Believe it or not, before he was the khakis-wearing, intense sideline presence we know today, Jim Harbaugh was technically part of the Bayside High universe. Sorta.
If you’re a football fan, you probably know him as the guy who led Michigan to a national title or the current coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. But back in 1996, Jim Harbaugh was the star quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He was also, apparently, the cousin of Samuel "Screech" Powers.
Yeah. You read that right.
The Episode: Little Hero
It wasn't the original series with Zack and Kelly. That would’ve been too easy. No, Jim Harbaugh on Saved by the Bell happened during the spinoff era: Saved by the Bell: The New Class.
The episode is titled "Little Hero," and it’s the sixth episode of Season 4.
The plot is about as 90s as it gets. Bayside has a star football player named Eric who is, frankly, a bit of a jerk. He’s arrogant, he’s selfish, and he’s more interested in his own stats than the team. In one scene, he actually does a celebratory dance on the field that costs his team the game.
Screech, who is now the administrative assistant to Mr. Belding (don't ask why, the logic of this show is a fever dream), decides the boy needs a mentor. So, he calls up his "cousin" Jim.
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The Entry
When Harbaugh walks into The Max—the iconic neon-soaked diner—the studio audience goes absolutely wild. It’s hilarious because he’s wearing this oversized, slightly frumpy 90s sweater and basically just looks like a guy who got lost on his way to a golf course.
The kids in the booth are stunned. One of them actually asks, "Is that Jim Harbaugh?"
Screech, played by the late Dustin Diamond, drops the bombshell: "Yep. He's my cousin."
It’s one of those moments where you have to suspend every ounce of disbelief you own. Jim Harbaugh, a 6'3" NFL quarterback, is related to Screech Powers. Honestly, looking at their energy, maybe there’s a shared intensity there? Probably not.
The "Acting"
Let’s be real: Jim Harbaugh is not an Oscar winner.
He delivers a speech to the kids about what it means to be a hero. He uses these very emphatic, chopping hand gestures—the same ones he uses now when he’s arguing with a ref about a holding call.
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"Being famous does not make you a hero," Harbaugh tells the kid. "Being a hero isn't about what you do out there on the field. It's about who you are in here. It's about helping your friends, your school, and your community."
It is incredibly cheesy. It’s peak Saturday morning television. But there is something genuinely charming about seeing a young "Captain Comeback" (his nickname at the time) trying his best to navigate a multi-cam sitcom.
He wasn't the only athlete to do this, by the way. The New Class was a magnet for random sports cameos. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Shannon Miller, and even Bubba Smith showed up at various points.
Why This Still Matters in 2026
You might wonder why we’re still talking about a five-minute cameo from thirty years ago.
It’s because it perfectly captures the Harbaugh brand. He has always been a bit of a weirdo—in the best way possible. This is a guy who once appeared in the audience of Judge Judy just because he liked the show. He’s appeared in the show Detroiters. He’s a guy who leans into the absurdity of life.
Seeing him on Saved by the Bell reminds us that the "Coach Harbaugh" persona isn't a modern invention. The intensity, the sincerity, and the slightly awkward "coach-speak" were there even when he was a 30-something quarterback playing a fictionalized version of himself.
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Fact Check: Was it the Original Show?
People often get this wrong. They search for "Jim Harbaugh Zack Morris" or "Jim Harbaugh AC Slater."
He never shared a scene with Mark-Paul Gosselaar or Mario Lopez. By the time Jim showed up in 1996, the original cast had long since graduated and moved on to the short-lived College Years or other projects. This was the era of the "New Class" kids like Eric, Maria, and Nicky.
How to Find the Clip
If you want to witness this bit of TV history yourself, you can usually find it on YouTube by searching for "Jim Harbaugh Screech's cousin."
The clip usually starts around the 15-minute mark of the episode. It’s a time capsule of 1996—from the fashion to the lighting to the fact that an NFL quarterback would take time out of his season to film a guest spot on a teen sitcom.
Next time you see him screaming on the sidelines for the Chargers, just remember: deep down, he’s just Screech’s cousin Jim, trying to teach us all how to be real heroes.
Next Steps to Explore Harbaugh's Acting Career:
- Check out the "Detroiters" cameo: It’s arguably his best comedic work and shows he’s actually got some timing.
- Look up "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.": Jim appeared in this 1994 show as a cowboy named Mason Dixon. It’s arguably weirder than the Bayside appearance.
- Watch the full episode of "Little Hero": If you have a high tolerance for 90s laugh tracks, the full episode is available on various streaming platforms that carry the NBC vault.