Ravens shock the NFL world and part ways with John Harbaugh amid Lamar Jackson uncertainty

John Harbaugh is out in Baltimore.

The long-time Ravens head coach has been fired after 18 seasons with the team.

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Harbaugh went 180–113 over nearly two decades and posted a 13–11 postseason record, highlighted by his Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers and his brother, Jim Harbaugh.

During his tenure with the Ravens, Harbaugh won eight playoff games on the road, setting an NFL record.

He is the winningest coach in franchise history.

This season, Harbaugh guided the Ravens to a disappointing 8–9 record, which saw them fall short of the postseason.

Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, did miss a handful of games due to a number of injuries, but that doesn’t paint the entire picture.

Their defense fluctuated between poor and serviceable, while some of Harbaugh’s in-game decisions came under scrutiny.

Despite having Jackson, Harbaugh never returned the team to the Super Bowl, and there was a growing sense that a new voice at head coach could reinvigorate the franchise.

Although there has been speculation about Jackson’s future in Baltimore, it’s clear that owner Steve Bisciotti and GM Eric DeCosta are backing their quarterback and seeking to pair him with a new head coach.

The news of Harbaugh’s firing sent shockwaves around the NFL community.

“Don’t understand this. Makes you wonder what was happening behind the scenes. Harbaugh will jump to the top of a lot of teams lists even those not with openings right now,” CBS Sports Tracy Wolfson posted on X.

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“HOLY,” ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky simply put.

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported that a big deciding factor in the Ravens letting go of Harbaugh was his refusal to consider parting ways with offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

Adam Schefter weighed in on what this means to the rest of the NFL, noting that Harbaugh’s services will be in high demand as his name thrusts to the top of everyone’s list.

“Multiple teams with head coach openings now will readjust their boards, and are expected to pursue the newest head coaching free agent, John Harbaugh,” Schefter wrote on X.

The coaching cycle just got a lot more interesting.

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