John Harbaugh spent nearly two decades as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens. His run with the franchise officially ended in the 2026 NFL offseason, and he now serves in the same position with the New York Giants. He left his previous fan base with one last parting gesture that has been earning him praise around the league.
What Did John Harbaugh Do for Ravens Fans After Joining Giants?
Harbaugh found plenty of success in Baltimore before joining the Giants, including winning a Super Bowl ring and being an annual playoff contender. He was released by the franchise following them missing out on the postseason this year, resulting in him going to New York ahead of the 2026 NFL season.
The respected head coach apparently cherished his time there and demonstrated his appreciation by publicly thanking their fans. He did so in the “Baltimore Sun” by taking out a full-page ad to formally address them.
“Ravens football is different … You see it in the way the city shows up on Sundays … Your unwavering allegiance to support your team and to make your presence felt, always made this team and franchise the best it could be … Thank you for embracing my family and for allowing us to grow alongside you. This city’s grit, resilience and authenticity are unmatched,” expressed Harbaugh.
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His decision to formally thank them in the local newspaper has earned him plenty of praise around the NFL. It’s easy to see why he’s beloved by most through his direct tribute to the Ravens and their fans, despite being recently fired.
“Beautiful gesture from John Harbaugh,” said Albert Breer.
Beautiful gesture from John Harbaugh. https://t.co/KeoP5aaO7t
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 24, 2026
“Class move from John Harbaugh,” shared Big Blue View.
Class move from John Harbaugh https://t.co/oveYxyTT6d
— Big Blue View (@bigblueview) January 24, 2026
Several notable NFL analysts shared the story and applauded the head coach. His honorable move adds to his legacy and contributes to him being generally appreciated around the league.
“Thanks for supporting local newspapers,” replied Joe Schad.
“Class act,” responded Doug Rush.
This essentially wraps up his time in Baltimore as he moves on to New York. As can clearly be seen, he is respected and liked around the league, always demonstrating class and humility at the highest level, in addition to a proven history of being a winner.
“Really good touch here,” stated Josina Anderson.
“Class from Giants coach John Harbaugh as he says thank you and goodbye to Baltimore,” posted Art Stapleton.
Despite all of his success with the Ravens, the franchise apparently felt it was time to shake things up. They have had their sights set on reaching the Super Bowl with two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson, but have failed to do so.
This may have triggered their decision to make a change, which, in the end, created an exciting situation for the Giants. The move is expected to get them back to being playoff contenders and should help the development of Jaxson Dart. The promising rookie quarterback finished among the top-ten weekly quarterbacks in PFSN’s Impact Rankings six times in 12 starts this year and helped attract the new head coach to New York.
