PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Baltimore Ravens signed coach John Harbaugh to a three-year contract extension, owner Steve Bisciotti announced at NFL league meetings Tuesday.
The extension brings Harbaugh under contract with the Ravens through the 2025 season, continuing one of the longest runs of any active coach. It’s also a strong vote of confidence after the team’s 8-9 season, which saw Harbaugh finish bottom for the first time.
Harbaugh, 59, entered the final year of a four-year deal he signed in January 2019. A source told ESPN last month that the sides were nearing a new deal.
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“No interest in him paralyzing me here. It’s not fair to him,” Bisciotti said. “I think John has grown and grown and grown. It’s kind of interesting. I don’t feel like I’m just signing the same guy. I think that’s really a compliment to him. I really feel like there’s a rebirth in John as the years go by. Things that were important to him are not that important anymore. I’m just thrilled as an owner to have a guy who’s going to be going into his 15th year. So I’m pretty happy with it. “
This marks Harbaugh’s 15th NFL season in Baltimore and marks the third-longest tenure among active coaches. Only Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin have been with their current teams longer.
Harbaugh has led the Ravens to the playoffs nine times, averaging a career record of 148-96 (.607). In 2012, Harbaugh led Baltimore to a Super Bowl title with a heavily armed Joe Flacco. Seven years later, Harbaugh became the only Ravens coach to win the Associated Press’s NFL Coach of the Year award after going all-in on Lamar Jackson and creating an offense tailored for him.
Last year, Harbaugh was in the midst of one of his best coaching jobs, helping the Ravens go 8-3 to the best record in the AFC in Week 12, despite having eight starters on season-ending injured reserve. But Baltimore lost its last six games, resulting in only the second loss record under Harbaugh.
Both of Harbaugh’s losing seasons — 2015 and last season — came when his starting quarterbacks (Flacco and Jackson) were out through injury for a total of 11 games.
When Bisciotti selected Harbaugh to replace Brian Billick in 2008, it was considered an unconventional choice since Harbaugh was primarily a special teams coach with the Philadelphia Eagles. Harbaugh justified the decision with consistent success, recording 11 playoff wins. Only Belichick has had more postseason wins (16) in those 14 years.
From the moment he stepped onto the Ravens facility, Harbaugh changed the culture, fostering selflessness and encouraging players to be themselves. Players rave about Harbaugh’s competitiveness and how he drives them while training alongside them. Harbaugh has earned a reputation for being aggressive, whether trying fourth downs or winning games in the last minute with 2-point conversions.
This is Harbaugh’s sixth contract renewal with Baltimore, which has grown into one of the most stable franchises in the sport. The Ravens have only had three head coaches in their 26-year history: Ted Marchibroda, Billick and Harbaugh.
With Harbaugh’s deal in place, Jackson’s contract is the next priority. The 2019 NFL MVP is stepping into his fifth-year option, and the Ravens would be forced to franchise-tag him next offseason if the sides can’t agree on a contract extension.