Rapoport: John Harbaugh Lost The Locker Room

Rapoport, citing several sources involved, reports that players had doubts about whether they wanted to play for Harbaugh anymore. He adds that the players’ opinions were highly valued in this decision, including those of people other than Lamar Jackson. 

From what Rapoport hears, the situation started with Jackson and Harbaugh not being on the same page, and that opinion trickled throughout the locker room. 

Although Rapoport points out that it was 100 percent of the roster, it was “more than enough” to sway Baltimore’s decision. 

There had been talk about Harbaugh’s job security in Baltimore after the team failed to make the playoffs. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti reportedly had grown frustrated with Harbaugh’s lack of playoff success in recent years. 

Harbaugh, 63, began his NFL coaching career with the Eagles in 1998 as their special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach. He spent 10 years in Philadelphia before he was hired as the Ravens’ head coach in 2008.

Harbaugh has been in Baltimore ever since and was the first Ravens coach to be named Coach of the Year following the 2019 season. He was handed a three-year extension through 2025 before the 2022 season, then signed another three-year extension this past offseason. 

During his 18 years with the team, Harbaugh has led the Ravens to a record of 180–112 (0.616 winning percentage), which includes 12 playoff appearances and one Super Bowl championship in 2012. He has a record of 13-11 in the playoffs.