Faithful Flashbacks #36: Harbaugh Takes Over

Faithful Flashbacks revisits the 49ers hiring Jim Harbaugh, the move that brought San Francisco back to contention.

Jul 22, 2026, 7:00 AM Updated: 8:14 am

Watch: Brian Peacock Breaks Down The 49ers' Biggest Training Camp Questions | 23 mins

In honor of the San Francisco 49ers celebrating their 80th anniversary, Sactown Sports is kicking off a countdown of the 80 greatest moments in the franchise’s illustrious history in reverse order called “Faithful Flashbacks.”

From Super Bowl-winning plays to overperforming teams that had minimal expectations, there’s plenty to choose from the team with five titles under its belt.

The voting was conducted by a handful of the Sactown Sports’ staffers before results were compiled into a full list that will count down to the 49ers’ 2026 NFL regular season debut against the Rams in Melbourne, Australia, on September 10th.

Faithful Flashbacks -- San Francisco 49ers 80 Best Moments

Coming in at No. 36 on our ‘Faithful Flashbacks’ countdown of the 80 best moments in franchise history is the 49ers hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach.

By the time San Francisco made the move, the franchise had endured a long stretch of instability. The 49ers had missed the playoffs for eight straight seasons, moved through multiple coaching changes, and were coming off another disappointing year under Mike Singletary. There were pieces on the roster, but the results did not meet the organization’s expectations, as they wanted to return to a team known for postseason success.

Harbaugh was hired in January 2011 after four seasons at Stanford, where he had helped turn the program into one of the best in college football. The 49ers signed him to a five-year deal reportedly worth $25 million, giving him the chance to return to the NFL after a long playing career and a successful rise through the coaching ranks.

The hire caught real attention at the time. Harbaugh had been one of the most sought-after coaches on the market, and the 49ers were hoping he would help catapult their team fairly quickly. They needed someone who could pull the franchise out of a losing cycle and give the team a clearer direction.

Even with that hope, the turnaround happened sooner than anyone reasonably expected. In Harbaugh’s first season, the 49ers went 13-3, won the NFC West, and reached the NFC Championship Game. It was the franchise’s first playoff appearance since the 2002 season and one of the quickest turnarounds in team history.

His overall tenure was short, but the results were clear. The 49ers reached three straight NFC Championship Games, made a Super Bowl appearance and won 44 regular-season games in four years. San Francisco did not win a championship during that run, but it went from being outside the playoff picture to one of the NFC’s regular contenders almost immediately.

The ending between Harbaugh and the organization was messy, and his time with the 49ers did not last as long as it once seemed it might.

Still, the hire itself holds a major place in franchise history. It changed the team’s direction, restored postseason expectations, and gave the 49ers one of their most successful stretches since the dynasty years.

More Faithful Flashbacks from Sactown Sports

Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule

Late July 2026 – NFL Training Camps open
Thursday, September 10th – vs. Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia (Season Opener) – 5:35 pm PT
Sunday, September 20th – vs. Miami Dolphins – 1:25 pm PT
Sunday, September 27th – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:05 pm PT
Sunday, October 4th – vs. Denver Broncos – 1:25 pm PT

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