Jim Harbaugh Addresses Crowd At March For Life: ‘It’s A Great Example That You’re Setting’

University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh, who led his team to a national championship victory over the Washington Huskies earlier this month, briefly addressed the crowd gathered for the 51st annual March for Life in Washington, D.C., on Friday. 

Harbaugh appeared on stage to introduce one of the rally’s speakers, former NFL tight end Benjamin Watson, but before he introduced Watson, the Michigan coach gave the crowd some encouragement. 

“Thank you all for being here. It’s a great example that you’re setting,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a testimony to the sanctity of life.” 

“It’s a great day for a march!” Harbaugh added as snow fell on the crowd that had braved the below-freezing temperature to attend the rally and march. “This is football weather! Let’s go!” 

The 2024 March for Life is expected to attract between 50,000 and 100,000 people, according to the organizers. Those who spoke at the rally included House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Focus on the Family President and CEO Jim Daly.

Harbaugh, who played quarterback for Michigan and for five different NFL teams, has been interviewed by multiple NFL teams interested in hiring him as their head coach following his 15-0 national championship run at Michigan. The Daily Caller met up with the coach at the march on Friday and asked him what the pro-life cause means to him. 

“You know, we all talk about human rights. There’s really no rights that are important unless you have the right to life,” Harbaugh told the Caller. “This is a great day for a march. It’s a great day for the sanctity of life, and football weather. Let’s make it a great day.”

Harbaugh, who is a Catholic, has been unabashed in stating his beliefs on the sanctity of life inside the womb. The coach even said in 2022 that if one of his players or staff members were involved in an unplanned pregnancy and felt they or the mother couldn’t care for the child, then Harbaugh and his wife would help raise the baby.

“I’ve told [them] the same thing I tell my kids, boys, the girls, same thing I tell our players, our staff members. I encourage them if they have a pregnancy that wasn’t planned, to go through with it, go through with it,” Harbaugh said. “Let that unborn child be born, and if at that time, you don’t feel like you can care for it, you don’t have the means or the wherewithal, then Sarah and I will take that baby.”