Harbaugh Fired: The Backstory

In time, the details leading up to John Harbaugh’s firing on Tuesday won’t matter all that much. All that will matter is that he’s gone and his departure represents an opportunity for the team to get better. The challenge is to see that the improvement happens.

Harbaugh was a known commodity. You knew he would never embarrass the organization or throw any of his players under the bus in public. He was loyal to his assistants, almost to a fault because his focus upon their strengths blinded his ability or maybe even his willingness to see their weaknesses, even to the team’s detriment.

John was never a great in-game adjuster. He’s never been an X’s and O’s guy and was often outcoached, particularly against the league’s better teams. Need proof? Just look at all the second half meltdowns on Harbaugh’s watch. They are a clear sign of losing the battle of halftime adjustments. Checkers v. Chess comes to mind.

I don’t really care much about what brought the Ravens to this moment – the back story of why owner Steve Bisciotti reached his breaking point and dismissed Harbaugh. I only care that it was done because it was necessary. Sweating the details that influenced the decisions don’t do much for me. What the Ravens do moving forward is the only thing that matters.

But some are curious and for those who are, Jeff Zrebiec and Dianna Russini from The Athletic collaborated on a piece that gives a behind the scenes glimpse of the circumstances that culminated in the demise of the John Harbaugh Era in Baltimore.

The article provides sources, but most chose to speak under the condition of anonymity. Now I don’t know Russini’s work very well. Judging from what I have heard, seen and read, she seems reliable and credible. Zrebiec, I know well. He’s the best on the Ravens beat and I know that if Jeff writes something, it’s real. It happened. Just because there isn’t a player’s name or a coach’s name attached to a quote doesn’t make it any less real.

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“We exited the meeting thinking there would probably be a few coaching staff changes, maybe a coordinator change. That’s usually how it works. Then, the next day, everything got turned on its head.” ~ An unnamed Ravens veteran player

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Look, John Harbaugh had a 3-year extension in his pocket at $17M per. He had the juice. He had negotiating leverage. And as a result, he had the stones to stand his ground. He was going to run it back his way.

On the other side of the table, there was Steve Bisciotti. The Ravens owner once fired Brian Billick when the Super Bowl 35 winning coach had 4 years left on his deal. During one of our shows at The Original Greene Turtle with Bisciotti, he didn’t sweat the money still due Billick. He said, “my kids just lost part of their inheritance.”

Bisciotti wasn’t going to let money stand in the way of what he thought was best for the team. He didn’t do it in 2008; he didn’t do it in 2026. And so now, we enter the post-Harbaugh era.

An Emotional DeCosta

In the same article from The Athletic, Zrebiec and Russini write:

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“Once the decision was made and Harbaugh was notified, things moved fast. DeCosta rounded up Harbaugh’s staff members and informed them of the decision. One assistant coach said DeCosta, who considers Harbaugh one of his closest friends, fought back tears as he delivered the news.”

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It has been well-documented that Harbaugh and DeCosta are next door neighbors. Their bond it tight. The hours spent together were many. It stands to reason that a personal relationship evolves. The surprising twist of events that led to Harbaugh’s dismissal represent a complete audible from Bisciotti. Not only did Bisciotti’s decision catch DeCosta off-guard, it also places the GM squarely in the crosshairs.

DeCosta had his worst year as the Ravens GM. He ignored the obvious offensive line weaknesses and completely overestimated the team’s pass rush, yet he still traded Odafe Oweh who posted 7 ½ sacks for the Chargers in 12 games and then added another 3 sacks in the Chargers’ loss in New England during the wildcard round. Cooper Rush was never a fit for the Ravens offensive style particularly behind their wretched pass blocking. Extensions for Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews were head-scratchers. First-round pick Malaki Starks was underwhelming and then instead of taking big swings at the trade deadline, DeCosta squared up for a sacrifice bunt.

Now that Harbaugh is gone, DeCosta’s success and failures will fall squarely under the microscope of observers and possibly the looking glass of Bisciotti’s. EDC will have a chance to redeem himself this offseason. But he might be on a short leash.

Keep your hands inside the cart and enjoy the ride.

The post Harbaugh Fired: The Backstory appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/01/12/cup-of-joe/harbaugh-fired-the-backstory/