John Harbaugh Thanks Ravens Fans, Players, Coaches in Newspaper Ad After Firing

After officially taking the New York Giants' head coaching job, former Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh thanked the city of Baltimore, Ravens fans, the Ravens organization and his players and coaches on Saturday.

Harbaugh took out a full-page ad in the Baltimore Sun to show gratitude for his 18 years in Baltimore, and Brian Wacker of the Baltimore Sun noted that it had been in the works "for about a week."

The 63-year-old coach remembered the "unforgettable moments of shared triumph and excellence," as well as "steadfast determination in the face of trial and adversity," he experienced while with the Ravens.

Harbaugh concluded his letter by writing, "Football can be about wins and losses, but what lasts are the relationships, the shared moments, and the bond between a team and its city. Those memories will echo forever."

The Ravens originally hired Harbaugh as head coach in 2008 after he spent a decade in the Philadelphia Eagles organization as a special teams coach and defensive backs coach.

Harbaugh went on to become the most successful coach in Ravens history by far, posting a 180-113 record with 12 playoff appearances, six division titles and one Super Bowl win.

However, his tenure in Baltimore ended in heartbreak, as rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a game-winning field goal in the final game of the regular season. Had Loop made it, the Ravens would have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers to finish 9-8, win the AFC North and reach the playoffs.

Instead, Harbaugh was fired shortly after the loss, and he immediately became the top candidate available in the NFL coaching cycle.

The Giants jumped on the opportunity to hire him in hopes that he will be able to guide a supremely talented team to greatness.

It took Harbaugh five years to win a Super Bowl in Baltimore, which feels like a potentially realistic timeline in New York, provided the team's young stars blossom as hoped and expected.