BALTIMORE _ John Harbaugh will return as head coach of the Ravens in 2019, and the team is working to extend his contract, which expires after next season, the Ravens announced Friday evening.
The unexpected announcement came on the eve of a vital game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which could determine whether the Ravens will miss the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season. It abruptly cut off speculation that the franchise might move on from the most successful coach in its history.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said he considered making a coaching change after last season, when the team's playoff hopes were dashed in a New Year's Eve loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Many took that to mean Harbaugh needed to make the playoffs this season or look for another job.
When the Ravens dropped to 4-5 going into their Week 10 bye, new reports swirled suggesting Harbaugh was in jeopardy. Since then, the Ravens have won four of five games and executed a sweeping transition in offensive philosophy with rookie Lamar Jackson at quarterback.
That transformation has put them in position to claim either an AFC North title or the second AFC wild-card berth. And it apparently secured Harbaugh's future with the team he's coached for 11 seasons. Harbaugh's record stands at 102-72 and with eight wins already this season, he's guaranteed to finish at least .500 for the 10th time in 11 tries. He's guided the Ravens to the postseason six times and to victory in Super Bowl XLVII.
Several players, including defensive lineman Patrick Ricard and Chris Wormley, quickly took to Twitter to express support for the announcement that Harbaugh will stay in place.
