The same decision-making skills that have the 49ers playing their best football in more than a decade are also invaluable on the real home field.
Jim Harbaugh coached San Francisco to a dramatic 19-17 win over the Seahawks in Seattle on Saturday, then took up dad duties on Christmas Day. The leading candidate for NFL coach of the year spent Sunday with four of his children, soaking in all the joy as his three daughters and one of his sons opened their presents.
Jim and his wife, Sarah, have two daughters together -- Addison and Katherine. Jim also has three children: Jay, James Jr. and Grace.
Following a walk with Sarah around the Stanford campus, Harbaugh went to work: "Put together some play sets. A princess play set," Harbaugh told reporters. "Took some time. My wife was happy. Got on the floor, played some puzzles with my daughter and changed a few diapers."
Changing diapers will always get get you points with the other half, but it was Harbaugh's next move that really showed what separates him from the rest of NFL coaches this year.
"I think what really won it for me, the day, was my dad and I were watching the football game (Bears-Packers) and I could hear my wife kind of starting to come down the stairs and we flipped it over to Peppa Pig and got down on the floor and started playing with the puzzle," Harbaugh said. "So, that won some points. That was a good move, good strategic move. She was very pleased with me."
Peppa Pig, a British animated TV series, focuses on Peppa, a humanlike female pig, her family and friends. Each of those friends is a different type of animal, including a cat, dog, sheep, elephant, pony, rabbit and zebra.
Peppa is not to be confused with Charlie Peprah, Packers safety, who was playing on the other channel.
Harbaugh was quizzed by the San Francisco Chronicle if he was able to flip off the cartoon and get back to watching the game. "No, never did get back to see how it finished up," Harbaugh said. "So, went from that to put my daughter to bed. But, it was a good strategic move."
The Packers, possible later-round playoff opponents for the Niners, ended up winning the game.
San Francisco (12-3) can clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs and a first-round bye with a win over the St. Louis Rams or a Saints loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The off week would afford him more quality time with Peppa.
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With his wife on the way, 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh quickly flipped off the Packers/Bears game to watch Peppa Pig with his kids. |
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