The NFL might be made up of games, but at its core, it is a business and a cutthroat one. Players joke that the NFL stands for “not for long,” but that isn’t always true. Many organizations, including the Baltimore Ravens, find a coach who is a good fit and stick with them.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is the second-longest tenured coach in the league behind the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Mike Tomlin. Harbaugh has led Baltimore for 17 seasons, one less than his divisional foe Tomlin, who has 18 seasons under his belt. Harbaugh will be sticking around even longer thanks to a recent three-year extension.
Baltimore Ravens John Harbaugh Has No Desire To Look For Greener Pastures
The Ravens ensure that Harbaugh never has to question his future in Baltimore. Since arriving in Charm City in 2008, he has never started a season while in the final year of his contract.
Harbaugh has been in Palm Beach, Florida, with the rest of the league’s head coaches and front office brass for the owners’ meetings. While those meetings give them a chance to discuss league-wide business and vote on rules or policy changes, they generally provide the media with their first shot at talking with coaches since the end of their season.
According to a post on X from the Baltimore Ravens, Harbaugh expressed his gratitude for his recent extension. He said his agent told him he could thank all the incredible people he has worked with since arriving in Baltimore.
“God is amazing, and the Ravens’ organization is amazing,” Harbaugh told reporters. “You’re 5 for 5. You’ve had the two best team presidents in the NFL, the two best general managers in the NFL, and the best owner in the National Football League. So, 5 for 5. That’s the blessing, and that’s why we’re at where we’re at right now. I’m very grateful.”
The Ravens are a relatively newer NFL team. They were formed in 1996 after then-owner Art Modell relocated the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore.
Harbaugh is the winningest coach in Ravens history, with a 185-115 record. He guided the team to their second Super Bowl win in 2012, and his 12 playoff berths are second only to Andy Reid’s 14.
There was little doubt that the team would extend Harbaugh; coaches like him are hard to find. However, that doesn’t mean the whole fanbase is enthusiastic about it. It seems as though they either love him or hate him.
The Ravens have made the playoffs six times in the past seven seasons. Unfortunately, they have little to show for it. Fans are frustrated that they tend to dominate in the regular season but then struggle in the postseason. They are 3-6 in the playoffs since the start of 2018 and haven’t won back-to-back playoff games since their Super Bowl run in 2012. This included their recent loss to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.