John Harbaugh

Bio

Super Bowl-winning head coach John Harbaugh is in his 17th season at the Ravens’ helm. The 2019 NFL Coach of the Year has led Baltimore to a playoff berth in 11 (2008-12, 2014, 2018-20 & 2022-23) of his 16 previous seasons, and in 2012, captured the franchise’s second World Championship.

Entering the 2024 campaign, Harbaugh’s impact on the franchise is evident. Since Harbaugh’s 2008 Baltimore arrival, the Ravens have posted the NFL’s third-most total victories (172, including playoffs). He has also led the Ravens to 160 regular season wins since 2008, ranking as the NFL’s fourth most.

Under Harbaugh, Baltimore is one of four teams (GB – 12, NE – 12 & KC – 11) to earn a playoff berth in at least 11 of the past 16 seasons. Baltimore (5) is also one of four teams (KC – 6, Buf. – 5 & Phi. – 5) to make the playoffs in at least five of the past six seasons (2018-23).

The Ravens’ 12 playoff wins since 2008 tie (GB) for the NFL’s fourth most, trailing only Kansas City and New England (16 each) and San Francisco (13). Of those Baltimore victories, an NFL-best eight have come on the road.

Harbaugh’s 12 playoff victories tie (Tom Coughlin & Bill Cowher) for the fifth most by a head coach in the first 16 seasons of an NFL coaching career, and he owns the record for the most road playoff wins (eight) by a head coach in NFL history. Harbaugh is one of only nine coaches to earn at least 11 playoff berths in his first 16 seasons.

The 2012 Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII, 34-31, over the San Francisco 49ers in one of the most dramatic games in NFL history. Baltimore jumped to a 28-6 lead, but needed a critical goal-line stand late in the fourth quarter to help seal the victory. The Ravens overcame a furious second-half comeback and a 34-minute power outage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans to clinch the franchise’s second World Championship.

Under Harbaugh’s guidance, the Ravens have appeared in four AFC Championship games (2008, 2011, 2012 & 2023) and have won at least one playoff game in eight of their 11 postseasons with him as head coach. Harbaugh is the only head coach in NFL history (since 1970 merger) to win a playoff game in each of his first five seasons. Notably, no other NFL coach has won a playoff game in each of their first four seasons at the helm. He is also the only head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in six of the first seven seasons of a coaching career.

John and his younger brother, Jim (2011, 2012 and 2013), the former 49ers head coach and current Chargers head coach, are the only NFL head coaches to reach three conference championships in the first five seasons of a coaching career.

With Harbaugh, the Ravens have posted an 93-37 mark at M&T Bank Stadium over the past 16 seasons, ranking as the NFL’s third-best winning percentage (.715) during that span (2008-23).

In 2019, the Ravens recorded a franchise-best 14-2 record. Baltimore won a team-record 12-straight games to close out the regular season, also earning the franchise’s first-ever No. 1 playoff seed.

Coach Harbaugh has led the Ravens to five AFC North Division titles (2011-12, 2018-19 & 2023).

Maintaining a strong defensive tradition throughout his time in Baltimore, Harbaugh’s defense has allowed the NFL’s fewest overall touchdowns (527), the fewest points per game (19.0) and the second-fewest net yards per game (318.2). Most recently in 2023, the Ravens allowed the NFL’s fewest points per game (16.5), while in 2018, Baltimore produced the NFL’s No. 1 defense (292.9 ypg) and the No. 2 scoring defense (17.9 ppg). The Ravens finished four-straight seasons (2008-11) as the NFL’s No. 3 scoring defense (fewest points allowed) – tying an NFL record for consecutive seasons ranking in the Top 3. Additionally, from 2014-16, Baltimore’s defense was one of three teams to rank in the NFL’s Top 10 in yards allowed each season. Harbaugh’s red zone defense has also finished in the Top 5 in nine of his 16 seasons, including first overall in 2011 and second in 2023, 2014, 2012 and 2008.

The Ravens’ offense has also experienced record-setting success during the Harbaugh Era. In 2019, Baltimore finished No. 1 in the NFL in points (33.2) and rushing yards (206.0) per game, while it was No. 2 in total yards (407.6). In 2019, the Ravens also became the first team ever to average 200 passing and 200 rushing yards per game in a season. Baltimore also set a new NFL single-season rushing record (3,296 yards), besting the 1978 Patriots’ 3,165. Additionally, in 2019, the Ravens set season team records for touchdowns (64), points (531), net yards (6,521), rushing yards (3,296) and first downs (386). This attack was led by unanimous NFL MVP QB Lamar Jackson, who accounted for a league-high 43 total TDs, including a league-best (and franchise-record) 36 passing scores. Jackson also rushed for 1,206 yards, setting a new NFL single-season record by a QB.

A year later, in 2020, Baltimore’s attack registered the second-most total TDs (55), points (468) and rushing yards (3,071) in franchise history. The 2020 Ravens also produced the NFL’s No. 1 rushing attack (191.9 ypg), with their 3,071 rushing yards standing as the third most in a 16-game NFL season. (The Ravens own two of the Top 3 marks.) Producing a revolutionary rushing attack over the past several seasons, the Ravens have rushed for an NFL-high 16,668 yards (168.4 ypg) since QB Lamar Jackson’s rookie campaign (2018).

On special teams, an impressive seven Ravens have earned 17 combined Pro Bowl honors while playing for Harbaugh. A byproduct of the Ravens consistently producing one of the NFL’s top special teams units during Harbaugh’s tenure, senior NFL writer Rick Gosselin ranked the Ravens in the Top 6 of his annual comprehensive ratings system in seven-consecutive seasons (2012-18). (This includes a No. 1 ranking in 2015.) In 2021, Baltimore’s special teams unit finished No. 1 in both Gosselin’s rankings and Football Outsiders’ DVOA ratings.

Time in Philadelphia

Prior to his time in Baltimore, Harbaugh’s special teams in Philadelphia were consistently ranked among the NFL’s best. From 2000-05, the Eagles’ units finished in the Top 10 in five of those seasons in The Dallas Morning News’ special teams rankings. In 2001 and 2003, Philly ranked No. 1, according to senior NFL writer Rick Gosselin’s composite ratings (includes 22 kicking-game categories).

Following the 2001 campaign, Harbaugh was voted the NFL’s Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers. He was also named The Dallas Morning News Special Teams Coach of the Year that season. In just four seasons (1998-2001), Harbaugh elevated the Eagles’ special teams from 29th to first in the NFL.

In 1999, the Eagles signed K David Akers, who had been working as a part-time waiter after brief kicking stints with Carolina, Atlanta and Washington. With Harbaugh’s help, Akers earned three Pro Bowl honors. Harbaugh also worked with P Dirk Johnson, another “street” free agent, helping him record the then-Top 2 punting averages (38.4 in 2005 and 37.4 in 2004) in Eagles history. Under Harbaugh’s leadership, 15 Eagles earned Special Teams Player of the Week awards, while snapper Mike Bartrum was named to the Pro Bowl, and return specialist Reno Mahe led the NFL with a 12.8-yard punt return average in 2005.

College Coaching

Among Harbaugh’s 39 years of coaching experience, he held a two-year stint (1995-96) as the assistant head coach at the University of Cincinnati, finishing 6-5 both seasons with the Bearcats.

He coached 10 years on offense and four on defense at the collegiate level, launching his coaching career in 1984 at the age of 21 as a graduate assistant for his father at Western Michigan.

In his second position at the University of Pittsburgh (1987), he was mentored by the legendary Sid Gillman, a Pro Football Hall of Famer. John also coached the tight ends at Pitt under head coach Mike Gottfried.

While at Cincinnati (1989-96), Harbaugh coached special teams, tight ends, outside linebackers and running backs, and he served as the recruiting coordinator.

Over eight years, Harbaugh recruited 27 starters for the Bearcats and tutored both the NCAA’s top return man (former Raven Robert Tate, 34.3 KOR average in 1995) and the second-ranked returner (current Ravens assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt, 31.5 KOR average in 1993). John was part of a staff that helped Cincinnati produce three out of four winning seasons (1993, 1995-96) for the first time in 20 years.

Harbaugh also coached one season at Indiana in 1997 as the defensive backs coach/special teams coordinator, under former Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, and one year at Morehead State in 1988 as the defensive backs coach/special teams and strength and conditioning coordinator.