John Harbaugh’s firing by the Baltimore Ravens after 18 seasons as the head coach signaled the end of an era in Baltimore. Harbaugh put together the most successful era of Ravens football and brought the city a Super Bowl, but after years of underperformance relative to expectations, a breakup became warranted.
However, some have argued that the grass may not be greener on the other side for the Ravens, and that nearly twenty years of an NFL team being competitive and in the mix is nothing to take for granted.
One of those people who would argue that sentiment is Harbaugh’s longtime opponent in the AFC North, and the man who likely put the nail in Harbaugh’s time as a Raven, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
Impatience
During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin discussed John Harbaugh’s firing, paid his respects to Harbaugh’s tenure with the Ravens ending, and reflected on the battles over the years the two have had.
“I just have so much respect for Harbs,” Tomlin told Eisen. “Our stories will forever be interwoven in this rivalry that we’ve been fortunate and honored enough to be a part of. I’ve just got so much respect for him and how he’s gone about his business, and we’ve certainly had some legendary battles over the years.”
Tomlin then discussed how Harbaugh’s firing was a casualty of today’s sports culture, where people aren’t patient during a down season.
“You know, in terms of him being let go, unfortunately, I just think it’s a component of today’s sports culture,” Tomlin said. “There have been many examples of that, and so it’s unfortunate, but I’m sure that he is going to move on. And if he chooses to coach again … I’m sure he’ll be very successful at doing so. But more than anything, I just think it’s a larger example of today’s sports culture in terms of not a lot of patience and the entertainment component of what it is that we do. There’s just not a lot of longevity.”
On the one hand, Harbaugh was let go after missing the playoffs following back-to-back AFC North titles; on the other hand, the Ravens have not been able to get over the hump, and a breakup may have been beneficial for both sides.
Fresh Start
Since Lamar Jackson became the starting quarterback, the Ravens have been one of the most successful franchises in football, but they have not been able to reach the next level.
Twice, the Ravens were the number one seed in the AFC, once resulting in a divisional round exit and the other in a crushing home AFC Championship loss.
The 2025 season felt like a breaking point for the franchise: either the Ravens would finally fulfill their potential, or there would be a significant change. Tyler Loop’s missed field goal, knocking the Ravens out of the playoffs, put Harbaugh’s firing in motion.
While there have been conflicting reports about whether Harbaugh lost the locker room, one source, speaking to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler, was adamant that Harbaugh didn’t.
“Saying John lost the locker room is bulls—,” the source said. Another team source discussed Harbaugh rallying the team, even late in the season, through challenging circumstances.
“There were moments late in the year when I wondered whether he still wants to do this anymore because the season was so crazy and relentless,” a team source said. “He still rallied us. That Green Bay game [Week 17] when we were almost eliminated, he had us ready to play despite the odds against us.”
Harbaugh and the Ravens now have a clean slate, with Harbaugh as one of the top head coaching candidates and the Ravens as the most desirable franchise on the market. Now, will tell which side, if any, comes out on top in the divorce.
Mike Tomlin Says John Harbaugh’s Firing is Due to Lack of Patience