I am sure there are people out there asking, "Who?" Other than this fairly recognizeable surname, little is known in mainstream NFL fan circles outside Philadelphia, but I can assure you that NFL people in the know have had their eye on John Harbaugh for some time now.

A well-respected special-teams coordinator (more on this in a bit), Harbaugh switched to defense this past offseason in order to get a better chance to be a head coach. It worked. In addition to finishing a close second to Rick Neuheisel for the UCLA job, Harbaugh also got an interview with Bill Parcells in Miami. Like Tony Sparano, the man the Dolphins ended up hiring, Harbaugh's value as a head coach might not be appreciated by the fans who pine for the hot offensive (Jason Garrett) or defensive coordinator (Steve Spagnuolo) candidate.

But Harbaugh got to work closely with Jim Johnson this season, and it really gave him an idea how the defensive master put his gameplans together and how to dissect an opponent. That clearly benefited Spagnuolo, who is emerging as a real possibility in Atlanta. Harbaugh's Eagles might have had some issues in the secondary this season, but don't blame those on him. Injuries and declining play were the major factors.

So back to the special teams part. First, when I did a big feature a few years ago on coverage and return units, breaking down all the aspects of special teams that go overlooked, even I was overwhelmed at how much there was to know. And of the six or seven coordinators I talked to, the two who impressed me the most were Harbaugh and Joe DeCamillis, who is now with the Jaguars. Both guys sounded like head coaches. They know how to organize a disparate group of people, put them all together, motivate and establish order in chaos.

Bill Belichick has wondered aloud for many years why more special-teams coordinators aren't considered for head-coaching jobs -- or any, really. Bill has said it was during the time that he worked with special teams that he understood the importance of the position, and it allowed him to work with virtually every position there is except quarterbacks. Think about it: Defensive linemen, wideouts, linebackers, fullbacks, safeties ... they all make up special teams coverage units, working together.

But Harbaugh should not be classified as a "special teams guy." In fact, he might be one of the more versatile first-time head coaches to enter the league in years. He has experience in all three phases of football and was an assistant head coach at University of Cincinnati for eight years.

To me, it's a very intriguing hire, especially for a team that could be competitve next year if it finds a quarterback.