Ravens fire head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons
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The Baltimore Ravens have fired longtime coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, the team announced Tuesday.
The decision comes two days after Harbaugh’s 2025 team failed to secure the AFC North title, losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.
“After a comprehensive evaluation of the season and the overall direction of our organization, I have decided to make a change as head coach,” Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in an official statement. “Today I informed John that he has been relieved of his duties.
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we have spent together and the deep respect I have for John as a coach and, most importantly, as a great man of integrity.”
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Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens reacts during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on January 4, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The Ravens also released a statement from Harbaugh.
“Well, I was hoping for some different type of message on my last day here, but that day has come today. It certainly comes with disappointment, but more so with GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION,” Harbaugh said.
“Gratitude to the owner and the organization who were willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with the success of the Special Teams. A difficult thing to do… and gratitude for all the moments, all these years, that are etched in eternity. I look forward to a legacy built on faith, always fighting, always believing.”
It was a game that looked like it would end in a miraculous comeback for the Ravens on Sunday when rookie kicker Tyler Loop lined up for a 44-yard field goal to win the division and secure the No. 4 seed in the AFC playoffs.
However, Loop’s kick was hard to the right as he flew through the Pittsburgh air, and the crowd went wild and the Steelers won the division.
There was talk about whether this could be the end of Harbaugh’s historic time in Baltimore. And while Harbaugh’s firing didn’t happen on “Black Monday” like other organizations, the Ravens are heading in a new direction for the first time since 2008.
Harbaugh is quickly becoming a leading head coaching candidate for teams looking to fill their own vacancies. Those teams include the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders.
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Harbaugh had a 180-113 record and a 13-11 postseason record during his 18 seasons with the franchise. He led the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory during the 2012 season after finishing 10-6.
Harbaugh, brother of Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, has the most road playoff wins in NFL history, demonstrating his pedigree when the game matters most.
Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens leaves the field after a loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on January 4, 2026. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
It shouldn’t be long before reports surface that Harbaugh has head coaching interviews on his calendar, considering teams are already working to hire new coaches to solidify their 2026 seasons.
As for the Ravens, there are coaches available like Kevin Stefanski, who the Ravens are familiar with given his last six seasons in the AFC North with the Browns. Raheem Morris is also on the move after the Falcons waived him after missing the playoffs.
The 63-year-old Harbaugh’s NFL coaching career began as special teams coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998 after college stops at Western Michigan, Pitt, Morehead State, Cincinnati and Indiana.
Harbaugh spent 10 seasons in Philadelphia, nine as special teams coordinator before getting his chance as head coach with the Ravens. He went 11-5 in his inaugural season and quickly turned the franchise into a formidable force in the AFC.
Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens walks on the field before a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on January 4, 2026, Pittsburgh. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
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Throughout his 18 seasons, Harbaugh has only had a losing record three times, with his worst record coming in the 2015 campaign at 5-11. The other two were 8-9 seasons in 2021 and 2025.
Harbaugh posted double-digit wins in 11 of those 18 seasons, including three straight from 2022-2024.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for News Digital.