OTL: Why Wasn’t John Harbaugh Traded?

It wasn’t long at all after the dramatic and unexpected news of John Harbaugh’s firing came down that we started to see reports (from John’s agent, so make of them what you will) that the former Ravens head coach was in high demand around the league, with representatives from five, six, or seven teams making inquiries.

This was certainly not unexpected. Even those of us who were loudest in calling for John’s head knew that he would be in high demand for NFL head coaching openings. Why, then, if that was indeed the case, wouldn’t the Ravens have explored trading the coach to his desired destination, rather than simply firing him? Many Ravens fans were perplexed by this, after dreams of getting draft picks or more back in compensation for Harbs danced in their heads for several weeks.

First, some history. Trading a head coach wouldn’t be unprecedented. Most recently, current Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton, who retired after the 2021 season following nine seasons in New Orleans. However, he’d signed a five-year extension in 2019, so was under contract until at least 2023. He sat out the 2022 season, then started interviewing again three years ago this month. Once he found his desired fit, in Denver, the Broncos agreed to trade a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick to New Orleans for the coach as well as a 2024 third-rounder.

Before Payton, Bruce Arians retired for two years between stints in Arizona and Tampa Bay, with the Bucs sending the Cardinals a sixth-rounder when the coach joined them. Herm Edwards, Jon Gruden, Bill Belichick, Mike Holmgren, and Bill Parcells are other examples. Locally, when Don Shula left the Baltimore Colts for Miami in 1970, the NFL forced the Dolphins to give up a first-rounder to Baltimore.

So there is plenty of precedent here. It’s certainly fair to wonder why, with John Harbaugh having signed a three-year extension through 2028 (that didn’t even start yet), the Ravens couldn’t simply trade that contract away and get something back.

Last night on The Ravens Collective, Jeff Zrebiec fielded the question like this (14:00 minute mark of the video):

In talking to people about this trade option, here’s the thing: why would John Agree to that? You know, “if you don’t want me here, fire me. If you’re gonna fire me, fire me. Why am I gonna do the Ravens any favors and give them a draft pick? And why am I going to weaken the team I’m going to by making them trade a draft pick for me?” John’s not agreeing to that. So the trade thing sounds cool, it’s happened before…

…That’s hard to pull off. I think at this point if you cut bait, you just have to cut bait and more forward…You’d have to get John’s complete cooperation, where he would have had to work out another deal with a new team. That takes time, and while you take that time you’re missing opportunities to interview other guys.

So that’s the explanation from Jeff, one of the best in the business.

Does that satisfy you? It can’t be the case that ALL of the coach trades listed above involved the departing coach being totally cooperative and not minding weakening his new team, can it?

Like many of you, I’ll be very interested to hear what Steve Bisciotti and Eric DeCosta have to say when they’re asked about this.

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