01/07/26 08:01:00
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01/07 07:59 CST John Harbaugh is fired as the Baltimore Ravens' coach after 18
seasons, including a Super Bowl win
John Harbaugh is fired as the Baltimore Ravens' coach after 18 seasons,
including a Super Bowl win
By NOAH TRISTER
AP Sports Writer
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) --- John Harbaugh's 18-year tenure in Baltimore included
two distinct periods of success.
After taking over, Harbaugh capitalized on the last few years of Ray Lewis'
career, reaching the AFC title game three times in his first five seasons as
coach and winning a Super Bowl.
When Lamar Jackson arrived in 2018, the Ravens became contenders again --- but
there's been no conference championship yet for this particular era, and lately
Baltimore has experienced more angst than glory.
So Harbaugh is out of a job.
Owner Steve Bisciotti fired Harbaugh on Tuesday after the Ravens were one of
the league's most disappointing teams this season. They went 8-9 and missed the
playoffs after entering Week 1 as one of the Super Bowl favorites.
Baltimore's season ended Sunday night when Tyler Loop missed a last-second
field-goal attempt, allowing Pittsburgh to hold on for a 26-24 victory in the
game that decided the AFC North title.
"This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we
have spent together and the profound respect I have for John as a coach and,
most importantly, as a great man of integrity," Bisciotti said in a statement.
"Throughout what I firmly believe is a Hall of Fame coaching career, John has
delivered a Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and served as a steadfast
pillar of humility and leadership."
Harbaugh was hired after coaching special teams and defensive backs for the
Philadelphia Eagles. With the Ravens, he went 193-124 including the postseason.
He led the 2012 Ravens to a Super Bowl title, and this season was only the
sixth time Baltimore missed the postseason under Harbaugh. That's the same
number of times the Ravens won the AFC North with him at the helm.
But most of Baltimore's postseason success came in his first few years. After
beating his brother Jim, who was coaching the San Francisco 49ers, in the Super
Bowl, John Harbaugh was 9-4 in the playoffs. For the rest of his tenure, he was
just 4-7. After the Ravens went three straight seasons without a playoff berth,
they drafted Jackson. The star quarterback won two MVPs in his first six years
in the league, but Harbaugh's lone run to an AFC championship game with Jackson
was wasted two seasons ago when Baltimore lost at home to Kansas City.
"Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here,
someday, but that day has come today," Harbaugh said in a statement. "It comes
with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION.
Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head
coach who made his mark with special teams success. A difficult thing to do ...
and Appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into
eternity."
The 2025 season was a mess for Baltimore from the start. The Ravens looked
great for much of their opener at Buffalo before blowing a late lead. Indeed,
squandering significant advantages became a troubling trend in Harbaugh's last
few seasons. The Ravens have blown 10 double-digit leads in the second half in
the past six seasons. No other team has done that more than seven times.
After a hamstring injury sidelined Jackson, Baltimore stumbled to a 1-5 start.
Harbaugh and the Ravens worked their way back into contention and eventually
reached Sunday's winner-take-all matchup as a favorite to beat the Steelers.
But despite Derrick Henry's early dominance on the ground and Jackson's
sensational fourth quarter, another season ended in excruciating fashion.
If Harbaugh's departure was a result of that loss --- which is not necessarily
clear --- then the missed kick at the end could have quite a domino effect
throughout the league. If he wants to coach next season, Harbaugh may well be
the most sought-after candidate on the market, and the Baltimore job might be
the best available, given the short-term possibilities with Jackson at
quarterback and the organization's reputation for stability.
Of course, Harbaugh was a big part of that stability. He's been the coach for
more than half of the Ravens' existence. When Baltimore has had to make changes
on the staff, it's often gone pretty well. Mike Macdonald was so good in his
two years as defensive coordinator that he became Seattle's head coach. Todd
Monken took over as offensive coordinator in 2023, and Jackson immediately won
his second MVP.
Now the Ravens are in the middle of a shakeup. It wasn't that hard to see it
coming, given how much they underperformed this season --- plus what seemed
like a possible disconnect with Jackson. It was hard to tell just how injured
the star quarterback was at any given time --- and Harbaugh's optimism on the
topic didn't always come to fruition. Week 18 was the first time since early
November that Jackson had a full week of practice.
Harbaugh said late in the season he had an "A-plus" relationship with Jackson,
and Jackson said he wanted to be in Baltimore.
Jackson was asked after the Pittsburgh game Sunday night if he wanted Harbaugh
back.
"You're asking me about next year," Jackson said. "I'm so caught up in what
just happened tonight. I can't focus on that right now."
___
AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.
___
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