Harbaugh Out: Baltimore Ravens Part Ways with Longtime Coach After 18 Seasons
BALTIMORE — The longest-tenured coaching run in Baltimore Ravens history is over. Just 48 hours after a gut-wrenching 26-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers ended their season, owner Steve Bisciotti announced the team has relieved John Harbaugh of his duties. The move marks the end of an 18-year partnership that brought a Lombardi Trophy to Maryland but ultimately sputtered in a late-season collapse.
The decision follows a December slide where the Ravens dropped three of their final four games. What began as a season with Super Bowl aspirations ended in the cold silence of a missed 44-yard field goal by rookie Tyler Loop as time expired on Sunday night. That miss didn’t just surrender the AFC North crown to Pittsburgh; it served as the final indictment of a regime that many inside the building felt had lost its grip on the locker room.
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The Statistics of a Slide
While Harbaugh leaves with a franchise-record 180 regular-season wins, the 2025 campaign exposed deep fractures. Baltimore entered the final month as a playoff lock but struggled with consistency on both sides of the ball. In the season finale, despite Lamar Jackson’s 238 passing yards and three touchdowns, the Ravens could not overcome a defense that surrendered 390 total yards to an Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers attack.
| Category | Final Season Stat (2025) |
|---|---|
| Final Record | 8-9 (Missed Playoffs) |
| Turnover Margin | -6 (Final 4 Games) |
| Home Record | 3-6 (Worst in franchise history) |
| 3rd Down Efficiency | 4-of-12 (vs. Pittsburgh) |
The “Winter Slide” saw the defense allow an average of 28 points per game over the final stretch. Even with Zay Flowers’ 138-yard performance on Sunday, the offense remained stagnant when it mattered most, failing to protect Jackson, who was sacked three times and pressured on nearly 40% of his dropbacks in the finale.
“What They Said”
“This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we have spent together… but I firmly believe we need a new direction to meet the expectations of our fans.” — Steve Bisciotti, Ravens Owner
“I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today. It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with gratitude and appreciation.” — John Harbaugh, Former Head Coach
Playoff Implications and the Path Ahead
The Ravens now enter an offseason of uncertainty while their rivals prepare for the Wild Card round. The Steelers (10-7) will host the Houston Texans, while the New England Patriots—led by MVP candidate Drake Maye—secure the #2 seed. Notably, for the first time in years, the AFC playoffs will proceed without both Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes, whose Chiefs also failed to make the cut.
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For Baltimore, the priority is clear: finding a head coach who can maximize Lamar Jackson’s prime. Reports from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport suggest the organization felt the “message had grown stale.” The search will likely focus on innovative offensive coordinators capable of evolving the passing game, ensuring that the 2026 season doesn’t end with the Ravens watching from the couch once again.
