John Harbaugh: Family not involved

BEREA, Ohio -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he doesn't want to know what brother Jim Harbaugh's future coaching plans are and that any reports about the family swaying him to Michigan are "absolutely false."

Jim Harbaugh's prospects have been a prominent focus of NFL news headlines as it's believed his four-year run with the San Francisco 49ers will end after the team's season finale Sunday against Arizona.

John Harbaugh, speaking Wednesday with Cleveland media on a conference call, calls his brother's decision a personal one that doesn't involve him.

"I don't know where that came from, but it didn't come from the Harbaughs," he said about the family's involvement. "My dad and I both said [to Jim], don't tell us. If something gets out, we don't want the finger pointed at us. Leave us out of it and don't tell us what you're going to do.

"I think he's just trying to figure out what the next thing is for him. And I think more than anything he's just trying to have a great game on Sunday."

The Browns tried to trade for Jim Harbaugh after last season, with the coach fresh off his third straight NFC Championship Game appearance. Harbaugh's contract with San Francisco is set to expire after the 2015 season.

The interest in his brother relieves John Harbaugh because he has "cover," the Ravens coach joked.

"I open up my thing and I see Google and it's Jim Harbaugh. It's perfect ... it's all Jim," he said. "But I will say this: I'm proud of him and I think he's handled it well. He's been a giant through all of this uncalled-for type of media onslaught that he faces. Not anyone's fault, just the nature of the business. I think he's handled it just perfectly."