John Harbaugh believes he could cover Mike Tomlin

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens HC John Harbaugh believes he could cover Steelers HC Mike Tomlin

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 12/29/22

Neither team's head coach will be suiting up on Sunday when the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers battle. But if they were, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh believes he'd get the better of his counterpart, Mike Tomlin, when asked this week by reporters.

Harbaugh admitted that he doesn't know what kind of wide receiver Tomlin was in college, but as of right now, he feels he'd "have a chance to stay with him."

John Harbaugh thinks he could cover Mike Tomlin #Steelers #NFL
"I don't know what kind of a receiver he was back in the day. I might not have been the best defensive back ever, but as I look at him right now, I feel like I'd have a chance to stay with him, I really do." pic.twitter.com/hYV1HeXUM3
— Steelers Depot 7⃣ (@Steelersdepot) December 29, 2022

A few decades ago, Tomlin lining up against Harbaugh might've been a fun battle. Harbaugh played defensive back for Miami University (OH) for four years before diving head-first into coaching. Meanwhile, Tomlin starred as a wideout for the College of William and Mary, earning all-conference honors while amassing 101 receptions for 2,054 yards and 20 touchdowns over three seasons, according to the Steelers' website.

While Harbaugh and Tomlin will never go one-on-one, they've already had one of the longest coaching rivalries in the game's history. In 2021, Harbaugh and Tomlin became only the third pair of head coaches to meet 30 or more times, per ESPN's Jamison Hensley.

This Sunday's matchup should be another exciting one to add to the history of the Ravens-Steelers rivalry, and a meaningful one. At 7-8, Pittsburgh's playoff hopes are hanging on by a thread, and the Ravens (10-5), having already clinched a spot, are looking to play spoiler.

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