John Harbaugh: Baltimore Ravens Agree to New Contract
John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens have agreed to a new four year deal that is good to keep the head coach through 2022.
John Harbaugh isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. After leading the Ravens to a 10-7 season that included a division championship and a long awaited playoff birth, the team has inked their longest tenured coach to a brand new deal. To be clear, this is not an extension, according to Ryan Mink. He is now signed through the 2022 season. The original contract didn’t run out until after next season, so a four-year extension would’ve been good through 2023.
Mid-season, there was nobody that saw this coming. Jason La Confora even reported that he would “be shocked” if Harbaugh was coaching the Ravens in 2019. Going into their bye-week at 4-5, and Joe Flacco being hurt, the season seemed to be lost and Ravens heading in a new direction. However, Harbaugh rallied his troops and turned the season around. The Ravens ended the season on a 6-1 run, with the only loss coming to the Chiefs at Arrowhead. This was good enough, along with some dysfunction in Pittsburg, to give Baltimore the AFC North.
Inking Harbaugh to a new deal seemed to be a priority for the organization. Harbaugh had a lot of suitors before the season was over. Some teams like the Denver Broncos were even willing to trade for Harbaugh. Moreover, it was unclear if the 11-year coach wanted to come back. But the Ravens made it clear they wanted Harbaugh back and got the deal done before the offseason ramps up.