The Baltimore Ravens made a move that shocked the football world, parting ways Head Coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday. While it felt like it was a blindsiding firing, it’s not like it wasn’t deserved.
Despite having an elite track record of winning and taking the Ravens to the playoffs, it has been clear over the past few seasons that the team has faced some agonizing troubles. Years ended with heartbreak after heartbreak, and their 8-9 finish finally offered a reason to get Harbaugh out of the building.
Harbaugh’s been a great coach over his 18 seasons in Baltimore, there’s no doubt about that. However, it’s also fair to say the two parties needed to go in their separate direction. The Ravens cannot keep falling short with a two-time MVP quarterback in Lamar Jackson leading the way, and it’s been obvious that Harbaugh’s message has dried up.
Still, there is a ton of backlash coming Baltimore’s way after the firing. That included Hall of Fame Head Coach Tony Dungy, who did not hold back when criticizing the decision.
I can’t believe what things have come to in the NFL. John Harbaugh has coached the Baltimore Ravens for 18 years. He took them to the playoffs 12 times. He won a Super Bowl for them. The last 4 years they were 10-7, 13-4, 12-5, 8-9. They made the playoffs 3 straight years and… pic.twitter.com/p4DnVmT8BS
— Tony Dungy (@TonyDungy) January 6, 2026
Tony Dungy criticizes Ravens’ bold John Harbaugh move
Listen, this criticism is completely fair. When you’re a win-now team, and you have a head coach who has taken you to the playoffs in 12 out of his 18 years in charge, it can come across as a stunner. To make it even more questionable, Harbaugh is one of the most respected coaches in the NFL, and he is already getting a ton of interest for a new head coaching gig. That goes for teams with a head coach vacancy and those currently employing a head coach.
However, at the same time, sometimes teams need a leadership change, even if they’re one of the top teams in the league year after year. That new voice, whoever it ends up being, could be the factor that gets Baltimore over the hump in the near future.
Dungy should also be well aware of that. He spent six seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and consistently had them as a competitive team, but never captured a Lombardi Trophy. When the Buccaneers opted to move on, they won a Super Bowl the next year. Dungy also came out successful on the other side, winning a Super Bowl of his own with the Indianapolis Colts in 2006.
It’s not that Harbaugh is a bad coach; most Ravens fans will tell you that. It’s that the Ravens constantly field some of the best rosters in the league, and while they’re almost always making a run at the postseason, they are always falling short of their goal of winning the Super Bowl. It’s tough to make it there, but Harbaugh was given every shot to get back on top, and he simply ran out of time on Tuesday.