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John Harbaugh’s Retirement Decision Emerges After Ravens’ Firing

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated Jan 8, 2026 12:33 PM ET

The Baltimore Ravens ’ decision to part ways with John Harbaugh on Tuesday sent immediate shockwaves across the league. Harbaugh’s dismissal followed an 8-9 finish in the 2025 season that saw the Ravens miss the playoffs, prompting owner Steve Bisciotti to pursue a reset after nearly two decades of continuity. Harbaugh exits as the winningest coach in franchise history, having compiled 193 total wins (including playoffs), captured Super Bowl XLVII, won six AFC North titles and led the Ravens to 12 postseason appearances.

Almost as soon as the move became official, speculation began to swirl around Harbaugh’s next step. Many observers immediately pointed to the growing number of head coaching vacancies and the premium placed on experienced, Super Bowl-winning leaders. With multiple teams seeking stability and credibility, Harbaugh quickly emerged as one of the most coveted names on the market, fueling widespread discussion about how quickly he might land another job and whether he would even consider stepping away from the sidelines.

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Harbaugh’s agent received calls from seven NFL teams within 45 minutes of the firing. The early outreach signaled that Harbaugh remains firmly viewed as a top-tier coaching option despite Baltimore’s uneven finish in 2025.

Amid the speculation, NFL reporter Gary Myers provided clarity on Harbaugh’s mindset and immediate plans after losing his job.

According to Myers, Harbaugh is not interviewing this weekend and is instead taking time to return his daughter to law school following the holiday break. Myers also noted that Harbaugh is not planning to attend Sunday night’s wild-card game between the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Chargers to support his brother, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh.

More importantly, Myers reported that Harbaugh has no interest in exploring television opportunities and is not considering retirement.

Here's the latest I have on John Harbaugh:
No interviews this weekend. Taking daughter back to law school following holiday break. I thought he might be on the sidelines in New England on Sunday night supporting brother Jim and the Chargers in their wild-game vs. Patriots, but…
— Gary Myers (@GaryMyersNY) January 8, 2026

John Harbaugh has told friends he remains deeply passionate about coaching and believes he could continue for another eight to 10 years. At 63, Harbaugh is described as energized, motivated and eager for his next challenge, with next week expected to be particularly active as teams begin formal discussions.

Rather than signaling an ending, Harbaugh’s firing has set the stage for one of the most closely watched coaching pursuits of the 2026 cycle.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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