Football

milestogo

(22,601 posts) Tue Jan 6, 2026, 05:53 PM Tuesday

Sources: John Harbaugh out as Ravens coach after playoff miss

John Harbaugh is out as coach of the Baltimore Ravens, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Tuesday, ending the run of the most successful coach in franchise history.

His exit came two days after the Ravens lost to the rival Steelers in Pittsburgh, 26-24, after missing a last-second field goal, which eliminated them from the playoffs for the first time since 2021. Harbaugh had signed a three-year deal last offseason and was under contract through the 2028 season.

Multiple teams with head-coach openings now will readjust their boards and are expected to pursue Harbaugh, sources told Schefter.

The 64-year-old Harbaugh ranks 12th for most all-time wins by a head coach in NFL history with 193 and guided the Ravens to a Super Bowl title in 2012. In leading the Ravens for 18 seasons, he was the second-longest active tenured coach in the league behind Mike Tomlin, who is in his 19th season with the Steelers.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47531459/john-harbaugh-coach-ravens-sources-say

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Sources: John Harbaugh out as Ravens coach after playoff miss (Original Post) milestogo Tuesday OP

Wow! mikewv Tuesday #1

Especially when they only missed the playoffs by a field goal. milestogo Tuesday #2

Agree (nm) mikewv Tuesday #3

Same Delarage Tuesday #10

He won't be unemployed very long. cloudbase Tuesday #4

The curse of the Terrible Towel stikes again! Wiz Imp Tuesday #5

That's stunning to me and a very subtle signal JMCKUSICK Tuesday #6

So I guess the Giants have their new head coach tishaLA Tuesday #7

Here's an interesting possibility: lastlib Tuesday #8

I remember when Jim Harbaugh played for the Chicago Bears. milestogo Tuesday #9

Why would Harbaugh want to coach for a terribly run organization when he can probably have his pick of jobs? Wiz Imp Tuesday #11

mikewv

(234 posts)

1. Wow!

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 05:57 PM

Tuesday

Although I am a Steelers fan, I am not sure this is a good move for the Ravens?

milestogo

(22,601 posts)

2. Especially when they only missed the playoffs by a field goal.

Reply to mikewv (Reply #1)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 05:58 PM

Tuesday

mikewv

(234 posts)

3. Agree (nm)

Reply to milestogo (Reply #2)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 06:01 PM

Tuesday

Delarage

(2,539 posts)

10. Same

Reply to mikewv (Reply #1)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 09:00 PM

Tuesday

The Ravens and Steelers always come down to the last minute and are hard-hitting affairs....they respect each other for that and it fuels a great rivalry. I knew we always had a chance against the Ravens so I would often root for them to take out teams that we struggled with in the playoffs (particularly the Patriots).... And they often seem to be one of the few teams that could take out those frontrunners. They could be having the same problems the Steelers are... Success leads to lower draft picks.

cloudbase

(6,161 posts)

4. He won't be unemployed very long.

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 06:01 PM

Tuesday

Wiz Imp

(9,017 posts)

5. The curse of the Terrible Towel stikes again!

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 06:03 PM

Tuesday

In this case, Harbaugh was collateral damage.

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-news/164898/baltimore-mayor-cursed-ravens-by-disrespecting-terrible-towel

Baltimore mayor cursed Ravens by disrespecting Terrible Towel
In a video posted to Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott’s Instagram, just days before the game took place, he attempted to hype up the city and the Ravens fan base for the game. In the full video, Scott appears to be paying back a lost bet to former Steeler Ryan Clark. However, the mayor doesn’t commit and veers back into smack-talking the Steelers. In the relevant part of the video, Scott says, “The one thing you do with this towel is you wipe your butt with it,” and then the mayor mimics using the towel in that way. What Mayor Scott clearly doesn’t understand is that the Myron Cope Curse, sometimes referred to as the Terrible Tower Curse, is very real. And it doesn’t miss.

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2008540816940429791%7Ctwgr%5Ef0c1f496c3bbf05e80b6293ba398636ae2835d65%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.behindthesteelcurtain.com%2Fpittsburgh-steelers-news%2F164898%2Fbaltimore-mayor-cursed-ravens-by-disrespecting-terrible-towel

As the creator of the Terrible Towel, Cope famously said, “The Terrible Towel is poised to strike.” It seems that the Terrible Towel struck the Ravens on Sunday night, costing them an AFC North division championship and a spot in the playoffs.

The idea of the curse has gained traction among fans over the years, with the simple idea that if an opposing team disrespects the towel in any way, their season could be in danger.

Baltimore botching a clear opportunity to win a back-and-forth game with a 44-yard field goal at the end of the game feels like no coincidence. I, for one, choose to believe Tyler Loop’s hooked kick was another case of the curse punishing another foolish opponent for their hubris.

JMCKUSICK

(5,158 posts)

6. That's stunning to me and a very subtle signal

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 06:41 PM

Tuesday

That Lamar Jackson will not be back.

Now if only the Vikings could get him lol.

tishaLA

(14,726 posts)

7. So I guess the Giants have their new head coach

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 07:37 PM

Tuesday

Kinda stunning to be fired for one season of missing the playoffs, but then again their playoff appearances in the last decade haven't been anything to write home about.

lastlib

(27,570 posts)

8. Here's an interesting possibility:

Reply to milestogo (Original post)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 08:02 PM

Tuesday

The LV Raiders hire him. Both Harbaugh brothers in the same division, the AFC West......

milestogo

(22,601 posts)

9. I remember when Jim Harbaugh played for the Chicago Bears.

Reply to lastlib (Reply #8)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 08:22 PM

Tuesday

I guess it was after their Super Bowl win in 85.

Wiz Imp

(9,017 posts)

11. Why would Harbaugh want to coach for a terribly run organization when he can probably have his pick of jobs?

Reply to lastlib (Reply #8)

Tue Jan 6, 2026, 10:26 PM

Tuesday

I'd rule out Las Vegas, Cleveland And Arizona right away as they a terribly run organizations and maybe the Giants as well. Actually, I don't think any of the current vacancies (except Baltimore) are very attractive, so I wouldn't be surprised if he sits out this season waiting for a better organization to fire its coach.

Fewest NFL wins over last 10 years (2016 thru 2025)

Team Wins
Chicago Bears 68 (2 winning seasons)
Las Vegas Raiders 68 (2 ws)
Washington Commanders 68 (1 ws)
Jacksonville Jaguars 63 (4 ws)
Arizona Cardinals 61 (1 ws)
Carolina Panthers 61 (1 ws)
Cleveland Browns 59 (2 ws)
New York Giants 55 (2 ws)
New York Jets 49 (0 ws)

Reply to this discussion