Through distinction as a 2012 Outstanding Civilian Service Award winner and designation as the National Football League’s 2014 Salute to Service Award victor, John Harbaugh has earned his stripes as a supporter of the U.S. military. The head coach of the Baltimore Ravens furthered his regard for the country’s defenders by purchasing $1,500 worth of hats for Afghanistan-stationed personnel.
The caps come courtesy of the choice to spend his allotment from New Era Cap Company so as to “…brighten the days of as many Army men and women as we could.” The headwear heavyweight endowed the sideline patroller and his coaching contemporaries the amount at the annual league meetings, with the 54-year-old keen on commending “…the great sacrifices made by our military members overseas.” His generosity is placing 154 hats atop the heads of those figures, with distribution through Harbaugh’s friend, Maj. Gen. JT Thomson, commencing April 27. The caps include NFL, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Collegiate Athletic Association logos, with Harbaugh, who has had his kindness captured in photos by the Army representatives, injecting a joke into his altruistic gesture.
“I know that, unfortunately, not everyone is a Ravens fan, so I thought we should send hats of all teams,” he said, adding he had included caps representing the Ravens, whom he guided to triumph in Super Bowl XLVII, and the University of Michigan, where brother Jim, whose San Francisco 49ers lost that championship tilt, is the head coach, “…in case anyone wants to switch allegiances.”
Harbaugh, well-known in our stomping grounds through his decade-long tenure as an assistant coach with the Eagles, will be entering his 10th season in Charm City, with his club looking to return to the playoffs after a two-year drought. Come the Sept. 10 opener in Cincinnati, here’s hoping the cap recipients pledge their allegiance to the Ravens and not the Bengals.
