Ravens signs Harbaugh for a three-year extension

PALM BEACH, Fla. The Baltimore Ravens signed coach John Harbaugh to a three-year contract extension, owner Steve Bisciotti announced Tuesday at NFL league meetings.

The extension puts Harbaugh under contract with the Ravens through the 2025 season and continues one of the longest runs of any active coach. It also represents a strong vote of confidence after the team’s 8-9 season, which was the first time Harbaugh finished in last place.

Harbaugh, 59, entered the final year of a four-year deal he signed in January 2019. A source told ESPN last month that the parties were approaching a new contract.

“There’s no interest in getting him to paralyze me here. It’s not fair to him,” Bisciotti said. “I think John has grown and grown and grown. It’s a little interesting. I do not feel like I’m just signing up for the same guy. I think it’s really a compliment to him. I really feel that there’s a rebirth in John as the years go by. Things that meant something to him don’t mean that much anymore. with it. “

This marks Harbaugh’s 15th NFL season in Baltimore, marking the third longest tenure among active coaches. Only Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin have been with their current team anymore.

Harbaugh has led the Ravens to the playoffs nine times, producing a career-high 148-96 (.607). In 2012, Harbaugh guided 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’ NFL Coach of the Year award after going all-in on Lamar Jackson and creating an offensive tailor-made for him.

Last year, Harbaugh was in the middle of one of his best coaching jobs, helping the Ravens to the best record in the AFC at 8-3 in Week 12 despite eight starters at the end of the season on injured reserve. But Baltimore lost its last six games, resulting in just 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 put on the sidelines by injuries in a total of 11 games.

When Bisciotti selected Harbaugh to replace Brian Billick in 2008, it was considered an untraditional hiring because Harbaugh had primarily been the special team coach at the Philadelphia Eagles. Harbaugh justified the decision with consistent success, noting 11 playoff wins. Only Belichick has had several postseason wins (16) over the 14-year period.

From the moment he entered the Ravens’ facility, Harbaugh changed the culture and fostered selflessness while encouraging players to be themselves. The players are excited about Harbaugh’s competitiveness and how he will push them while training alongside them. Harbaugh has built a reputation for being aggressive, whether it goes after it on fourth downs or chooses to win games in the last minute with 2-point conversions.

This is Harbaugh’s sixth contract extension with Baltimore, which has become one of the most stable franchises in sports. The Ravens have only had three head coaches in their 26-year history: Ted Marchibroda, Billick and Harbaugh.

With Harbaugh’s agreement concluded, Jackson’s contract is the next priority. The 2019 NFL MVP goes into its fifth year option and the Ravens would be forced to put the franchise mark on him next free season if the sides can not agree on a contract extension.