Ravens appoint Harbaugh

The Baltimore Ravens have appointed John Harbaugh as their new head coach.

Second choice accepts top job

The Baltimore Ravens have appointed John Harbaugh as their new head coach. Harbaugh has never been a head coach before and spent this NFL season as the Philadelphia Eagles' secondary coach after making a name for himself working with special teams. Harbaugh coached in the college ranks at Miami (Ohio), Western Michigan, Pittsburgh, Morehead State and Cincinnati before joining the Eagles in 1998. He was selected the NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year by his peers in 2001. He moved to the secondary last season. The 45-year-old has signed a four year contract and will be the third head coach in Ravens history. Harbaugh replaces Brian Billick, who was fired on December 31 after nine years in charge. Billick led the Ravens to Super Bowl victory in 2000 but the team slumped to 5-11 and bottom place in the AFC North this season. Earlier this week the Ravens offered the job to Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, but he turned them down after receiving a pay rise and a promotion to assistant head coach.