Ravens vs. 49ers Super Bowl 47: Revisiting the 'Harbaugh Bowl,' from blackout to Colin Kaepernick-led comeback attempt

There have been just two instances of brothers facing off in the Super Bowl — one time as players, the other as head coaches.

Travis and Jason Kelce made history as the first brothers to face off on the gridiron in 2023's big game when the Chiefs beat the Eagles 38-35 before going back-to-back with another Super Bowl title over the 49ers last season.

Long before then, though, the Harbaugh brothers put their football wits head-to-head on the biggest stage possible. Super Bowl 47, which was played on Feb. 3, 2012, in New Orleans, featured Jim Harbaugh's 49ers against John Harbaugh's Ravens.

As the Harbaugh brothers get set to match up against each other once again when the Chargers and Ravens square off in Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season, The Sporting News revisits the "Harbaugh Bowl" in Super Bowl 47.

MORE: How old are each of the Harbaugh brothers?

'Harbaugh Bowl' in Super Bowl 47 between Ravens, 49ers

The "Harbaugh Bowl" capped the 2012 season, with Baltimore and San Fransisco being the last teams standing and both seeking a Super Bowl title. The matchup was played at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, with the Ravens coming out on top as the Super Bowl champs after a 34-31 victory.

John Harbaugh's Baltimore squad went 10-6 in the 2012 regular season before taking down the Colts (24-9), Broncos (38-35, 2OT), and Patriots (28-13) on the road to the AFC crown. 

Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers went 11-4-1 in the 2012 regular season, his second season with the franchise as head coach. San Fransisco went through the Packers (45-31) and Falcons (28-24) to reach Super Bowl 47.

In the Super Bowl matchup, Baltimore got out to a 21-6 lead at halftime thanks to three touchdown passes in the first half from Joe Flacco, including a 56-yard strike to Jacoby Jones. On the kickoff to begin the third frame, Jones then took the ball 108 yards to the house, which remains the longest play in Super Bowl history. 

The Longest Play of Any Kind in #SuperBowl History

The #Ravens' Jacoby Jones takes Super Bowl XLVII's second half kickoff 108 yards to the house.

The ninth kickoff return touchdown in a Super Bowl

February 3, 2013 pic.twitter.com/O4urrJwpLp

— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 3, 2024

Soon after, one of the strangest moments in NFL history also happened: A blackout in the Superdome, which delayed the game for 34 minutes.

11 years ago today, one of the craziest and most bizarre Super Bowl moments took place in the Ravens’ 34-31 win over the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII

A blackout pic.twitter.com/KfWqN35gbc

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) February 3, 2024

Once the stadium's power was back up, the 49ers went on a run. San Fransisco scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter, including a 31-yard touchdown from Colin Kaepernick to Michael Crabtree, to make it just a 28-23 lead for Baltimore.

However, the Ravens would hold on late. A rushing touchdown from Kaepernick made the 49ers' deficit even smaller, but because San Fransisco couldn't convert on the two-point conversion after, a pair of field goals from Justin Tucker over the final 15 minutes was enough for Baltimore to survive, though not before the 49ers had a failed 4th-and-goal attempt where many believe Jimmy Smith interfered with Crabtree in the end zone.

The Ravens ate up the last remaining seconds on the clock with a smart play, first taking a safety as punter Sam Koch ran out of bounds in the end zone.

Nine years ago today, #RavensFlock and the rest of the #NFL witnessed Sam Koch run down the clock, take a safety, and send the Ravens on their way to Super Bowl glory. pic.twitter.com/p21lQefpNq

— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) February 3, 2022

Jim's son and John's nephew, Jay Harbaugh, was on the Super Bowl champion Ravens' coaching staff at the time, as well. In the end, the father-son coaching duo helped lead Baltimore to a close victory in the big game over Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers.

The "Harbaugh Bowl" remains the only time brothers have met as head coaches in the Super Bowl, and it remains both John and Jim's only Super Bowl appearance as head coaches. Jim Harbaugh made the transition to college football just a few years later.

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John Harbaugh NFL coaching record

John Harbaugh has an overall head coaching record of 167-103, all 17 of his seasons coming with the Ravens. He took over at the helm of the franchise in 2008.

Here's a look at Harbaugh's year-by-year record, and Baltimore's playoff result, over his tenure.

Jim Harbaugh NFL coaching record

Jim Harbaugh has a career head coaching record of 51-22 in the NFL. He spent four seasons coaching the 49ers, and is now in his first season as the Chargers' head coach.

Harbaugh also had stints as a college football head coach at San Diego, Stanford, and Michigan, where he won a National Championship in 2023.

Here's a look at Harbaugh's NFL head coaching record, and his team's playoff result, season-by-season.

John and Jim Harbaugh head-to-head meetings

While Super Bowl 47 had the brightest lights of any head-to-head Harbaugh games, there's actually been another prior instance of John and Jim's NFL teams facing off.

Week 12's "Monday Night Football" matchup will be the third head-to-head matchup between the Harbaugh brothers. John currently leads the competition 2-0 dating back to 2011:

• Nov. 24, 2011: Baltimore Ravens 16, San Francisco 49ers 6
• Feb. 3, 2013: Baltimore Ravens 34, San Francisco 49ers 31 (Super Bowl 47)
• Nov. 25, 2024: Baltimore Ravens at Los Angeles Chargers