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The Baltimore Ravens are making a major organizational change, as the franchise fired coach John Harbaugh Tuesday after 18 seasons. The move comes after the Ravens finished the 2025 campaign with an 8-9 record -- just Harbaugh's third losing season in Baltimore -- and failed to reach the postseason after opening the year with major expectations. Baltimore had a chance to clinch the AFC North title on Sunday night, but lost the win-and-in Week 18 showdown against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers, 26-24, on a last-second missed field goal. 

Harbaugh, who was under contract through 2028 after signing a new three-year deal last offseason, was the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL (behind Pittsburgh's Mike Tomlin) and is the winningest coach in Ravens history, going 180-113 during his time in Baltimore. 

The 63-year-old Harbaugh went 13-11 in the postseason, won Super Bowl XLVII against his brother, Jim, in 2013, and was named Coach of the Year in 2019. His eight road playoff victories are the most by a coach in NFL history, yet the Ravens made the AFC Championship just once following the franchise's second Super Bowl victory. In eight seasons with two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson leading the offense, the Ravens won just three postseason games and never made it past the conference championship round.

"Following a comprehensive evaluation of the season and the overall direction of our organization, I decided to make a change at head coach. Today I informed John that he has been relieved of his duties," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement. "This was an incredibly difficult decision, given the tremendous 18 years we have spent together and the profound respect I have for John as a coach and, most importantly, as a great man of integrity. 

"Throughout what I firmly believe is a Hall of Fame coaching career, John has delivered a Super Bowl championship to Baltimore and served as a steadfast pillar of humility and leadership. He and his family have deeply embedded themselves in this community. For these profound contributions, on and off the field, we should all be forever grateful."

What's next for the Ravens? Big questions for Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh after disappointing 2025 season
Zachary Pereles
What's next for the Ravens? Big questions for Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh after disappointing 2025 season

Harbaugh was reportedly confident he would return to Baltimore to chase a Lombardi Trophy in 2026, but he was not granted that opportunity. In a statement, Harbaugh said he was disappointed but filled with gratitude and appreciation. 

"Well, 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 & APPRECIATION," Harbaugh said. "Gratitude to the owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with Special Teams success. A difficult thing to do … and appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity."

While Harbaugh is out in Baltimore, he suddenly becomes the most attractive prospect on the coaching carousel -- including with the New York Giants. Harbaugh is "expected to emerge as a favorite" for the vacancy in New York, according to ESPN. 

According to CBS Sports Research, Harbaugh has the eighth-most wins (180) by a coach with a single team in NFL history. 

CoachTeamWinsRecordWin PctSeasonsYearsGames
George HalasChicago Bears318318-148-31.6821920-196740497
Bill BelichickNew England Patriots266266-121.6872000-202324387
Don ShulaMiami Dolphins257257-133-2.6591970-199526392
Tom LandryDallas Cowboys250250-162-6.6071960-198829418
Curly LambeauGreen Bay Packers209209-104-21.6681921-194929334
Chuck NollPittsburgh Steelers193193-148-1.5661969-199123342
Mike TomlinPittsburgh Steelers193193-114-2.6282007-202519309
John HarbaughBaltimore Ravens180180-113.6142008-202518293

Ravens have fallen short of expectations in recent seasons

Recently, the Ravens acquired the reputation of being a regular-season juggernaut that failed when the stakes were high. When Jackson won his first NFL MVP in 2019, the Ravens earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC. However, they were upset by the Tennessee Titans in their first postseason matchup. After avenging that playoff loss to the Titans the very next year in the wild-card round, the Ravens fell to the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, 17-3, while Jackson exited with an injury. 

The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2021 after finishing with an 8-9 record. Jackson started 12 games, but suffered a late-season ankle injury that forced him to miss the final four games of the year. The following season, Baltimore returned to the playoffs, but Jackson suffered a knee injury that held him out of the wild-card matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Tyler Huntley started in his place. 

In 2023, it appeared the stars were aligning for Baltimore. The Ravens clinched the AFC North with a 13-4 record, and Jackson won his second NFL MVP. Baltimore blew out the Houston Texans in the divisional round, setting up a date with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. However, the Ravens would commit three turnovers in a devastating 17-10 home loss. Jackson had another MVP-type campaign in 2024, but lost out on the award to Josh Allen of the Bills -- the same team that defeated the Ravens in the divisional round that season. 

Harbaugh won just four playoff games over the last 12 seasons after winning an NFL record nine in his first five seasons as coach. 

This season, the Ravens started 1-5 but rallied with a five-game winning streak after the bye week to get back into the playoff hunt. However, Harbaugh's group lost four of their final six games, capped off by the loss in Pittsburgh on Sunday night with the division on the line.