Jim Harbaugh Fight: Why Both Coaches Were Out of Line

The San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions matched up Sunday afternoon in what may have been the most exciting game of the weekend.

Both teams entered the game with momentum. The 49ers entered the game with a shocking 4-1 record, with their only loss of the season coming in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys.

This is almost the same San Francisco team from a year ago that finished the season 6-10. The major difference has been the addition of head coach Jim Harbaugh.

The Lions have started the 2011 season just as hot as the 49ers. They were sitting at a 5-0 record, only one of two remaining undefeated teams.

The game ended up being as exciting as many had hoped. It was a defensive struggle that the 49ers walked away from with a 25-19 victory.

This morning, however, nobody is talking about the game. Unfortunately, they are talking about what ensued after the game.

Coach Jim Harbaugh of the 49ers ran onto the field jumping up and down as time ran off the clock. He met Lions head coach Jim Schwartz at center field and slapped his hand, followed by a rough handshake.

He continued to jump up and down as he made his way to the locker room.

An angry Schwartz chased after him. When Schwartz caught up he got into Harbaugh's face. The two exchanged some words and nearly went after one another.

Players from both teams ran over to break up the scuffle.

Both of these guys are good coaches. Both are very passionate about what they do. It's a shame that the day after a big game like this it's not the game we are talking about.

Both coaches were in the wrong.

Harbaugh shouldn't have acted the way he did when he approached Schwartz. There is an etiquette that coaches follow.

He needed to take a five second break from his excitement to say good game and move on. That's all that was needed.

At the same time, Schwartz shouldn't have pursued Harbaugh after the handshake.

This is a game of passion. Schwartz knows this. Although he was disappointed with his team's loss, he needed to just shrug off Harbaugh's excitement and let it go.

Sometimes being the bigger man is the right move.