John Harbaugh

Harbaugh worked as an assistant at Western Michigan (1984–1987), Pitt (1987), Morehead State (1988), Cincinnati (1989–1996), and Indiana (1997).[7][8][9][10]

He was first hired in the NFL in 1998 by the Philadelphia Eagles' then head coach Ray Rhodes, and was one of four assistant coaches retained by new head coach Andy Reid in 1999.[11][12] As such, he is in the Sid Gillman coaching tree.[13] In 2004, he was mentioned as a possible candidate to replace Gary Darnell as the head football coach at Western Michigan, where he had earned a master's degree and was an assistant football coach from 1984 to 1987.[14]

In 2007, after serving as Eagles' special-teams coach for nine years, he became their defensive-backs coach.[15][16] This fulfilled his request to head coach Reid and improved his chances of landing a head coaching job since executives at that time viewed special teams coaches as unqualified to move up to head coach.

On January 19, 2008, Harbaugh was appointed the third-ever head coach of the Baltimore Ravens after Jason Garrett, the team's first choice, decided to stay with the Dallas Cowboys after receiving a raise and a promotion to assistant head coach.[17][18] He was not considered one of the favorites for the position because he had no head coaching experience at any level and had never been an offensive or defensive coordinator in the NFL.[19] He impressed team owner Steve Bisciotti and Vice President of Player Personnel/General Manager Ozzie Newsome. New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick also recommended Harbaugh to Bisciotti by phone during the interview process.[20]

On January 23, 2008, Harbaugh hired longtime NFL offensive coach (and former head coach) Cam Cameron as offensive coordinator.[21] On September 7, 2008, in his debut as a head coach, John and his Ravens beat the Cincinnati Bengals 17–10.[22]

In his first season as a head coach, Harbaugh guided the Ravens to an 11–5 regular season record, good enough to qualify them for the playoffs with a Wild Card berth.[23] In the playoffs, he led the team to upset victories over the Miami Dolphins and Tennessee Titans before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship Game.[24][25][26]

Harbaugh at 2009 Ravens training camp

On January 26, 2009, he named Greg Mattison the defensive coordinator for the Ravens, replacing Rex Ryan who had left to take his first head coaching job (with the New York Jets).[27] Mattison had served as linebacker coach and defensive coordinator for Harbaugh's father, Jack, at Western Michigan University from 1981 to 1986, when Harbaugh was a graduate assistant and assistant coach for his father.

In his second season as Ravens' head coach, he once again led the team to the playoffs with a 9–7 record during the regular season and improved his playoff record to 3–1 with an upset 33–14 victory over the New England Patriots in the AFC Wild Card Round on January 10, 2010, before losing in the AFC Divisional Round 20–3 to the Indianapolis Colts.[28][29][30]

In the 2010 season, Harbaugh led the Ravens to a 12–4 record and a Wild Card berth.[31] The Ravens defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 30–7 in the Wild Card Round on January 9, 2011, before losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers 31–24 in the Divisional Round 31–24 on January 15 after starting the second half with a 14-point lead.[32][33]

Harbaugh signed a three-year extension on February 14, 2011, that kept him under contract through 2014.[34] John faced his younger brother Jim in Week 12 (2011) on Thanksgiving Day when John's Ravens beat Jim's San Francisco 49ers 16–6.[35] The Ravens finished the 2011 season with a 12–4 record, winning the AFC North and sweeping the Pittsburgh Steelers home and away.[36] The Ravens defeated the Houston Texans 20–13 in the Divisional Round.[37] The Ravens lost the AFC Championship to the New England Patriots after Lee Evans had a potential late game-winning pass knocked out of his hands by Patriots defensive back Sterling Moore and kicker Billy Cundiff missed a potential game-tying field goal.[38]

The 2012 Baltimore Ravens finished with a 10–6 record and won the AFC North.[39] They defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24–9 in the Wild Card Round and the Denver Broncos 38–35 in the Divisional Round.[40][41] They again met the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship (on January 20, 2013), got their revenge with a 28–13 victory (coming from behind with a 13–7 second half), and was the first time Tom Brady and Bill Belichick lost a home game after leading at halftime, giving John the opportunity to face brother Jim and the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on February 3, 2013.[42][43] Many have pegged Super Bowl XLVII as the "Harbowl". The Ravens were victorious, defeating the 49ers 34–31. Following the victory, John gave his entire staff replica Lombardi trophies to commemorate the victory.[44]

In 2012, Harbaugh was awarded the third-highest honor within the Department of the Army Civilian Awards, the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, for substantial contributions to the U.S. Army community while serving as the Baltimore Ravens coach.[45]

He was selected to be inducted into Miami University's "Cradle of Coaches" in 2013.[46]

On September 5, 2013, an hour before the Ravens played in the NFL regular season's opening game, it was reported that Harbaugh had signed a four-year contract extension in a deal that was reached "months ago."[47] In the 2013 season, Harbaugh and the Ravens finished with an 8–8 record and missed the postseason.[48]

Harbaugh is the only head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons, according to NFL Network.[49][50]

In each of Harbaugh's first four seasons and again in 2014, every AFC Champion defeated the Ravens in the playoffs (although only the 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers and 2014 New England Patriots were able to actually win the Super Bowl).

In the 2014 season, Harbaugh and the Ravens finished with a 10–6 record and finished third in the AFC North. Despite the third-place finish, the Ravens made the postseason.[51] In the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs, Harbaugh's Ravens beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Heinz Field in a dominant 30–17 victory, which was the Ravens' first playoff victory against the Steelers in the history of the franchise.[52][53] However, the next week, the Ravens lost 31–35 in the AFC Divisional round to the New England Patriots after the Ravens were unable to hold two separate 14-point leads.[54] After the game, Harbaugh complained about the Patriots' uncommon but legal tactics of declaring receivers eligible and ineligible, saying "It was clearly deception."[55]

In 2015, Harbaugh had his first losing season with the Ravens.[56] The Ravens lost many close games and key players like Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Steve Smith Sr., Eugene Monroe, and Terrell Suggs all suffered season-ending injuries. They finished third in the AFC North with a 5–11 record.[57]

In the 2016 season, Harbaugh and the Ravens finished with a 8–8 record and missed the postseason.[58]

On August 28, 2017, Harbaugh signed a one-year contract extension, keeping him under contract through the 2019 season.[59] In the 2017 season, the Ravens finished with a 9–7 record but missed the playoffs.[60]

In the 2018 season, Harbaugh led the Ravens to a 10–6 record and won the AFC North.[61] The season featured the emergence of Lamar Jackson as the quarterback of the team.[62] The Ravens faced off against the Los Angeles Chargers in the Wild Card Round and lost 23–17.[63]

On January 24, 2019, Harbaugh signed a four year contract extension, keeping him under contract through the 2022 season.[64]

External video
Harbaugh's 2019 Coach of the Year acceptance speech, Ravens video

During the season, Harbaugh led the Ravens to a 14–2 record in the regular season and secured the number 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.[65] In the Divisional Round against the Tennessee Titans, the Ravens lost the game 28–12.[66] For his work during the 2019 season, Harbaugh was honored as the AP NFL Coach of the Year.[67][68]

In 2020, Harbaugh led the Ravens to a second-place in the AFC North with a record of 11–5, a Wild Card berth as the #5 seed, and their first playoff win since the 2014 season in a Wild Card win over the Tennessee Titans.[69][70] The win not only helped the Ravens avenge their embarrassing playoff loss the year prior and brought reigning MVP Lamar Jackson to his first postseason win, it also broke the NFL record for most road playoff games won.[71] In the Divisional Round, the Ravens fell to the Buffalo Bills 17–3.[72]

In 2021, Harbaugh led the Ravens to a 8-3 start, and having the number 1 seed by Week 12. However due to injuries and defensive struggles, the Ravens suffered a late-season collapse, falling to a six game losing streak to end the season, finishing 8-9 and failing to qualify for playoff contention on the final week of the season to the Pittsburgh Steelers.[73][74] It was the first time since 2015 that the Ravens suffered a losing season under Harbaugh, and the first time they finished in fourth place in the AFC North since 2007.[75][76] Harbaugh came under scrutiny where he called a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter twice to put the Ravens up by one, which both failed. Once against the Steelers in Week 13, and the other against the Packers.[77]

On March 29, 2022, Harbaugh signed a three-year extension with the Ravens that runs through the 2025 season.[78] December 11, 2022, marked the 32nd matchup between Harbaugh and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, surpassing Curly Lambeau and Steve Owen for the second-most head-to-head matchups between head coaches in NFL history (the current record is held by Lambeau and George Halas with 49).[79] The Ravens finished with a 10–7 record and earned a Wild Card berth.[80] The Ravens fell to the Cincinnati Bengals in the Wild Card Round 24–17.[81]