NFL: Baltimore Ravens fire John Harbaugh after 18 years as head coach

The Baltimore Ravens have ended John Harbaugh’s 18-year tenure as head coach after the team failed to reach the NFL playoffs.

The 63-year-old led the Ravens to victory in the 2013 Super Bowl and was the second-longest serving coach in the NFL.

Harbaugh is the fourth coach to be fired since the end of the NFL regular season on Sunday, with three coaches fired on “Black Monday.”

The Ravens lost to rival Pittsburgh in the AFC North playoff game on Sunday, with Tyler Loup missing a last-gasp field goal to allow the Steelers to win 26-24 and claim the final playoff spot.

Baltimore had reached the playoffs in six of the previous seven seasons, and in 12 of the 18 under Harbaugh.

But despite Lamar Jackson being a two-time MVP at quarterback since 2018, Baltimore has reached the AFC Championship Game just once since the team won its second Super Bowl 13 years ago.

“Well, I was hoping to receive a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today,” Harbaugh said in a statement.

“It definitely comes with disappointment, but with even more gratitude and appreciation.”