Surrounded by the likes of Tom Coughlin, Bill Belichick and Tony Dungy, Baltimore Ravens rookie head coach John Harbaugh admitted he felt out of place at the recent league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla.
"You walk into the building and you see the faces and it's kind of like, 'Whoa!'" Harbaugh said. "My wife and I, we were hiding in the lobby, thinking we were going to be thrown out. Don't let them see us. Security!"
Who could blame him?
Few football fans knew of Harbaugh when the Ravens made him the third head coach in franchise history on Jan. 19. His route to Baltimore was both unique and under the radar.
Two years ago, Harbaugh was a longtime special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was promoted to secondary coach in 2007 before becoming the lead man in Baltimore.
Only six head coaches in the past decade have been hired without prior head coaching or coordinator experience. Harbaugh is part of a trio of former position coaches to debut as head coaches this year. The other two are Jim Zorn of the Washington Redskins and Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins.
But Harbaugh, 45, is not green. He has 25 years of coaching experience, including 11 seasons in the NFL.
"He's really worked at his craft,'' Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "I think he brings an understanding of special teams and defense, a guy that can be involved in two phases of the game. He is demanding but understanding, and he is very personable in the way he deals with the players.''
There is a sentiment in Baltimore that the Ravens hired the anti-Brian Billick.
Harbaugh's personable approach will be a change of pace from Baltimore's former head coach, who was more domineering. When it came to coaching, Billick wanted things done his way, with little input from others in the organization.
When the Ravens were winning, everything was fine. But when the team had a down year, Billick seemed to find himself on the hot seat.
Billick's act finally wore thin after his ninth season, and the team felt it was time for a new style of leadership. In just four months on the job, Harbaugh already is being praised for his receptiveness.
"No. 1, he's done a very good job of listening to everything that we've had to say, whether it's been about our team, whether it's been about free agency, whether it's been about the draft,'' Newsome explained. "I think the other thing is he has a way of being a very good listener, but when he offers up any information, it's thought out very well.''
Harbaugh is eager to prove Newsome and the Ravens correct. He aims to set the same example for position coaches that Philadelphia's Andy Reid and Kansas City's Herm Edwards set before him.
Edwards, a former secondary coach, has led the Chiefs and New York Jets to postseason berths as a head coach. And Reid, a former quarterbacks coach, won five division titles in nine years and appeared in a Super Bowl with the Eagles.
If this year's class of Harbaugh, Zorn and Sparano adds to the success rate, it could open doors for more position coaches to make a similar jump.
"It hasn't hurt, I know that,'' Reid said of his success. "I'm sure they all have agents and somewhere the agent has kind of pounded that. I don't think the coaches probably do, but the agents are going to use everything they can to present their coach to a team. I think that part helps.''
Coaching also runs deep in Harbaugh's family. His father, Jack, is a former assistant athletic director at Marquette and former football coach. His brother, Jim, is the fiery head coach at Stanford and former NFL quarterback. His sister, Joani, is married to Indiana University basketball coach Tom Crean.
John Harbaugh's hiring now gives him the job with the highest profile in the family, and it comes with many challenges following a 5-11 season.
Starting quarterback Steve McNair is 35 and injury-prone, while backup Kyle Boller has failed to prove he could be a consistent NFL starter.
Future Hall of Fame left tackle Jonathan Ogden is pondering retirement, which would leave a large hole on the offensive line.
"That's a wild card right now,'' Harbaugh said.
Key veterans Chris McAlister (cornerback), Todd Heap (tight end) and Samari Rolle (cornerback) also missed significant playing time in 2007.
But the talent is certainly there, and that's what Harbaugh is most excited about. When healthy two years ago, this same core group in Baltimore went 13-3 in 2006.
In taking over a veteran team, Harbaugh has a chance to become this year's Mike Tomlin in the AFC North. Tomlin adjusted well in his first season by leading the Pittsburgh Steelers to a 10-6 record and a division title.
"It's like having a new pair of shoes; you've got to get comfortable,'' Tomlin said. "John's a good coach. I'm sure that he'll be very successful. The big thing is you surround yourself with great people, you trust your instincts and your gut.''
The organization is doing everything it can to make sure Harbaugh succeeds.
Baltimore retained defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, whose defenses have ranked in the top six every year since 2003. Harbaugh is taking the "if it isn't broke'' approach with Ryan, leaving the X's and O's to his top assistant.
Baltimore also hired Cam Cameron, the head coach of the Miami Dolphins last year who was regarded as one of the NFL's top offensive minds during his time with the San Diego Chargers.
In addition, the Ravens have nine picks in this month's draft, including the eighth overall, further fueling optimism for 2008.
"You can't define a team by last year's record,'' an excited Harbaugh said. "Nothing you did in the past means anything. Everything can change.''
If Harbaugh's instincts are correct, the AFC North just became a lot tougher.
James Walker covers the NFL for ESPN.com