Anquan Boldin says Jim, John Harbaugh ‘complete opposites' as coaches

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The last time the 49ers played in the Super Bowl, the matchup featured a battle between siblings, as then-Niners coach Jim Harbaugh faced off with Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in the 47th edition of the Big Game.

The Ravens came out on top in a thrilling finish, thanks in large part to the team’s leading receiver, Anquan Boldin. The veteran hauled in six catches for 104 yards and a touchdown to bring Baltimore its second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Just over a month after beating the 49ers, Boldin was traded to San Francisco for a sixth-round pick, where he played under Jim for two seasons.

Despite the familial bond between the Harbaugh brothers, Boldin says the two coaches couldn’t be more different.

“No, they’re completely different,” Boldin told NBC Sports Bay Area in Miami. “I think they’re complete opposites in their personality, and I really enjoyed my time playing for Jim Harbaugh.

“People had a certain perception of Jim, but once I got to San Fran and had a chance to play under him, I thought he was the ultimate player-coach, he was a guy that would do anything for his players, even if that means butting heads with the organization at times, he’s a guy that really put his players first.”

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Jim definitely had his fair share of clashes with management, eventually leading to his “mutual parting of the ways” from the 49ers.

San Francisco experienced quite a bit of success under Harbaugh, as the Michigan alum went 44-19 in four seasons at the helm and only finished outside of the top-two in the division once.

NBC Sports Bay Area feeds your hunger for 49ers Super Bowl coverage with special editions of “49ers Central” all week (9:30 p.m. Friday, and 3 p.m. Saturday).

Also tune in at 1 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday for a two-hour special of "49ers Pregame Live" with Laura Britt, Donte Whitner, Jeff Garcia, Ian Williams, Kelli Johnson, Greg Papa and Grant Liffmann. That same crew will have all the postgame reaction on "49ers Postgame Live," starting immediately after the game.

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