The last time Jim Harbaugh coached a football game showed he why he is so coveted.
On Dec. 28, 2014, in Santa Clara, Calif., the San Francisco 49ers were preparing for their regular-season finale in a home game.
Harbaugh had been told weeks earlier that he wouldn’t be returning as coach for 2015 and, despite him not telling almost anyone, it was obvious to everyone and the media crush locally and nationally was intense.
Everyone knew what was coming, building the chaos to a feverishly awkward pitch that day. Thousands of fans arrived early that day to cheer him as he took the field.