Michigan Football Coaching Progression - Harbaugh to Tom Brady?
Mates,
On a very good day for our team I came across this article on ESPN in which Harbaugh says Brady is not just the best ever quaterback, but also the best football player of all time. But the kicker in my opinion was the end of the article that read this:
Harbaugh was asked, though, if he felt Brady could one day be his quarterbacks coach. Harbaugh said "that would be phenomenal" before taking it a step further.
"Head coach here someday," Harbaugh said. "Quarterback coach, coordinator, head coach."
So would Harbaugh step aside for him if it came to that? Harbaugh laughed for a second and smiled.
"For Tom Brady," Harbaugh said. "I will give him a deep long bow, shake hands and I'll coach the quarterbacks for him."
Now wouldn't that make your heart beat fast in years to come? Too cool if it comes to pass, and it surely could
Happy NSD to all,
XM
February 1st, 2017 at 5:34 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 5:35 PM ^
When or if this happens, I will be super old. Can't I enjoy my 40s first?
February 2nd, 2017 at 9:00 AM ^
I can remember when Bo was the coach, and thinking we had at least another ten years or so with him. You never know. Brady could be the next Harbaugh.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:36 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 5:40 PM ^
to take the super model wife.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:49 PM ^
I wonder if she makes a mean dip like Rita.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:50 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 7:15 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
Imagine those Bama recruits who like bling. Now imagine them shaking Brady's hand with his soon to be 5th SB ring.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^
I don't know. If my son were being recruited by Tom Brady, my wife would force him to drag out the process to increase the number of meetings with Brady.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:25 PM ^
....and you should insist on Giselle coming along also!
February 1st, 2017 at 8:31 PM ^
I dunno man. I like Tom Brady, but every non-Michigan, non-Patriots fan I've ever encountered hates the dude's guts and thinks he's a cheater. I think the highest praise I've ever heard about Tom Brady from a non-Michigan, non-Patriots fan was "I know everybody else hates him, but I thought he was hilarious in Ted 2."
February 1st, 2017 at 5:39 PM ^
That would be amazing...from day one if Tom took over as QB Coach, with Coach Harbaugh at the Helm, get us some other greats as RB Coach, DB Coach etc. Those would be some heady days...
February 1st, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
with a super model wife at home and a gazillion dollars in the bank and all. We can all hope.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:45 PM ^
i don't think he's going to want to sit on the couch too much when he's done. that will get old fast. and unless he's secretly into things like fishing and hunting, he'll have a lot of time on his hands.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:12 PM ^
Are you old enough to remember Hall of Famer Bart Starr's career as a coach? Wasn't pretty.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:40 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 5:43 PM ^
In light of recent developments regarding his family situation, I think Brady will retire after this year and take a very long time off of football.
February 1st, 2017 at 5:55 PM ^
Tom Brady is the best QB/football player of all time. But coaching is a different skill. Harbuagh had a leg up being a coaches son, being an part-time coach for his dad while an NFL player, and then just had the knack. I think Brady could do it, but he's going to be 50 when he's done playing football. Will he have time to develop the coaching skills?
February 1st, 2017 at 6:05 PM ^
But the other thing is no one knows whether TB has any interest at all in coaching. My guess is probably not. Why would he? He has young kids, a mountain of money, a beautiful wife, and an ability to kill it in endorsements. Coaching at a program like Michigan is hard work. Now maybe running an exclusive QB camp here in Ann Arbor, now we're on to something....
February 1st, 2017 at 7:18 PM ^
I like the sound of this. Even if he isn't into coaching ever or right after his NFL career, no doubt he'd help out with the quarterback camp. Little off topic but does anyone think Michigan takes two QB's next class? I mean, O'Korn will be gone with Shane already gone and Wilton will have one more year left. Bad idea to bring in two newbies and redshirt them and have them ready to go by 2020? I look way ahead. It's a gift. You don't have to tell me because I know it already!!
February 1st, 2017 at 6:01 PM ^
No way. He doesn't drink Milk.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:06 PM ^
Tom Brady is one of the best QBs ever....and has zero head coaching experience. Pass.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:07 PM ^
for every HOF athlete who was an outright failure as a coach or manager, I could take the family to the Chop House for the whole schmeer, including dessert and cigars downstairs afterward.
Brady doesn't need the money, he certainly doesn't need the aggravation, and the danger is that he's so famous he'd probably start coaching at a level far higher than his experience would justify. Coaching ain't playing.
He'd be much better off starting Tom Brady's GOAT QB Camp.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
I think when you get to the level that Brady is, at the quarterback position especially, you're basically a second OC but on the field. I'm sure being a head coach would be completely overwhelming in that type of transition, but I could see being a QB coach, maybe OC. Obviously I know nothing about anything here, but to me Brady seems to be exactly the type of hyper competitive athlete that would have a hard time hanging it up. Coaching could allow him to stay in the game, if he wants that.
I hope he wants that.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:47 PM ^
Yep. If you are a hall-of-fame athlete, you are not head coach material. Don't ask me why, but it's true in every sport. Counter-examples are few and far between.
My prediction is that Tom Brady takes a gig as a studio co-host for one of the networks, where they give him half a million a year to sit there and talk football for 30 minutes a week for 20 weeks a year.
February 1st, 2017 at 7:09 PM ^
Because at that caliber of play those guys are naturals. They just do it.
How can you teach someone when, for your entire career, you didn't actually have to think about what you were doing?
February 1st, 2017 at 8:38 PM ^
Larry Bird
Magic Johnson
Yogi Berra
Patrick Roy ....
February 2nd, 2017 at 3:05 PM ^
He already does a weekly radio bit on Westwood one's MNF.
February 1st, 2017 at 6:36 PM ^
Tom is one of the greatest QBs in NFL history.
On the other hand, while he's also handsome, I've yet to see much indication that he'd be a great coach, let alone a great college coach. That doesn't mean he doesn't have it, that means he should have to earn it like everyone else. There's no question Harbaugh is a better coach for having taken an entry-level job with the Raiders before working his way up to the highest levels. Totally different profession than playing.
February 1st, 2017 at 7:01 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 7:03 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 8:01 PM ^
gracious, some of you must have trouble getting through the day. what makes brady different and the greatest is his extreme intellect combined with his competitiveness. he is not a great athlete in comparison to many, it is his mind that makes him great.
second, read more closely - QB coach, then OC, then HC. know anybody else that had a very similar path? anyone? how about our present coach who also had a ton of money, lots of accolades, a beautiful wife, more kids than brady.
gee. some of you guys would call the cops on santa.
February 1st, 2017 at 8:03 PM ^
I love how Coach Harbaugh -- with his EUTM regarding Brady and hyperbole in complete support of his as a QB and football player -- now means Tom will succeed Harbaugh as head coach.
February 1st, 2017 at 8:35 PM ^
February 2nd, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^
Larry Bird was an absolutely fantastic basketball coach. Just because he only coached 3 years doesn't make him a failure.
February 1st, 2017 at 9:17 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 9:27 PM ^
is Harbaugh's response:
"I will give him a deep long bow, shake hands and I'll coach the quarterbacks for him."
pure class.
February 1st, 2017 at 9:43 PM ^
You're welcome.
February 1st, 2017 at 10:22 PM ^
and you were there to make it happen. thought you had the mo-jo going for that one.
February 1st, 2017 at 10:32 PM ^
February 2nd, 2017 at 12:09 AM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 10:10 PM ^
February 1st, 2017 at 10:24 PM ^
well i'm betting he has even less patience being a house-husband.
February 1st, 2017 at 10:29 PM ^
but I've never heard Tom say anything that would remotely indicate he's interested in coaching.
February 2nd, 2017 at 2:27 AM ^
As far as HC, the age difference isn't that great. But not everyone wants to "coach" into their 70s and be the in the press box passing out like Paterno. Then there's Brady may not want to coach, or may want to badly and won't stick around as a QB coach forever
Everyone who follows the hockey team just assumed Mel Pearson would take over for Red no issues, and that's even if Harbaugh gets Brady as an assistant for 10+ years. Incompetent ADs out on fishing trips or who know nothing about what hires to make are another stumbling block
February 2nd, 2017 at 4:28 AM ^
Is that his playing career, no matter who's grading, would be considered excellent, was merely a necessary delay to entering the profession he was meant to be in.
I think Harbaugh knew at a very early age that he would end up being a coach. Those same early days allowed him exposure to some of the greatest minds in the profession. I think Jack, without intending to do so, made both boys realize there weren't too many professions that offered the satisfaction that coaching does. True in any profession, that doesn't apply to everyone but those who experience that same pleasure realize they have found their true calling and wouldn't even consider doing something else.
Brady, along with recognizition as possibly the GOAT, is known for many other things outside the norm, particulary zero tolerance of anything less than achieving perfection, strict adherence to off season exercise and a diet created to eliminate almost anything that could be perceived as having an adverse effect physically.
I am not certain Tom could ever achieve the level of patience needed to be a football coach. And except for rare cases like Harbaugh, many actually view this as work. I think he would fall into that category.
Another major difference between Tom and others who were recognized as true super stars in their sport, is that almost all of them are perceived as being blessed with freakish athletic talent, whereas it's clear and has been mentioned by many, possibly Tom himself, is that his achievements are a combination of an extremely high footbal IQ and a work ethic almost unmatched. While most of the other examples offered are an example of greater intrinsic gifts and the expectations of same from their players, I think Tom knows that there would be only a small amount of players willing to give the effort he did, and I think this would cause him to realize, correctly, he would not be well suited to the profession.