John Harbaugh attempted to smile through the pain after he was abruptly fired as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens — as evidenced by the emoji used in his official statement.
“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, 63, said in a statement released by the Ravens on Tuesday, January 6.
Harbaugh was terminated on Tuesday after 18 seasons as the head coach in Baltimore. The Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021 after losing a heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North winner-take-all regular season finale on Sunday, January 4.
He expressed his gratitude to the organization and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti for “all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity.”
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Harbaugh also praised the “meaningful & impactful relationships” he had with all of his players over his nearly two decades with the franchise and the “loyal partnerships in this wonderful building, that grew into strong friendships, through the toil and tempest of the job every day.”
In conclusion, Harbaugh turned his attention to his wife, Ingrid, his daughter, Alison, and his belief system.
“Mostly to my treasured Family, my Ingrid and my Alison, who are beyond compare in every way and the Loves of my life, and my close-knit family and good friends who stick with you no matter what,” he said. “Finally, to the author and finisher of our faith, Gratitude for a Journey beyond anything I could have dreamed of on my own – All is well with my soul because of the Good God who guides and sustains me.”
Harbaugh’s firing took many by surprise, but he might not be unemployed for very long.
Less than an hour after Harbaugh was fired, his agent, Bryan Harlan, had already received calls from seven NFL teams expressing their interest, Harlan told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
There are currently seven head coaching vacancies in the NFL, including the one in Baltimore.
Schefter, 59, reported that Harbaugh is expected to emerge as the favorite to take over the New York Giants.
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Additional sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Harbaugh “was in touch with members of his staff Tuesday about a potential exit, with the impression from those talks being that he had a say in the decision to leave and was expected to get right back into coaching this cycle.”
Ravens owner Bisciotti, 65, said the decision to fire Harbaugh came after “a comprehensive evaluation of the season and the overall direction of our organization.”
“I will always be grateful for the extraordinary hard work and dedication displayed by John and his staff throughout the many successful years,” Bisciotti said. “I wish [him], Ingrid and Alison all the best going forward.”
The owner added, “We now begin the challenging, but exciting, process of identifying the next leader of our football team. We fully understand the expectations of our fans and everyone in the Ravens organization. Finding another strong leader and partner who will reflect these high standards is paramount.”
