The Baltimore Ravens did not have the 2025 campaign they were hoping for, leading to some significant changes early in the offseason. Shortly after their crushing Week 18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, longtime head coach John Harbaugh was fired by the team.
Not long after, former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was hired to replace him. Meanwhile, it didn’t take long for Harbaugh to land on his feet, as he was quickly hired by the New York Giants to be their new head coach.
### John Harbaugh Says Goodbye to the Ravens
Harbaugh initially made a name for himself in the college ranks before joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 1998 as their special teams coordinator. After a decade with the Eagles, the Ravens surprisingly decided to hire the then-unheralded Harbaugh as their head coach.
Under Harbaugh’s leadership, Baltimore quickly became a consistent title contender, frequently ranking among the top teams in the league. In 2019, Harbaugh earned the NFL’s Coach of the Year Award, but his defining moment came when he led the Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XLVII.
In 2025, Baltimore was expected to be a top Super Bowl contender but ended up missing the playoffs entirely. While the disappointing season wasn’t entirely Harbaugh’s fault, the team’s decision to fire him came as a surprise to many.
Though Harbaugh wasn’t quite ready to leave, after taking some time to process the move, he took out a full-page ad in the *Baltimore Sun* to say goodbye to the Ravens and their fans.
“Football can be about wins and losses, but what lasts are the relationships, the shared moments, and the bond between a team and its city,” Harbaugh said in his message. “Those memories will echo forever. With deep respect, gratitude, appreciation and love, thank you, Baltimore. Thank you, Ravens Flock.”
### Ravens Looking to Kickstart New Era of Success in 2026
While Harbaugh certainly wasn’t the sole reason for the Ravens’ lackluster 2025 season, the team believed he had run his course and that a fresh voice was needed to guide the franchise forward.
It was no surprise to see Harbaugh quickly hired by the New York Giants, and Baltimore fans will undoubtedly keep close tabs on his new squad to see how they perform in 2026 and beyond. Meanwhile, the Ravens will look to Jesse Minter to lead them into a new era of success.
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