Jim Harbaugh explains having pants set on fire at Penn State game

At one point last week, Jim Harbaugh’s pants were on fire.

No, that’s not a euphemism for him telling a fib or lying about something that happened in the Penn State game. His pants were literally on fire.

Apparently, Harbaugh stood too close to one of the space heaters and found himself on fire — but he realized a little late.

In his Monday game recount with WXYZ’s Brad Galli, Harbaugh retold the tale of how he found out he was literally burning on the sidelines and how he found out.

“Yeah, early in the game, Roman Wilson was on the bench and I was going over to ask him about the previous route that he had run,” Harbaugh said. “And just talking to him to get the signal, adjust the split — coaching him up. And then, all of a sudden, Daylen Baldwin says, ‘Coach, your pants are on fire.’ ‘Uh huh?’ ‘Your pants are on fire.’ I look down and, ‘Oh my gosh, my pants are on fire!’

“Maybe a little coaching point to Daylen Baldwin, man — if somebody’s on fire — ‘Hey! Coach!’ Maybe just grab me, get me out of the way or something! Be a little more emphatic about the fact that somebody’s on fire!”

Harbaugh says he does intend on keeping the pants, either as a token from the Wolverines’ 21-17 win or will repurpose them entirely.

“Yeah, I got them maybe as a memento,” Harbaugh said. “Those are pretty expensive pants, those Lululemons. Maybe just make them into shorts, because they burned down on the calf.”

Watch the whole exchange below: