- Jim Harbaugh tells his players not to have abortions and that he would take care of the child if the player can't.
- The Michigan coach and his wife recently spoke at a Right to Life anti-abortion event.
Jim Harbaugh is putting his money where his mouth is, saying he would be willing to raise the children born of unwanted pregnancies within the University of Michigan football program.
Harbaugh, who recently spoke at a Right to Life anti-abortion event, gave his latest comments on abortion to ESPN's Gene Wojciechowski during a wide-ranging interview heading into the 2022 college football season.
The Wolverines football coach told ESPN that if anybody in his family or the football program were unable to raise a child, he and his wife will do it for them.
"Let's discuss it," Harbaugh told Wojciechowski. "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. 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."
Sarah Harbaugh also spoke at the anti-abortion rally in Plymouth, Michigan.
Harbaugh, a Catholic, spoke about his anti-abortion views at the event, quoting scripture.
"I believe in having the courage to let the unborn be born," Harbaugh said, according to Daniel Meloy of Detroit Catholic. "I love life. I believe in having a loving care and respect for life and death. My faith and my science are what drive these beliefs in me. Quoting from Jeremiah, 'Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.'
"In God's plan, each unborn human truly has a future filled with potential, talent, dreams, and love," Harbaugh continued, according to the Detroit Free Press. "I have living proof in my family, my children, and the many thousands that I've coached that the unborn are amazing gifts from God to make this world a better place. To me, the right choice is to have the courage to let the unborn be born."
A representative for the University of Michigan told Insider that Harbaugh "was not speaking on behalf of the university."
"Jim Harbaugh attended an event and shared his personal views as any citizen has the constitutional right to do. He was sharing his personal beliefs," the university said.
Harbaugh's 22-year-old daughter, Grace, told Insider she is pro-choice despite her parents' beliefs.
"While I hold a great amount of respect for my dad and love him dearly, I am completely steadfast in my belief of women's rights to choose. I am pro-choice," Grace Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh has become a political activist on several issues in recent years
Harbaugh has spoken publicly about his stance on abortion previously. During a podcast interview with Jay Nordlinger in the early days of the pandemic, Harbaugh was asked about the impact of COVID on sports when he veered over to the topic of abortions.
"We talk about sanctity of life, yet we live in a society that aborts babies," Harbaugh said. "There can't be anything more horrendous."
Harbaugh has been more political than his football-is-all persona would suggest at times. In 2017, he spoke before Congress on behalf of providing more legal aid to low-income Americans. In 2020, Harbaugh attended a protest in Ann Arbor following the murder of George Floyd by an on-duty police officer, receiving praise from President Barack Obama for being "on the right side" of police brutality.