Football fans know how intense Jim Harbaugh is as a coach and probably in most facets of his life. His approach is probably typified by one of his favorite catchphrases, “Attacking this day with enthusiasm unknown to mankind.”
ESPN college football analyst Greg McElroy contributed to the Jim Harbaugh mythology by sharing a personal anecdote days before Michigan plays Washington for the College Football Playoff national championship.
McElroy encountered Harbaugh during Big Ten Media Days shortly after joining ESPN. As he recalled on his Always College Football podcast, Harbaugh had some thoughts on McElroy staying involved with football after retiring as a player.
The former Alabama quarterback acknowledged that broadcasting wasn’t as direct as coaching, but he enjoyed how it fit his life. However, Harbaugh questioned whether that career choice meant McElroy really loved football.
Gotta love Jim Harbaugh 😂@GregMcElroy shares an EPIC Jim Harbaugh story ahead of the National Championship ⬇️
— Always College Football (@AlwaysCFB) January 5, 2024
FULL Natty preview: https://t.co/ViE5xshR9h pic.twitter.com/zsgM4S9UVM
“You love football if you play football,” Harbaugh said. “And when you’re done playing, and you can no longer play, then you coach. And if you don’t coach, then you die.”
So it’s probably safe to say Harbaugh will not try broadcasting when he’s finished coaching, whether that’s at Michigan or in the NFL. To listen to Harbaugh, he’ll never stop coaching. His father, Jack, retired as an active coach in 2006 but helped Jim at Stanford and is around the Michigan program, serving as an assistant during his suspensions this season. He just keeps living.
Meanwhile, McElroy is still very much alive as a broadcaster. In addition to calling college football broadcasts throughout the season, he co-hosts a morning radio show in Birmingham. McElroy was in the booth for ESPN’s telecast of the Washington-Texas CFP semifinal and he’ll be on the call for Monday’s national championship game for ESPN Radio.
