After 18 years, John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens are splitting up.
The Ravens are moving on from Harbaugh after missing the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion this season, charting a new course as they try to get back into Super Bowl contention with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson as the face of the franchise.
In a statement, Ravens coach Steve Bisciotti called the move "an incredibly difficult decision" but did not explain the decision any further.
Harbaugh released a lengthy statement as well thanking the Ravens and their fans:
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 6, 2026
Harbaugh was the NFL's second-longest tenured head coach behind only Mike Tomlin. Hired in 2008 after serving as a special teams and DBs coach under Andy Reid, Harbaugh won a Super Bowl in his fifth season and had only two losing seasons in his final decade in Baltimore.
Here's what you need to know about the Ravens' decision to part ways with Harbaugh.
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Why did Ravens fire John Harbaugh?
No one would say Harbaugh's tenure in Baltimore wasn't a success — he won a Super Bowl and had only three losing seasons in 18 years — but very few coaches get to end on their own terms. For the Ravens and Harbaugh, each side might see this moment as the right time for a fresh start.
It isn't Harbaugh's fault that Tyler Loop missed a potential AFC North-winning kick, but the Ravens ended in that position partly because of inexcusable losses, namely a late-game collapse against the Buffalo Bills in Week 1 and a home blowout at the hands of the Cincinnati Bengals on Thanksgiving.
Blown leads became all too common under Harbaugh. The Ravens blew eight double-digit leads in the last four seasons, easily outpacing other AFC contenders, and the franchise wasn't experiencing the playoff success to make up for it. Baltimore's only AFC championship game appearance with Jackson at quarterback was a loss as a home favorite, and Harbaugh's last playoff run with multiple wins came all the way back in 2012, when he guided the Ravens to a championship.
The defense's decline after Mike Macdonald's departure two years ago defined Harbaugh's final two seasons, and the offense took a step back in 2025 even when Jackson was on the field.
According to The Athletic's Dianna Russini, the idea firing offensive coordinator Todd Monken was a point of contention between the two sides, with Harbaugh resisting the suggestion.
With only two years remaining on Jackson's contract, the Ravens have to commit to their quarterback as early as this offseason. To win a Super Bowl with him, they decided a different direction was needed.
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John Harbaugh coaching record
| Season | W | L | Pct. |
| 2008 | 11 | 5 | .688 |
| 2009 | 9 | 7 | .563 |
| 2010 | 12 | 4 | .750 |
| 2011 | 12 | 4 | .750 |
| 2012 | 10 | 6 | .625 |
| 2013 | 8 | 8 | .500 |
| 2014 | 10 | 6 | .625 |
| 2015 | 5 | 11 | .313 |
| 2016 | 8 | 8 | .500 |
| 2017 | 9 | 7 | .563 |
| 2018 | 10 | 6 | .625 |
| 2019 | 14 | 2 | .875 |
| 2020 | 11 | 5 | .688 |
| 2021 | 8 | 9 | .471 |
| 2022 | 10 | 7 | .588 |
| 2023 | 13 | 4 | .765 |
| 2024 | 12 | 5 | .706 |
| 2025 | 8 | 9 | .471 |
| Career | 180 | 113 | .614 |
Harbaugh's 180 wins rank 14th in NFL history and ranked fourth among all active coaches before his exit from Baltimore. He had only three losing seasons with the Ravens, including an 8-9 finish in 2025.
Harbaugh has a career 13-11 record in the playoffs, including a Super Bowl 47 win.
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John Harbaugh coaching career
While most coaches are used to shuffling from team to team, Harbaugh has made only two stops in his entire NFL career.
Harbaugh joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998 as special teams coordinator after getting started in the college ranks, and he spent nine years in the position before shifting to defensive backs coach in 2007.
After Brian Billick was fired at the end of the 2007 season, the Ravens took a gamble on Harbaugh despite not having experience as an offensive or defensive coordinator. Ultimately, that gamble paid off.
How old is John Harbaugh?
Harbaugh is 63 years old. He is older than his brother, Jim, and ranked as one of the NFL's oldest head coaches before his exit from Baltimore.
Though many NFL teams are preferring to go younger when they search for head coaches, Harbaugh still appears energized and doesn't figure to have a hard time drawing head coaching interest around the league, whether this cycle or the next.