As we head into the 2024 NFL season, there are plenty of fascinating questions, and one of my favorites is how the teams led by the Harbaughs will do.
Jim Harbaugh has returned to the NFL as head coach of the LA Chargers, fresh off his National Championship win at Michigan. His brother John is heading into his 17th season as the head coach of the Ravens, coming off a season where Baltimore lost to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship 17-10 at home.
It’s great to have Jim back in the NFL, and I’m looking forward to the two brothers facing off on November 25th for the first time in almost 12 years. The last time they were on opposite sidelines was in Super Bowl XLVII when John’s Ravens defeated Jim’s 49ers 34-31 in the infamous “blackout bowl” when the game lost power.
Both of the Harbaughs have proven to be tremendous head coaches, and all eyes will be on Jim to see if he’s able to turn the Chargers around while John and the Ravens look to get over the hump and back to the Super Bowl.
Their situations are different, but they approach the game of football very similarly.
John Harbaugh says, “I think that we see the game almost exactly the same way.”
Jay Harbaugh is Jim’s son and has been on staff for both his dad and uncle. He is now the special teams coach for the Seahawks.
In a feature about the Harbaugh brothers on TheAthletic.com, Jay says, “They both take a common-sense approach to football—block, tackle, run the ball, stop the run, turnovers, emphasis on fundamentals and technique. And it’s all about what’s best for the team and not any particular player, coach, or unit.”
With fun personalities and success at coaching, I think the Harbaughs are good for football! In a league that is all about high-powered passing attacks and the new school coaches, it’s hard not to appreciate how the Harbaughs approach football. They stick to the basics, emphasize the fundamentals, and embrace running the ball and playing stout defense.
Similarly, as followers of Jesus, we must approach life with an emphasis on the fundamentals, the blocking, and tackling, so to speak. Instead of getting caught up in other things or chasing “high-powered passing attacks,” we need to reset, realign, and ensure we keep the right approach to life, sticking to the fundamentals of the faith.
As we follow Christ, we must continue to remind ourselves and stay rooted in the truth that we are all sinners in need of a Savior and that salvation is found in Christ alone.
We believe in the gospel, the good news—Jesus's life, death, and resurrection—and receive His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and eternal life through faith in Him. It is fundamental that we repent from our former lives of sin and selfishness and surrender to Jesus as our Lord.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (ESV), “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…”
The Harbaughs focus on the fundamentals of football, which affects how they coach and structure their teams. Likewise, focusing on the fundamentals of the gospel leads to a Christ-centered life, as the truth affects how we approach and structure everything we do, think, and say.
I’m Bryce Johnson, and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for sending Jesus to save me and reconcile me with You. I pray that I embrace the fundamentals of the faith, emphasize the gospel, and live a Christ-centered life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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