Overrated? Why Browns must not hire John Harbaugh as their next head coach

Andy McNamara

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Overrated? Why Browns must not hire John Harbaugh as their next head coach image

The Cleveland Browns are in the process of interviewing head coach candidates to replace Kevin Stefanski. A shocking development out of division rival Baltimore on Tuesday threw an entirely new potential option to GM Andrew Berry...hire fired Ravens coach John Harbaugh.

Many Browns fans sprinted to social media to support doing "whatever it takes" to bring Harbaugh back to his native Ohio. ESPN Cleveland host Tony Rizzo questioned how smart bringing him in would be.

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The winning culture in Baltimore didn't just fade; it fractured in 2025. After 18 seasons, Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti made the "incredibly difficult decision" to fire John Harbaugh following a disastrous 8-9 campaign that saw the team miss the playoffs as Super Bowl contenders.

The primary catalyst was a staggering lack of postseason results. Despite having a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson, Harbaugh managed only three playoff wins in the last eight years, with his most recent teams consistently shrinking in the biggest moments.

 Harbaugh's Ravens (Last 8 Seasons)
Playoff Wins3
Blown 10+ Point Leads12 (Most in NFL since 2021)
Post-2012 Playoff Record4-7
Locker Room StatusReported "mutiny" / Disconnect with QB1

Beyond the scoreboard, the locker room reality was even more damning.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Harbaugh had officially "lost the locker room," with several veteran sources indicating a "fraying relationship" between the coach and Jackson.

The team’s inability to close games became a statistical nightmare; Harbaugh leaves Baltimore having blown 26 leads of 10+ points since 2008--the most in the NFL--including twelve in just the last five seasons. Critics argue his "CEO-style" approach grew stale, failing to provide the tactical evolution needed to support Jackson's prime.

However, if Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is set on signing the 63-year old, he's not afraid to swing big.

Dan Labbe of Cleveland.com notes Jimmy Haslam's aggressive spending and moves in the past. Such as the debacle that was the Deshaun Watson trade and contract, or forcing the drafting of Johnny Manziel in 2014. "They could have John Harbaugh come in...and offer him a Jon Gruden-style contract...10 years, $100-million. Jimmy could offer that."

For the Browns, hiring Harbaugh isn't just "rushing a hire"—it’s inheriting the exact baggage that just forced a perennial AFC North power to hit the reset button.

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