After the infamous postgame handshake, the NFL Films cameras caught a better moment from 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh as he celebrated with his team in the Ford Field visitors’ locker room on Sunday.
Harbaugh whooped it up with his team after their 25-19 win over the Lions, and he especially singled out his defense.
“There’s something special about this team, something special,” Harbaugh said. “That’s the best defensive performance I’ve ever seen.”
Best defensive performance ever would probably be a slight exaggeration. The 49ers’ defense played well on Sunday, but they did give up two touchdowns, 21 first downs and 310 yards while failing to force a single turnover against the Lions. That’s not exactly reminiscent of the 1985 Bears.
But there’s no question that the 49ers feed off Harbaugh’s enthusiasm, and it was clear from seeing their locker room after the game that they love their coach. The players cheered Harbaugh as he cheered them, saying, “That took a lot of heart, that took a lot of character, it was one great defensive performance.”
Even if he’s prone to hyperbole, and even if his handshakes are a little too hard, he’s the early favorite for Coach of the Year.
