling weighted sleds with defensive linemen or coming into push-up competitions with linebackers.
For all of their similarities, the 2 coaches have an virtually two-decade-long beef that intensified with a handshake and the phrase “What’s your deal?”
Since then, these teaching giants have not escaped one another. The rivalry will renew on “Monday Evening Soccer” (10 p.m. ET, ESPN) when the Chargers journey to Las Vegas to play the Raiders.
“I keep in mind Jim … I’ve no fond reminiscences,” Carroll stated on Thursday. “… There have been nice video games.”
This is a breakdown of their rivalry historical past.
March 2007
Three months after Harbaugh accepted the teaching job at Stanford, his rift with Carroll, then the coach at USC, which was faculty soccer’s premier program and one of many Cardinal’s Pac-10 rivals, started.
In an interview with CBSSports.com, Harbaugh, whereas speaking concerning the brief tenures of coaches at Stanford, stated that Carroll can be at USC for another 12 months. “That is what I’ve heard. I heard it contained in the workers,” Harbaugh stated.
Days later, Carroll responded: “If he’ll make statements like that, he must get his data proper,” Carroll informed the Los Angeles Instances. “And if he has any questions on it, he ought to name me.”
Carroll remained at USC for 3 extra seasons.
Oct. 6, 2007
The primary matchup between Harbaugh and Carroll. Harbaugh was in his first season at Stanford, which was 1-11 the prior 12 months. Harbaugh’s beginning quarterback T.C. Ostrander had a seizure the earlier week, forcing redshirt sophomore Tavita Pritchard to make his first profession begin.
In the meantime, USC was No. 2 within the AP Ballot, had received 35 video games in a row at residence and boasted a roster loaded with future NFL expertise, together with linebackers Clay Matthews and Brian Cushing. Stanford went into the sport as a 41-point underdog.
However Harbaugh pulled off what was then the best upset in faculty soccer historical past, toppling USC 24-23. Stanford outscored the Trojans 17-7 within the fourth quarter.
The sport’s greatest play got here on fourth-and-20 with 1:39 remaining. Pritchard related with broad receiver Richard Sherman (later to turn out to be an All-Professional cornerback with Carroll and the Seahawks) for a 20-yard go that led to a landing by broad receiver Mark Bradford and a game-winning additional level from kicker Derek Belch.
Nov. 14, 2009
Carroll bought his revenge towards Harbaugh in 2008, beating Stanford 45-23 en path to a 12-1 season and Pac-10 title. However Stanford, led by quarterback Andrew Luck, put a beating on USC in 2009, profitable 55-21.
With Stanford main 48-21 with 6:47 remaining within the fourth quarter of that 2009 sport, Harbaugh directed his group to aim a 2-point conversion. The conversion, a speeding try by working again Stepfan Taylor, failed. Stanford scored later (and kicked a PAT) to complete with 55 factors; nonetheless, Harbaugh’s option to go for 2 incensed Carroll.
After the sport, when Harbaugh and Carroll met to shake arms at midfield, tv cameras picked up a rivalry-defining alternate:
Carroll to Harbaugh: “What’s your deal although, you all proper?”
Harbaugh: “Yeah, I am good, what’s your deal?”
Carroll: “Good sport.”
The 2 walked again to their respective locker rooms facet by facet.
Days later, Harbaugh informed reporters that Stanford went for 2 to not present up Carroll however as a result of the group feared a USC comeback: “There’s nothing private. I am not attempting to make any enemies.”
Harbaugh informed reporters within the aftermath of the incident that he and Carroll had a aggressive however good relationship, and infrequently “yuck[ed] it up” pregame collectively. Carroll disagreed about them having any relationship.
“There’s not a lot of 1,” he stated. “He is doing an awesome job of teaching, we’re in the identical convention and we run into one another each from time to time.”
Jan. 7, 2011
A 12 months after Carroll left USC following a nine-season run that included two nationwide championships to turn out to be coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Harbaugh adopted his rival to the NFC West to turn out to be the coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Harbaugh left Stanford after a school-record 12 wins and a 40-12 victory over Virginia Tech within the Uncover Orange Bowl.
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April 30, 2011
Within the fifth spherical of the 2011 draft, Carroll and the Seahawks chosen cornerback Richard Sherman from Stanford, the previous broad receiver who was essential within the upset of Carroll’s Trojans 3½ years earlier than.
Harbaugh swept Carroll (and Sherman) in his first season, claiming a 33-17 win within the season opener and a 19-17 win on Christmas Eve that knocked Seattle out of the playoffs.
Oct. 18, 2012
The Seahawks, using a two-game profitable streak and led by rookie quarterback Russell Wilson, met the 49ers, who had received the NFC the earlier 12 months, on “Thursday Evening Soccer.” In a defensive battle, the 49ers and Harbaugh received 13-6, making it three in a row for Harbaugh over Carroll within the execs.
Dec. 23, 2012
Two months later, Carroll and the Seahawks bought their payback on “Sunday Evening Soccer,” blowing out the 49ers 42-13. The beatdown was payback in additional methods than one, based on Sherman and security Earl Thomas.
Sherman and Thomas informed Yahoo Sports activities that after the 49ers’ win in October, Harbaugh drove by the Seahawks group bus and honked and waved to mock the gamers and coaches.
“It looks like he tries to be an expert in entrance of the digital camera, however he does his antics, like that, when the cameras aren’t round,” Thomas stated. “He is only a large child. We do not fear about that stuff. We simply play the sport. One of the best group received, and it was convincing.”
Harbaugh denied mocking Seattle, calling the incident “a fabrication.”
Sherman was additionally livid at Harbaugh. Sherman stated he requested Carroll if the Seahawks may try a 2-point conversion, some revenge for what Harbaugh did years earlier. However Sherman stated Carroll informed him the Seahawks “had extra class than that.”
June 11, 2013
Forward of the 2013 NFL minicamps, Seattle defensive finish Bruce Irvin was suspended for 4 video games for utilizing a banned substance. Irvin was the fifth Seahawk on their roster since 2011 to be suspended for utilizing a performance-enhancing substance, becoming a member of John Moffitt, Allen Barbre, Winston Man and Brandon Browner.
Sherman was additionally suspended, however the NFL overturned his suspension on enchantment.
Harbaugh took this chance to throw a refined shot at Seattle.
“Play by the foundations,” Harbaugh stated. “You all the time wish to be above reproach, particularly if you’re good, as a result of you don’t need folks to come back again and say, ‘They’re profitable as a result of they’re dishonest.’
“We wish to be above reproach in every little thing and do every little thing by the foundations. As a result of should you do not, should you cheat to win, you then’ve already misplaced.”
When requested about Harbaugh’s feedback, Carroll responded: “I do not learn about commenting about anyone else’s group, however so far as we’re involved, we really feel like we have addressed it instantly.”
Jan. 19, 2014
After splitting their regular-season conferences, the Seahawks and 49ers met within the NFC Championship Sport. The sport got here right down to the ultimate play, when 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw a go to broad receiver Michael Crabtree, who was in one-on-one protection towards Sherman. Sherman intercepted the go to safe the Seahawks a 23-17 win and let his former coach and the 49ers learn about it in his postgame on-field interview with Fox’s Erin Andrews.
“While you attempt me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree, that is the consequence you going to get.”
The Seahawks then pummeled the Broncos 43-8 in Tremendous Bowl XLVIII.
Dec. 28, 2014
After three NFC championships and a Tremendous Bowl look in his first three seasons in San Francisco, Harbaugh missed the playoffs in his remaining 12 months. The 49ers have been swept by the Seahawks, and misplaced 4 of their final 5 video games. All through the season, there have been reviews of stress between Harbaugh and the group’s entrance workplace, together with a competition that the group had grown bored with Harbaugh’s strategy.
After the ultimate sport of the season, a 20-17 win over the Arizona Cardinals, to complete 8-8, the 49ers introduced that Harbaugh and the group had mutually parted methods.
Two days later, the College of Michigan introduced Harbaugh, a former Wolverines quarterback, as its subsequent coach. In Seattle, Carroll reached his second straight Tremendous Bowl, however misplaced to the New England Patriots 28-24.
April 28, 2017
The Seahawks appeared to deal with Harbaugh’s Michigan gamers, deciding on security Lano Hill and broad receiver Amara Darboh within the third spherical of the 2017 NFL draft.
“Coach Harbaugh does an awesome job,” Carroll stated to reporters with an ear-to-ear grin.
“What’s your deal, man?” Seahawks normal supervisor John Schneider stated whereas laughing.
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Jan. 10, 2024
After 14 seasons, which included Seattle’s lone Tremendous Bowl title, Carroll stated that he and the Seahawks “mutually agreed to set a brand new course.” Carroll shifted to an unspecified advisory function forward of the 2024 season.
Carroll’s assertion, nonetheless, did not learn like a mutually agreed determination. He stated he “competed fairly exhausting” to stay Seattle’s coach and that he finally “went together with their intentions.”
Seahawks group proprietor Jody Allen stated in an announcement that the choice was made, “after considerate conferences and cautious consideration for one of the best curiosity of the franchise.”
Jan. 24, 2025
A 12 months after Harbaugh returned to the NFL to teach the Chargers, Carroll accepted the job to be the Raiders’ subsequent coach.
Harbaugh and Carroll are again in the identical division once more, set to face one another a minimum of twice a 12 months, renewing the just about two-decade-old rivalry. Harbaugh stated Wednesday that he believes that if he ever performed for, or labored with Carroll, the 2 would have been “fairly good pals.”
“Alas, we’ve got been on reverse sides,” Harbaugh stated. “I am not on his Christmas card checklist.”
