When San Francisco 49ers fans recall Jim Haraugh's tenure as head coach, they may think of the big wins and the playoff appearances.
But perhaps what comes to mind first are those iconic pleated khakis that the eccentric coach would wear.
One can close their eyes and imagine Harbaugh in that black 49ers cap, gesticulating wildly on the sideline over a blown call, ruffling those khaki pants in the process. For those eagle-eyed fans who have followed Harbaugh's fashion choices on the sideline over the years, it will not have gone unnoticed that Harbaugh no longer wears his signature khakis on the sideline.
Harbaugh was asked about this change to his attire in his postgame presser following the Niners beating the Los Angeles Chargers 30-23 in their final preseason game.
"You've probably noticed I've moved to a different color," Harbaugh said. He was then asked when he made the switch, responding, "Probably 2018 or 2019, went to blue and wore those for about five or six years and now I'm in grey. You don't want things to get stale. It's like overripe fruit, stale bread, burnt meat, you know? Gotta change things up."
Exactly, Jim. It is just like those things.
It makes sense that Harbaugh went with blue at that time because that is when he was the head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Those blue pants served him well as they led him to a College Football Playoff national championship victory back in 2024.
Maybe part of the reason he made the switch is because his wife famously was not a fan of the khaki look, especially when Harbaugh revealed they were $8 khakis he would get from Walmart.
Fashion choices aside, it still was pretty cool to see Harbaugh back at Levi's Stadium over a decade after the acrimonious end to his tenure with the 49ers. It seems it only took him one season with the Chargers to get them back on track as they made the playoffs and he even has Trey Lance looking like a halfway decent quarterback.
It would have been legendary if Harbaugh decided to bring the khakis out if retirement for the preseason game as a nod to his past with the 49ers.
Alas, the khakis will remain in our memories for us to recall those three glorious years when Harbaugh led the Niners deep into the playoffs.
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