When people hear the name Miah Harbaugh, they often think of her connection to Jim Harbaugh—former NFL quarterback and well-known football coach. But Miah’s story is larger than being “the coach’s ex-wife.” She has consistently chosen a life built around privacy, family stability, and emotional resilience, even during years when Jim’s football career brought constant travel, relocation, and public attention.
While Jim remained in the spotlight, Miah largely stayed out of it. That contrast—public fame versus private strength—is exactly why many readers still search for her story today.
Important family context: Jim Harbaugh is a father of seven children. He shares his older three—Jay, James, and Grace—with Miah. Later, he married Sarah Feuerborn Harbaugh (married in 2008), and they share four younger children: Addison, Katherine, Jack, and John (John Paul).
Quick Bio
Note on public records: Some details about Miah are widely repeated online, but not all are officially confirmed. Where information is uncertain, this article states that clearly.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Miah Lee Burke Harbaugh |
| Birthplace | New Jersey, USA (commonly reported) |
| Date of Birth | Often listed as August 25; birth year is inconsistently reported online (some sources cite 1966, others a different year). |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of Michigan (Paralegal Studies is commonly reported; specific degree details vary by source). |
| Former Spouse | Jim Harbaugh (married 1996–2006) |
| Wedding | Widely reported as February 1996 at Hilton Waikoloa Village (Hawaii) |
| Children | Jay, James (James Jr.), Grace |
| Residence | Reported to have lived in/around Coronado, California after divorce (commonly reported). |
| Remarried? | No verified public remarriage reported |
| Social Media | No verified public social profiles confirmed (accounts online may not be authentic). |
| Net Worth | Not publicly confirmed; any numbers online are estimates without verified records. |
Physical appearance: Many websites describe Miah as having blonde hair and brown eyes and a simple, understated style; however, specific measurements (height/weight) are not reliably verified in public records, so treat them as unconfirmed descriptions rather than proven facts.
Early Life & Background
Miah was born in New Jersey and is often described as having a normal, non-famous upbringing. Some biographies say her family later moved to Orlando, Florida, where she spent part of her youth. Much of her early personal life remains private—consistent with how she has lived even after being connected to a famous football figure.
Education and Early Work
Miah is widely reported to have attended the University of Michigan and studied toward paralegal-related training. During that period, multiple biographies describe her working as a waitress, which is frequently mentioned as an example of her independence and work ethic.
Because Miah has never publicly outlined her professional history, any detailed “job titles” after her divorce should be treated carefully unless supported by direct sources.
Meeting Jim Harbaugh
Most accounts place Miah meeting Jim in the early 1990s, during his NFL playing career. Their relationship is often described as quiet and steady, built around shared values and a low-key personal connection rather than publicity.
Marriage to Jim Harbaugh (1996–2006)
Miah and Jim married in 1996 and divorced in 2006. This decade overlapped with a major transition in Jim’s life: moving from player into coaching, then rising through bigger programs and eventually into the NFL coaching world.
The relocation and coaching timeline (what many articles leave out)
One of the most concrete “behind the scenes” realities of Miah’s marriage years is the constant movement tied to coaching opportunities. Public coaching history commonly includes Jim’s coaching stops such as:
- University of San Diego
- Stanford University
- San Francisco 49ers
This matters because it supports a key point about Miah: maintaining stability at home while the family adjusted repeatedly to new cities and schedules.
Family Life & Motherhood
Miah and Jim had three children: Jay, James (James Jr.), and Grace. Your original article correctly emphasized that her parenting style is consistently described as protective, values-driven, and private—and that’s the most defensible way to frame it, because Miah has not given public interviews about parenting.
A quick note about Jim’s parenting approach (adds competitor context)
In a widely cited interview, Jim has described how his parenting approach evolved over time—especially between his older kids and younger kids. He has said he wanted to encourage sports more directly with his younger children, using a “coach-like” style at home.
1) Jay Harbaugh
- Born: June 14, 1989.
- Current role: Seattle Seahawks Special Teams Coordinator (joined Feb 13, 2024).
- Key background: Knee injuries ended his playing career (reported by Michigan Athletics).
- Education: Graduated from Oregon State; served as an undergraduate assistant there (Michigan Athletics).
- Career continuity: Seahawks confirm he spent nine seasons at the University of Michigan before the NFL move.
- Family: Seahawks list his wife as Brhitney and note they have two children, Jacob and Norma.
(Your mention of Jay’s coaching path is strong—these additions make it more complete and verifiable.)
2) James Harbaugh (James Jr.)
- Born: Sept. 4, 1996.
- Education/interest: Public profiles commonly describe him as a University of Michigan graduate involved in theater and performing arts.
- Career: He works as a Delta Air Lines flight attendant (commonly reported in major profiles).
- Public support story (kept factual): Several mainstream profiles describe James as openly gay and describe strong family support; however, if you want to include direct quotes about this, it’s best to cite a primary interview/podcast source.
(If you want, I can add a short “verified quotes” subsection once you approve using the podcast quote references.)
3) Grace Harbaugh
Grace is publicly described as:
- A former University of Michigan water polo athlete.
- Having pursued business/management study connected to Michigan Ross, per her LinkedIn and coverage.
- Working in Entertainment & Culture Marketing at United Talent Agency (UTA) (confirmed on LinkedIn).
Additional competitor-relevant details (added carefully):
- She has also been listed in profiles as holding early-career roles such as social media intern / brand partnerships training while building marketing experience.
- She is active on social platforms (including TikTok), which is frequently mentioned in mainstream coverage.
(Your “UTA marketing” detail is solid—these points align your content with the competitor’s completeness.)
Jim Harbaugh’s Later Family
After divorcing Miah in 2006, Jim later married Sarah Feuerborn Harbaugh in 2008. They share four children commonly listed as:
- Addison (born 2008)
- Katherine (born 2010)
- Jack (born 2012)
- John Paul (born 2017)
This context is helpful because it explains why many readers see Miah referenced as “the first wife” and why older and younger siblings are often discussed together in Harbaugh-family coverage.
Life as Jim Harbaugh’s Wife
Being married to a high-profile NFL player and then coach typically means frequent relocations, intense schedules, and long periods with one partner traveling. So the most factual, safe framing is exactly what you were already doing: Miah built stability at home while Jim’s football responsibilities expanded.
Divorce (2006) and Its Aftermath
Miah and Jim divorced in 2006 after ten years of marriage. Neither publicly detailed the reasons, and there is no universally verified public statement from Miah explaining the divorce. Some sports-media narratives speculate that the pressures of coaching schedules and constant travel contributed—this can be mentioned only as “often cited” and not as fact.
Strong, safe version: They divorced privately and appear to have focused on co-parenting without public conflict.
Life After Divorce
Many biographies report that after the divorce, Miah moved to Coronado, California, seeking a calmer environment for family life. She has maintained an unusually private lifestyle for someone connected to a major sports figure—rare public photos, no reliable interviews, and no verified active public social presence.
Career & Interests
Before marriage, many profiles describe Miah working in hospitality (waitressing) while studying. After marriage and divorce, her professional life is not documented in reliable public sources—so it’s best not to claim specific jobs or organizations unless you have proof.
Best factual wording: Miah’s education could have supported paralegal-related work, but her exact post-divorce career is not publicly confirmed.
Influence & Legacy
Miah’s legacy is best described through what’s observable:
- She raised three children who have built their own lives and careers.
- Her public footprint remains minimal—suggesting a consistent preference for privacy and family over attention.
Current Lifestyle (2026)
As of the most consistent public reporting, Miah is believed to continue living a private life connected to Southern California/Coronado with minimal public exposure. Her children’s careers are much more visible than hers, which matches her long-running pattern of staying out of headlines.
Why Her Story Matters?
Miah Harbaugh’s story resonates because it reflects a rare path: being connected to fame, then choosing a life that remains quiet, family-first, and low-profile. In a time when many people capitalize on celebrity adjacency, Miah’s story is notable for what it avoids—publicity.
Conclusion
Miah Harbaugh is best understood not through rumors or inflated “celebrity bio” claims, but through the consistent pattern visible across time: privacy, family focus, and resilience. Her decade-long marriage to Jim Harbaugh overlapped with major football career growth and frequent relocations, yet she remained largely outside the spotlight—both during the marriage and long after the divorce.
FAQ’s
Who is Miah Harbaugh?
She is Jim Harbaugh’s first wife (married 1996–2006) and the mother of their three children: Jay, James, and Grace.
How many kids does Jim Harbaugh have (and which are Miah’s)?
Jim has seven children. He shares Jay, James, and Grace with Miah; and Addison, Katherine, Jack, and John Paul with Sarah Feuerborn Harbaugh.
Who is Jay Harbaugh and what does he do?
Jay is the Seattle Seahawks’ Special Teams Coordinator (joined Feb 13, 2024) and previously spent nine seasons coaching at Michigan.
Where does Grace Harbaugh work now?
Grace works in Entertainment & Culture Marketing at United Talent Agency (UTA), per her LinkedIn.
