The Baltimore Ravens currently have the NFL’s second-longest-tenured head coach. Since he took over in 2008, the Ravens have made the playoffs in 11 of his first 16 seasons and only finished under .500 twice. Over that span, Baltimore has won five AFC North titles, appeared in four AFC Championship Games, and won Super Bowl 47.
So, who is the Ravens head coach? Let’s examine his coaching career and how he got to this point.
Who Is the Head Coach of the Baltimore Ravens?
John Harbaugh is the Ravens’ head coach. After playing defensive back at Miami (Ohio), he started his coaching career in 1984 at Western Michigan as a graduate assistant for his father, Jack.
Harbaugh spent 14 seasons coaching at the collegiate level. After assistant-coaching stints at Pittsburgh, Morehead State, Cincinnati, and Indiana, John got his first NFL coaching gig as the special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was with the Eagles from 1998 to 2007, and he was eventually promoted to the team’s defensive backs coach.
The Ravens hired him as their head coach in 2008, making him their third head coach in franchise history.
How Long Has John Harbaugh Been Baltimore’s Head Coach?
Harbaugh is currently in his 17th season with the Ravens. This is his first head coaching job, but he has stuck around longer than anyone could have predicted.
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Harbaugh is the second-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL, behind only Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Harbaugh coached nine seasons under head coach Andy Reid in Philadelphia.
Who Was the Head Coach Before Harbaugh?
Brian Billick was the Ravens’ head coach before Harbaugh. He held the job for nine seasons, leading the team to an 80-64 record.
Billick led the Ravens to their first championship, defeating the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. Baltimore made the playoffs four times under Billick.
The Ravens fired Billick after he finished 5-11 in 2007, the franchise’s third playoff-less campaign in four years.
What Is Harbaugh’s Record With the Ravens?
- 167-103
- Playoffs: 12-10
- Overall: 179-113
Harbaugh is 167-103 in the regular season since taking over as the Ravens’ head coach. In the playoffs, he has a 12-10 record. Eight of the 12 postseason wins were on the road, giving him the record for the most playoff road victories in NFL history.
Harbaugh was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2019 after leading Baltimore to a 14-2 record. His teams have won five AFC North division titles.
Has Harbaugh Ever Won a Super Bowl?
Yes. Harbaugh led the Ravens to a win over the San Francisco 49ers and his brother, Jim, in Super Bowl XLVII.
This was dubbed the “Harbaugh Bowl” since it marked the first time that brothers coached against each other in the Super Bowl.
The Ravens dominated in the first half, as Joe Flacco threw three touchdowns while leading Baltimore to a 21-6 halftime lead. The lead grew to 28-6 when Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones returned the second half’s opening kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown.
Then, things got weird.
A 34-minute power outage at Mercedes-Benz Superdome stopped the Ravens’ momentum dead in its tracks. After play resumed, the 49ers scored 17 unanswered points to make it a 28-23 game in the fourth quarter.
John and Jim Harbaugh will face off for the 3rd time tonight on Monday Night Football. The last time they met was in Super Bowl XLVII.
Our SportsCenter Special: The Harbaugh Brothers is on ESPN2 at 11am ET this morning and streaming now on ESPN+ and YouTube. pic.twitter.com/RnXjc5Nf0s
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 25, 2024
However, the Ravens held on, including forcing the Niners to turn it over on downs when they were near the goal line and trailing 34-29 with just over two minutes left. Baltimore took an intentional safety to preserve the victory in the final moments, which explains the 34-31 final score.
Flacco took home Super Bowl MVP honors after completing 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, along with zero interceptions and two sacks. Anquan Boldin caught six balls for 104 yards and a score.
On the other side, Colin Kaepernick threw for 302 yards and one touchdown, along with one interception and three sacks. He also ran seven times for 62 yards and a score. Frank Gore added 19 carries for 110 yards and a touchdown, while Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis both topped 100 receiving yards.