NFL coaches including Mike Tomlin and Jim Harbaugh have praised John Harbaugh following his dismissal by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 seasons and a Super Bowl-winning tenure. The team now targets a new head coach to boost Lamar Jackson's playoff performance amid league-wide vacancies.
In the wake of the Ravens' Tuesday announcement parting ways with John Harbaugh—the second-longest tenured NFL coach who amassed 180 regular-season wins, 12 playoff berths, and an NFL-record 11 road playoff victories—reactions underscored his legacy.
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, facing Harbaugh for the 44th and final time in their rivalry, expressed admiration on the Rich Eisen Show: "I just have so much respect for Harbs," Tomlin said. "Our stories will forever be interwoven in this rivalry... We've certainly had some legendary battles over the years." He critiqued broader sports impatience, noting Harbaugh's playoffs in six of the last eight years and near third straight division title.
Harbaugh's brother, Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh, was unequivocal: "John Harbaugh's the best coach I know. He'll be a head coach next year... I just hope it's in the NFC."
Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy highlighted Harbaugh's recent consistency on social media: 10-7, 13-4, 12-5, and 8-9 records over four years, with three straight playoff trips before this season.
Baltimore's coaching search prioritizes someone to "reach" and "invigorate" two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, who has a 3-5 playoff record with 13 touchdowns against 11 turnovers despite a landmark extension. This marks the fourth head coaching change since 1996. Harbaugh's agent reportedly received calls from seven teams within an hour of the news, as seven NFL head coaching jobs opened.
