John Harbaugh’s no-brainer extension illuminates Ravens’ future

At least the Baltimore Ravens have one core member of the team locked down for the future.

Head coach John Harbaugh recently signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him in Baltimore through 2025, in turn giving the Ravens the best chance of success.

Harbaugh was entering the final year of a four-year deal that he signed in January 2019, and this extension means the team can continue thriving under Harbaugh’s 14 years of experience. Currently, Harbaugh has the third-longest tenure among active coaches in the NFL, with only Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin ahead of him.

Despite the Ravens posting a losing record and failing to qualify for the playoffs in 2021, the organization showing faith in Harbaugh is absolutely crucial. The team already saw a surprising change in defensive coordinators early this offseason, and extending Harbaugh adds much-needed stability for the years ahead.

Fans should rejoice at the news knowing that Harbaugh has a firm grasp of the Ravens’ identity and possesses the vision and experience to lead the team to another Super Bowl title. A decade has passed since Baltimore last won the Super Bowl, but in total Harbaugh has helped the Ravens reach the postseason nine times in 14 seasons.

Baltimore Ravens make prudent move in extending head coach John Harbaugh

As one of the more underrated coaches in the league, Harbaugh’s most redeeming qualities may be his resilience and ability to adapt to change, something he passes on to his squad as well. Ever since he went all-in on Lamar Jackson in 2018, he has built the team around Jackson’s unique talents and continues to finetune and tailor the offense to keep the Ravens competitive every year.

Compared to the Cleveland Browns, who have had nine coaches over Harbaugh’s tenure in Baltimore alone, the Ravens place a premium on consistency, and keeping Harbaugh around reinforces the philosophy, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

Proudly boasting one of the best-run organizations in football, the Ravens could find no better pillar of strength than John Harbaugh — the two are very lucky to have each other.

In 2022, the team will need Harbaugh’s tough mentality and know-how to get the most out of his players to regain its foothold in an ever-crowded AFC landscape.

The proof is in the pudding: Harbaugh has irreversibly changed the culture in Baltimore, and keeping him at the helm of the franchise is an important first step for the Ravens’ sustained success this upcoming season and beyond.

The next step? Extending Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh got his money, and we hope he’s calling Jackson right now to tell him to get his.