Jim Schwartz, Jim Harbaugh Handshake: Lions, 49ers Coaches Have Words After Game (VIDEO)

After four quarters of back-and-forth action featuring a half dozen lead changes on Sunday, tensions between the San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions continued to climb even after the final whistle. In the aftermath of San Francisco's comeback win over Detroit, things finally boiled over... but not between the players.

49ers coach Jim Harbaugh seems to have let his emotions get the best of him as he celebrated his team's big win on the field, showing up Lions coach Jim Schwartz with an overly enthusiastic postgame handshake.

Schwartz didn't take it very well. He appeared to say something to that effect while the two were meeting on the field, but Harbaugh kept running toward the locker room. That's when Schwartz chased Harbaugh down and started yelling at him. Harbaugh looked as if he said "get out of my face" as Schwartz had to be separated by several staff members. Soon enough the players were taking cues from the emotions of their coaches and another scuffle ensued.

Shortly after the incident, Harbaugh accepted the blame.

"I was really revved up. That wasn't me, just shook his hand too hard," the 49ers coach said, per NFL Network's Albert Breer. "That's on me. Handshake was too hard."

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told ProFootballTalk that the league is reviewing the incident.

WATCH VIDEO AT THE TOP

Comments

[ABunker]

01:56 PM on 10/18/2011

Media is blowing way out or proportion. HP needs to look up "Brawl" in the dictionary.

[mjames5464]

08:04 PM on 10/17/2011

Lol...I love it when Jim says"I shook his hand too hard".. Schwartz needs to remember to take his medication before he goes out onto the field......

[Please-Play-Fair]

06:37 PM on 10/17/2011

Apparently in March in New Orleans, Schwartz had already started to challenge Harbaugh as a first year coach.  This was at a dinner at the NFL spring meeting.  This was from Jim's brother's John Harbaugh who coaches the Ravens. 

"We were having dinner the other night and Jim Schwartz told him (Jim) basically there's no way you're going to be able to get it done [if the lockout lasts into the summer],” John Harbaugh said. “He told him there's no way you're going to be able to accomplish what you need to accomplish in two weeks if this thing lasts a while."

"Jim just kind of bit his tongue, which is what you've got to do in this situation. Because there's nothing you can do about it. You've just got to try to get your team ready to play."

Schwartz put the challenge to Harbaugh ... and lost.

[Tomtom2]

07:16 PM on 10/17/2011

There's a saying that maybe you should learn. It's called "Please play fair". That doesn't mean while your playing baseball or football but in social interactions. If your slighted by someone prove them wrong by your achievements. That other stuff is good for the -90 IQ people on the Jerry Springer show but in the adult world mature people don't act that way to prove a point.

[Please-Play-Fair]

07:57 PM on 10/17/2011

tomtom ... and that is exactly what Harbaugh did ... outplayed the Lions.  What is so unfair about that?  If you take issue with his emotional response in winning ... then maybe Schwartz shouldn't have taunted him near the end of the 1st half ... or back in spring.  So ... we can certainly all play fair.  And as far as I can tell, Harbaugh is the only one coming out saying he may have been a bit exuberant.  Silence from Schwartz ... says plenty to me about character.  What about exuberance from Schwartz after Dallas and Vikings wins??

[Nate80]

06:29 PM on 10/17/2011

Harbaugh is a weirdo.

[374662]

06:18 PM on 10/17/2011

I am the coach, the leader and set an example for my team! Oops, never mind.

[CAhye]

06:16 PM on 10/17/2011

schwartz was mad that harbaugh big timed him with the pat on the back "nice try kid you'll get em" LMAO

[amaboss52]

06:13 PM on 10/17/2011

Grow the eff up!

[Tomtom2]

06:03 PM on 10/17/2011

Where's LeGarrette Blount when you need him.

What a classeless... Even more so his apology. If you want to call it that.

[Tom Joad]

05:58 PM on 10/17/2011

...cry babies...

[BNAUGHTY]

05:47 PM on 10/17/2011

Shwartz would NEVER be so crass as to use foul language or be overly exuberant following a win.

His Sept 25 reaction to defeating the vikings:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7spmrTbg7eo&noredirect=1

[Tomtom2]

06:16 PM on 10/17/2011

And your point is?

[Please-Play-Fair]

07:58 PM on 10/17/2011

Schwartz is the pot ... and Harbaugh is the kettle ...

[ktpinnacle]

06:30 PM on 10/17/2011

Did he take 3 seconds from his celebration to shake the other coaches hand? Sure he did.

[Please-Play-Fair]

07:59 PM on 10/17/2011

as did Harbaugh ...

[Golfer59]

05:44 PM on 10/17/2011

This started when Schwarts yelled "Learn the rule Harbaugh" when Joh threw the red flag out to conteat a touchdown not knowing that all tounchdowns in the NFL are looked at up-top. Schwart was walking up and down the side line laughing about it.

[Please-Play-Fair]

06:05 PM on 10/17/2011

Yes, but in Schwartz's mind ... that was during the game ... after the game, you need to play a different set of rules.   LOL

[jxjl99a]

05:26 PM on 10/17/2011

Harbaugh just wasn't humble enough or didn't show the proper respect toward Schwartz and the team his team had just beat! Happens all the time especially in college.

[raffa657]

05:26 PM on 10/17/2011

Can you say RIVALRY?

[gomudhens]

10:06 AM on 10/18/2011

Lions and 49ers? Don't hold your breath for anything great coming out of this.

[raffa657]

11:08 PM on 10/19/2011

Ah! If they have the same coaches, I would suggest you watch when they meet again.

[wayne64]

05:25 PM on 10/17/2011

Both coaches have a lot to be proud of...Harbaugh has learned what not to do when shaking the hand of the opponents losing head coach....

[jshop]

05:24 PM on 10/17/2011

It wasn't the handshake, it was the slap-shove in the back that set this off. You could see Schwartz react when it happened. Why have such a gauling ritual of sportsmanship which is really only an opportunity to gloat or be humbled after a contest when it can turn into this kind of embarrassing debacle (for both parties)? Why can't the coaches just walk off the field to either celebrate or stew in their juices after a game?

[Courtney Hoffard]

05:52 PM on 10/17/2011

he didnt shove him.. it was an over exuberant pat on the back.....total over reaction by schwarz...

[jshop]

06:09 PM on 10/17/2011

"...an over-exuberant pat on the back" IS a shove! He should have just shook hands and danced away -- no need to put his hands on any other part of the man's body.

[Tomtom2]

06:10 PM on 10/17/2011

How clueless are you? It was an emotional situation for both. One just got a blow to the groin and the other just won the lottery. Do you even have a clue to what compassion is? I'm glad your not one of my friends.