John Harbaugh Offers 'Profound' Thanks to Ravens in 1st Comments Since Landing Giants Contract

John Harbaugh expressed gratitude for the Baltimore Ravens in his first press conference since accepting a job as head coach of the New York Giants.

Harbaugh was fired by Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti on Jan. 6 after his 18th season with the franchise ended without a playoff bid.

"To the Ravens, I'd like to extend a profound thank you, to Steve and [former general manager Ozzie Newsome], for the opportunity, for the guidance that they provided every single day," Harbaugh said Tuesday. "To all the players, and coaches, who have been unrelenting brothers all along the way through the years. We did great things. Thanks, guys."

Harbaugh left Baltimore having recorded a 180-113 regular-season record (.614 win percentage) and one Super Bowl win.

Harbaugh had signed a three-year extension with the Ravens ahead of the 2025 season, which was set to keep him under contract in Baltimore through the 2028 campaign.

The Ravens got off to a 1-5 start to the 2025 season, tied for the worst start in franchise history, while struggling to hold on to late leads and to cover for the absence of an injured Lamar Jackson.

Despite late-season improvements after Jackson's return alongside stumbles from the Pittsburgh Steelers that allowed the Ravens back into the playoff race, the team fell just short of the postseason with a Week 18 loss in Pittsburgh.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler reported shortly after Harbaugh was fired that "a team source believed Harbaugh felt underappreciated at times in Baltimore," and that "the notion of a second act for Harbaugh was not lost on multiple sources with knowledge of his thinking in the weeks before the season ended."

Harbaugh will now start out that second act by taking over the development of second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart, whom the head coach met with prior to accepting his job with the Giants, per The Athletic's Ian O'Connor and Dianna Russini.

The new Giants head coach told reporters Tuesday he was "excited about Jaxson Dart."

"You build your team around your quarterback. I like the way he plays," Harbaugh said.

The Ravens will hope to get a fresh start of their own as their interviews for Harbaugh's replacement continues. Baltimore has so far held interviews with at least 16 candidates, and has requested second interviews with Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.