Bill Belichick reacts to Ravens firing John Harbaugh amid rumors about possible NFL return

Former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and former Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh have something in common, in that both endured unceremonious exits from those clubs despite all that they achieved during their tenures. 

For the latest episode of the "Let's Go!" SiriusXM show and podcast, Belichick spoke with legendary broadcaster Jim Gray about Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti showing Harbaugh the door. 

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"It’s always a tough situation," Belichick said, per Kristen Wong of Sports Illustrated. "Steve Bisciotti is a great owner. John Harbaugh is a great coach. They had a great run together. Sometimes, it’s just time." 

Belichick famously guided the Patriots to six Super Bowl championships from 2000 up until he and team owner Robert Kraft "mutually agreed" to part ways in January 2024. As for Harbaugh, he led Baltimore to a single Super Bowl title from 2008 up until the 2025 Ravens missed the playoffs via a Week 18 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers. 

Harbaugh accumulated a 13-11 postseason record with the Ravens, but two-time regular-season Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson went 3-5 in the playoffs under Harbaugh. 

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Almost immediately after news of Harbaugh's firing went public, some linked Belichick with the Ravens. He has insisted he's happy serving as the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, and it also sounds like the 73-year-old may not be all that desperate to return to the NFL. 

Belichick remains 15 wins away from breaking Don Shula's league record for career victories earned by a head coach (including the regular season and the playoffs). 

“I’m sure they’ll both move on, and they’ll both move on to a lot of success. But sometimes those [decisions] just have to be made," Belichick added. "I don’t know enough on the inside to know what really did or didn’t happen. It’s not my place to comment on that. ...Ultimately, the owners have to make the decisions as to what they feel is best for their franchise and everyone else — players, coaches, scouts, general managers, and so forth — we all have to live with those decisions. That’s what you sign up for when you enter this profession."

For what it's worth, any chatter about the Ravens possibly reaching out to Belichick essentially disappeared before his latest "Let's Go!" appearance. Meanwhile, Harbaugh is widely seen as the top available candidate of the NFL's current hiring cycle.