Ravens Fire Coach John Harbaugh After 18 Seasons/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Baltimore Ravens have fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons, including a Super Bowl win. Despite early success and Lamar Jackson’s MVP seasons, recent playoff struggles and an 8-9 finish led to his dismissal. Harbaugh departs with a 193-124 record.
Ravens Coaching Shakeup Quick Looks
- John Harbaugh fired after 18 seasons with Baltimore Ravens
- Harbaugh led Ravens to Super Bowl title in 2012
- Ravens finish 2025 season 8-9, miss playoffs
- Team entered the season as a top Super Bowl contender
- Lamar Jackson era failed to reach AFC title game
- Ravens blew 10 double-digit second-half leads since 2020
- Owner Steve Bisciotti calls Harbaugh’s tenure “Hall of Fame” worthy
- Harbaugh departs with 193-124 overall coaching record
- Harbaugh says he leaves with “gratitude and appreciation”
- Baltimore expected to be top coaching destination in 2026
Ravens Fire Coach John Harbaugh After 18 Seasons
Deep Look
After 18 seasons, one Super Bowl title, and nearly two decades of leadership, the Baltimore Ravens have parted ways with head coach John Harbaugh. The move was confirmed Tuesday by team owner Steve Bisciotti following a frustrating 8-9 campaign that ended in disappointment — and without a playoff berth.
“John has delivered a Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and served as a steadfast pillar of humility and leadership,” Bisciotti said. “This was an incredibly difficult decision.”
Harbaugh, who was hired in 2008 after working as a special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach in Philadelphia, guided the Ravens to early dominance with three AFC Championship appearances and a Super Bowl victory in his first five years. Over the course of his Baltimore tenure, Harbaugh compiled a 193-124 overall record, including the postseason.
But after a strong start to his head coaching career, the second half of Harbaugh’s time in Baltimore brought more questions than answers — particularly in the postseason. Following the team’s 2012 championship, Harbaugh was just 4-7 in playoff games and never returned to the Super Bowl.
The arrival of dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2018 reignited Baltimore’s status as a title contender. Jackson won two MVP awards under Harbaugh’s leadership, but the team never advanced past the AFC Divisional Round during that time. The closest they came was in the 2023-24 season, when the Ravens lost a tight home game to Kansas City in the AFC title game.
This season was among the most painful for Ravens fans. Starting with a blown lead in Week 1 against Buffalo, the team struggled with inconsistency and injuries, including a key hamstring issue for Jackson that contributed to a 1-5 start. Despite rallying late in the season, the Ravens missed a chance to win the AFC North in the final week, losing 26-24 to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers when kicker Tyler Loop missed a last-second field goal.
While Harbaugh did not point to any one moment for his departure, the dramatic ending to Sunday’s game may have accelerated ownership’s decision. In his farewell statement, Harbaugh reflected on his time with the franchise.
“It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION,” he wrote. “Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with special teams success… and Appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity.”
Throughout his tenure, Harbaugh was a symbol of stability for one of the NFL’s most respected franchises. He helped shape Baltimore’s identity on both sides of the ball, including overseeing staff changes that led to major coaching talent — such as Mike Macdonald, who recently became the Seahawks’ new head coach after leading the Ravens’ defense.
Harbaugh also managed through various offensive coordinators, most recently Todd Monken, who helped Jackson win his second MVP after taking over in 2023.
However, by the end of 2025, frustrations had grown, both publicly and internally. The team’s trend of squandering large leads — 10 double-digit second-half collapses since 2020, the most in the NFL — underscored a lack of finishing power. Questions also lingered about the communication and transparency around Jackson’s injury status, as Harbaugh often expressed optimism that didn’t always match reality. Jackson practiced fully in Week 18 for the first time since early November.
Despite public affirmations of a strong coach-quarterback relationship, observers noted signs of disconnect between Harbaugh and Jackson.
When asked after Sunday’s season-ending loss whether he wanted Harbaugh back, Jackson declined to answer directly: “I’m so caught up in what just happened tonight. I can’t focus on that right now.”
With Harbaugh now officially out, the Ravens will begin a high-profile search for a new head coach. The job is likely to be one of the most attractive vacancies in the league, given the presence of Jackson, a well-built roster, and the team’s strong front office.
Harbaugh, meanwhile, is expected to draw immediate interest from other franchises. With a proven track record, leadership credentials, and playoff experience, he may become the most sought-after coaching free agent of the offseason — especially for teams seeking stability and postseason potential.
Baltimore now enters a new era for the first time in nearly two decades. The next head coach will inherit high expectations, a passionate fanbase, and the challenge of maximizing a championship-caliber roster that has repeatedly come up just short in recent years.
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