Jim Harbaugh has a seat at the table of champions, not only in the history books but also among his family.
"I can now sit at the big person's table in the family," Harbaugh said after Michigan's 34-13 national championship game victory over Washington. "They won't keep me at the little table anymore."
He added: "My dad Jack Harbaugh won a national championship and my brother won a Super Bowl so it's good to be at the big-person table from now on."
Harbaugh's father captured the Division I-AA title with Western Kentucky in 2002 while his brother John earned a Lombardi Trophy after leading the Baltimore Ravens to a win in Super Bowl XLVII.
The Michigan boss crafted his own championship story by leading the Wolverines to a perfect 15-0 campaign en route to the football program's first national championship since 1997.
The achievement wasn't without controversy, however, as Harbaugh was suspended three games by the Big Ten to end the regular season due to a sign-stealing scandal.
Harbaugh reiterated the program's innocence after Monday's win.
"The off-the-field issues, we’re innocent," Harbaugh said, according to Yahoo Sports' Dan Wetzel. "We stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent. These guys are innocent. (To) overcome that, it wasn’t that hard because we knew we were innocent."
Harbaugh was also banned three games to start the season by Michigan for alleged recruiting violations in 2020.
The Michigan coach's future is uncertain with rumours spreading that he could return to the NFL after winning the national title. However, he shut down any talk of leaving the Wolverines postgame.
"I just want to enjoy this," Harbaugh mentioned to reporters, including Dan Wolken of USA Today. "Can a guy have that?”
