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Harbaughs Set to Make History on Thanksgiving

Bob Whalon Written by Bob Whalon, Monday November 21 2011
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The Harbaugh brothers will be making history on Thanksgiving and it has nothing to do with turkey.

On Thanksgiving night, the Harbaughs will become the first brothers in NFL history to face each other as head coaches.  John's Baltimore Ravens will host Jim's San Francisco 49ers in the prime-time game on the NFL Network.

The game is very important for both coaches on a football level.  The Ravens are in first place in the AFC North and the 49ers can actually clinch the NFC West with a win and a Seattle loss on Sunday.  But those actual football story-lines will take a backseat in this historic matchup.

"It's an amazing thing," John said.  "To say that you're not thinking about it probably wouldn't be real.  It's a historic thing, it's very special.  I couldn't be more proud of our parents or for Jim.  I just think it's really neat."

"As far as the nostalgia of it, I think it's very considerate of the NFL to fly us out there.  I haven't seen him on Thanksgiving in I don't know how many years," Jim said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.  "There's no doubt we got the short end of the straw on this one, but we'll see if we can make history - it's the first two brothers have coached against each other, and the first time an NFL team has traveled three time zones to play a Thursday night game after a Sunday game since the league went to a 16-game schedule."

"All the extended Harbaughs will have a great time, one way or another," John said.  "There will be one Harbaugh side that will be really happy and there will be another Harbaugh side that will be really, really disappointed.  And then mom and dad will be torn.  That's how I think it will go."

Unfortunately there won't be much of a private family gathering, before or after the game.  Jim and the 49ers are scheduled to head back to the West Coast after the game and John isn't even sure if their parents will watch the game at the stadium.

"They're talking about coming pregame and being out there on the field and then sneaking away and watching it on TV," John said.  "I think they're kind of torn and conflicted about that."

In a game with such a historic story-line, the Harbaughs may be the only people who are conflicted.  The NFL and the NFL Network can't believe their luck that such a historic game for the record books should also be a great game on the field.  

Let's just hope it doesn't turn out to be a turkey.


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