49ers' Jim Harbaugh wins coaching honor
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has won the NFL Coach of the Year, in voting conducted by the Associated Press.
Harbaugh, who wrapped up his first season as a head coach with a 13-3 regular season mark and the NFC West title, got 45 votes from a national media panel. Green Bay's Mike McCarthy got three votes and Denver's John Fox the other two.
The 48-year-old Harbaugh is the third 49er to receive the top coaching honor. Bill Walsh won the award in 1981 and Dick Nolan in 1970.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Harbaugh led the 49ers to their first playoff berth since 2002. The 49ers earned a dramatic 36-32 win over New Orleans in the divisional round of the playoffs before falling to the New York Giants in overtime in the NFC title game.