And when Harbaugh’s name was in the running for Baltimore’s open head coaching position in 2008, Belichick made a point to endorse Harbaugh to Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti.
Belichick mentioned the call earlier this year in a radio interview on SIRIUS NFL Radio.
“That's one of the things I mentioned to Steve, because John had such an extensive special teams background [that] sometimes there's a little reluctance about hiring somebody like that as a head coach, thinking it would be better to have a guy that's been longer as an offensive or defensive coordinator,” Belichick said. “I don't think that's necessarily true, particularly in John's case."
Belichick, whose Patriots are currently 2-1, continued to enumerate the qualities he saw in Harbaugh.
“John's just an outstanding football coach, period,” Belichick explained. “He knows people, he knows talent, he works hard, he's got a good feel for the game, both from a scheme standpoint, a technique standpoint, and motivating players and getting them ready to play.
“We've competed against him many times and it's always been a challenge to go up against John's units, whether that was in the '07 season when he coached the secondary in Philadelphia or the years like going back to the Super Bowl when he was the special teams coach with the Eagles.”
