Will Ravens fire John Harbaugh? Why Baltimore coach could be on the hot seat after embarrassing game vs. Texans

A Super Bowl win and sustained success have bought John Harbaugh plenty of time with the Baltimore Ravens, despite plenty of playoff disappointment in the Lamar Jackson era. Could time soon be running out?

The Ravens were considered one of the favorites in the AFC to start the 2025 season, but just about everything has gone wrong, from a late-game collapse in Buffalo to demoralizing defensive injuries. A hamstring injury to Lamar Jackson intensified the noise surrounding the franchise, with Baltimore losing 44-10 to the Houston Texans in Jackson's first game on the sideline.

While Harbaugh can't necessarily prevent injuries, he was already under scrutiny before the season for his lengthy history of blown leads. 

Here's what you need to know about Harbaugh's job status going forward.

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Will the Ravens fire John Harbaugh?

Super Bowl-winning coaches tend to last a long time in their jobs, but they don't necessarily get to write their own ticket forever. Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll both had exits from their respective teams in 2023 that weren't entirely mutual decisions. With Harbaugh now 13 years removed from hoisting the Lombardi Trophy, it can't just be assumed that he is untouchable. 

To this point, though, there has been no indication that the Ravens are looking to move on from Harbaugh. Owner Steve Bisciotti tends to be loyal, and one would have to think a move would come at the end of a season if it happened. Even if the playoffs become out of reach, that gives Harbaugh time to pull this group together and finish the year strong, proving to ownership that a healthier roster can contend again in 2026.

Injuries certainly give Harbaugh an excuse, but blown leads have put the 63-year-old under fire in recent years. Harbaugh recorded his 17th blown double-digit lead in the second half when the Ravens lost to the Bills in Week 1. That is more than any coach since at least 1991.

While longevity has plenty to do with that record, Harbaugh's Ravens have seen eight double-digit leads slip away since the start of the 2022 season. Their AFC counterpart Buffalo Bills and Kansas City Chiefs have lost a combined four such leads over that span.

Ravens losses

The Ravens have allowed at least 37 points in all four of their losses in 2025, including a 17-point defeat in Kansas City and now a 34-point home loss to Houston.

Lamar Jackson injury

Jackson suffered a hamstring injury late in the Ravens' Week 4 loss to the Chiefs and missed Week 5. His status for Week 6 is up in the air.

No one could expect Harbaugh to do much winning with Cooper Rush at quarterback and a slew of defensive injuries, but some Ravens fans understandably expected a more competitive effort when the team played its first game without Jackson in Week 5. Even before Jackson went down, Baltimore was well on its way to a 1-3 start.

Ravens injuries

Injuries have piled up on the defensive side of the ball for the Ravens in 2025, with Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey and Nnamdi Madubuike all missing Week 5. Madubuike will miss the remainder of the season with a neck injury.

In addition to Jackson, OT Ronnie Stanley also missed Week 5 due to injury. The hope is every player but Madubuike can return at some point, but the Ravens could have too much of a hole to dig out of in the AFC playoff picture by that point.

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How long has John Harbaugh been coach of the Ravens?

Harbaugh was hired by the Ravens in 2008 and is in his 18th season as the team's head coach. Only one NFL head coach has been with his current team longer: Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who took over the reins for Bill Cowher in 2007.

Of his 17 full seasons, Harbaugh has only posted a losing record twice. The Ravens transitioned seamlessly from Joe Flacco to Lamar Jackson in 2018, returning to the playoffs in Jackson's rookie season and morphing into a force in the AFC in the years that followed. Jackson has yet to lead Baltimore to a Super Bowl, however, and his only AFC championship appearance was a home loss to the Chiefs as favorites. 

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John Harbaugh record

Among active coaches, only Andy Reid and Tomlin have more career wins than Harbaugh.

Harbaugh has an impressive career record with a winning percentage well north of .600, and the success from his earliest days with the Ravens help push his playoff record north of .500 as well.

Since 2015, however, Harbaugh is only 3-6 in the playoffs. 

Ravens upcoming schedule

The Ravens face the Los Angeles Rams at home before hitting their much-needed bye week