Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti admitted Friday that he considered firing head coach John Harbaugh this offseason, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). “It was a consideration, but it wasn’t one I was inclined to make,” said Bisciotti.
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Baltimore, of course, missed out on the postseason after allowing a last-second touchdown to the Bengals in its regular season finale. The loss pushed the Ravens to 9-7, and they missed a Wild Card berth thanks to tie-breakers which favored the Bills and Titans. Since that time, Baltimore has made a change at coordinator, as DC Dean Pees “retired” (perhaps not voluntarily) after leading the Ravens to a No. 3 defensive DVOA finish. Marty Mornhinwheg, the club’s offensive play-caller, is staying on despite Baltimore ranking just 21st in offensive DVOA.
While nearly every team that doesn’t make the playoffs likely “considers” making a head coaching change, Bisciotti’s statement is notable given both Harbaugh’s long run in Baltimore and the team’s recent lack of success. Harbaugh is currently the NFL’s sixth-longest-tenured head coach, as he’s been with the Ravens since 2008. During that time, he’s posted a record of 94-66, but Baltimore hasn’t been to the postseason since 2014. In the past three seasons, the Ravens have managed a paltry 22-26 record.
As Zrebiec notes, Bisciott did not say Harbaugh now has a “playoffs-or-bust” mandate for 2018. But given his acknowledgement that he nearly fired Harbaugh this year, Bisciotti seems unlikely to tolerate another campaign that doesn’t end with a postseason contest.
He should’ve been fired. Whiny rat terd.
Can’t argue his success. Look at his WL record plus a SB Championship. Same can be said about Mc.Carthy and Packers fans want him gone. Some fans are spoiled by their teams success
They have had 1 playoff appearance since that super bowl. I wouldn’t fire Harbaugh but his job safety should have been somewhat looked at
40-40 since the Super Bowl can’t make a case for him to get any contract extension or money in his pocked
McCarthy can’t develop plays. That’s a huge problem. Especially when you have an elite QB. Every play in GB is a broken play so they are lucky that Aaron Rodgers can take command when that happens.
This is so true
If your not BB your job is never safe in the NFL plain and simple.
Idk Pitts coaches seem to last forever if any team needs a change it’s them but that will probably happen when Ben retires new coach new qb
I think B.B. stood for Bill Belichick.
Or Marvin Lewis
If he would’ve been fired he would’ve had another head coaching job almost immediately.
He’s earned another season.
Ravens shouldn’t fire Harbaugh. The core of the Ravens’ issues starts with Joe Flacco. An OC change would probably help, but Flacco has disappeared since the Ravens won the Super Bowl. He occasionally shows off what he could be, but too often he just looks flat out terrible. Imo, Flacco has kind of settled in. He got his money so there’s not much for him to worry about. I doubt a new HC would be able to squeeze much more out of Flacco.
He had a herniated disk this year and in previous years he had no playmakers and multiple O.C. Not to mention his blown up knee two years ago.
Its not Flacco. Baltimore has always built the team around defense. They never get him a solid OC that can really help him nor do they get him any weapons. They sign a bunch of guys past their prime. For awhile they had no running game which lead to him throwing way to much. If you are going to throw that much you have to have play makers and they dont have that. Not to mention the Oline was falling apart this year. They need play makers at WR, a healthy line and a play maker at RB and Flacco will be better. He has to get healthy too. At one point this guy never missed a start.
Flacco isn’t a playmarker but then again does he have to be? 2014 was arguably his best year when Gary Kubiak was the QB Coach. He was a Flacco whisperer and they had some good offensive weapons.
To me, they have repeat something like the 2014 setup and if Flacco / Harbaugh still don’t perform then you might want to reconsider the formula.
New York would have jumped on Harbaugh had he been let go.
“In the past three seasons, the Ravens have managed a paltry 22-26 record.”
That’s an unfair statement. Let’s dive into the numbers…
2015… 5-11
2016… 8-8
2017… 9-7
And in 2015, Flacco was out for the last 6 games.
So one losing season for Flacco / Harbaugh in the past 10 years is a great feature.