John Harbaugh Addresses Job Talk After Another Painful Ravens Loss

John Harbaugh signed a three year extension in March but there's doubt whether he will be around in Baltimore if they miss the playoffs.

John Harbaugh Addresses Job Talk After Another Painful Ravens Loss

John Harbaugh (Image via IMAGO)

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John Harbaugh is signed through the 2028 season with the Baltimore Ravens after penning a three-year extension in March. That is, if he survives until then. The recent string of defeats has once again raised questions about his head coaching gig.

It isn’t a new experience for Harbaugh. Critics came after him during the Ravens’ barren spell without Lamar Jackson. The Ravens looked like a shell of their 2024 selves before turning things around with the help of Tyler Huntley.

Jackson missed two games before making his comeback in a win against the Dolphins. Three straight wins followed, but they lost both fixtures against divisional opponents in back-to-back games. In Week 14, the Ravens shocked the NFL world with a shutout victory against the Bengals before a two-touchdown performance from Drake Maye brought them back down to earth.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Ravens hold a 7-8 record and a 9% chance of making the playoffs. Considering Jackson’s extended absence, their current position is remarkable, though criticism has been directed at Harbaugh for an alleged lack of effective damage control.

One thing I always believed is [that] coaching at any level is a day-to-day job. Your job is to do the best job you can today… We have responsibilities, we’re given opportunities to steward those responsibilities, and we’re given a job to do that until you’re not.

John Harbaugh said when asked about his job security following the loss to the Patriots

Harbaugh is in his 18th year in Baltimore, the second-longest streak behind Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He joined the Ravens in 2008 and won a Super Bowl in 2012. Harbaugh is also the winningest coach in the franchise’s 30-year history with an overall record of 192-123. Coincidentally, it’s also the third most among active coaches in the league, behind Chiefs’ Andy Reid and Tomlin.

John Harbaugh received bad news about Lamar Jackson

Jackson looked good against the Patriots. He completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards and set up Derrick Henry for a touchdown on the ground. Unfortunately, the two-time league MVP’s night ended in a painful manner.

John Harbaugh Addresses Job Talk After Another Painful Ravens Loss
John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson (Image via IMAGO)

Lamar took a knee to the back while going down on a run and left the field. Harbaugh sent in Huntley to replace the distressed Jackson. Cameras caught the 28-year-old being escorted to the medical bay by the Ravens staff.

Jackson looked unhappy when reporters asked him about his injury. His injury killed the Ravens’ momentum and possibly their way into the playoffs.

It’s BS, bro. I can’t control that. I’m on the ground. I’m down. I gave myself up. I got kneed in the back. … [I’m] getting injured, and then we’re fighting for a chance to make the playoffs. I can’t finish the game with my guys. It’s BS.

Lamar Jackson said

During Monday’s press briefing, Harbaugh revealed that Jackson has suffered a back contusion.

Painful, certainly. Saw him in here getting treatment this morning and this afternoon, early. He’s been classified as day-to-day on that, nothing beyond the contusion, but I don’t want to minimize the severity and pain level of that, because it’s legit.

Harbaugh said (H/T: CBS Sports) 

It’s unclear whether he will be available for the Week 17 game against the Green Bay Packers as his injury is day to day. So far, he has thrown for 2311 yards, 18 touchdowns and 6 interceptions in 12 games. Jackson is in the third year of his five year $260 million with $185 million guaranteed contract.

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