Sports

Struggling Niners kicker has Harbaugh history

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Veteran 49ers kicker David Akers knows the Harbaugh brothers like few others.

Akers — who will be under heavy scrutiny in Super Bowl XLVII after a wildly inconsistent season — talked about his experiences playing for both John, the Ravens head coach, and Jim, the 49ers head coach.

“The similarities are that they are all about hard work, dedication and having a positive attitude,” Akers said yesterday at the 49ers’ training facility. “The difference is, just like any brothers, you know, personalities are a little different.

“John is probably a little bit more internalizing everything and more methodical, and Jim is very emotional and players feed off of that as well. So it is just two different personalities.”

Akers’ feel-good story had him landing on the waiver wire three times before signing with the Eagles in 1999. The Kentucky native is now a 14-year NFL veteran and six-time Pro Bowler. Akers played in Philadelphia through 2010 and spent much of those 12 years under the tutelage of John Harbaugh, who was the special teams coordinator for the Eagles from 1998-2006.

“John is a fantastic coach and a great friend. I wish him the best success except for the next Sunday,” Akers said. “John is a great special-teams guy. He knows a lot about kicking and he probably a lot about me. I just think the world of him, and I’ve thought the world of the Harbaugh family. To me, it is kind of bittersweet to be on that side [49ers] and root for [the Ravens] to lose. But this game absolutely that is going to be the case.

“John was my position coach for eight seasons. … We kind of came up through the ranks together and now he is coaching an AFC championship team. Hopefully he does well in the future — just not in this Super Bowl.”

Akers signed with the Jim Harbaugh-led 49ers as a free agent in 2011. He converted on 44 of 52 field goal attempts in his first regular season with the team and set the franchise record for most points in a season with 166.

But Akers struggled mightily this season, making just 29 of 42 field goals, including just nine of 19 attempts from 40-plus yards. Akers missed a critical 38-yard field goal in the second half against the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game.

Though the 49ers were concerned enough to sign Billy Cundiff in recent weeks to compete with Akers, Jim Harbaugh stressed his confidence in Akers yesterday.

“We all have great faith in David — he has done a lot for our team,” Harbaugh said. “He has really been hitting the ball well consistently now for weeks. All you can do is make the snap, make the hold, give great protection, and have him hit the balls. And we have a lot of confidence the balls will go in.”

Akers was philosophical about his difficulties this season.

“It’s one of those things that have kind of been a head-scratcher,” Akers said. “For me, I am just going to go into this looking positive and forgetting the fact of 2012 and looking forward to good things in 2013.”

One thing is for certain: Should Akers hit or miss a big field goal in the Super Bowl, only one Harbaugh — either Akers’ past or present coach — will be on the sideline celebrating.