Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh close to new contract extension
Sunday 20 January 2019 08:32, UK
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has agreed in principle to a contract extension with the franchise.
Harbaugh was due to enter his final year of his contract at Baltimore but now looks to be staying beyond next season, according to ESPN.
The Ravens announced on December 21 that the 56-year-old would return in 2019 and the sides were working towards an extension.
Live NFL
Immediately after their 23-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the wildcard round of the playoffs, Harbaugh admitted for him there was no way he wouldn't remain in Baltimore.
He said: "I have every expectation and every plan to be here as long as the Ravens want me here, and I believe they want me here. I think that's been made clear by management to me over the last few weeks.
"I love everybody in the organisation. It's great people. I expect to go forward with that as long as that's what they want to do, and I do believe that's what they want to do. Let's roll."
Furthermore, the news ends speculation the team were looking to possibly trade Harbaugh to keep him becoming a coaching free agent at the end of the 2019 playing year.
In November last year, Harbaugh's position at the Ravens was troubled as they entered their bye week with a record of 4-5 and were on a three game losing streak.
But along with starting rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson, a 2018 first-round draft pick, for the injured starting QB Joe Flacco - Harbaugh inspired one of the biggest turnarounds the league has witnessed.
They finished with a winning record of 10-6, won AFC North title and got a place in the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
Baltimore have reached the playoffs seven times under Harbaugh along with a Super Bowl XLVII win in 2013, known as the 'Brother Bowl', over his younger sibling Jim and the San Francisco 49ers.
He is the Ravens' most successful coach with a record of 104-72 and has the fourth-longest tenure as a head coach in the league at 11 seasons.
Only Bill Belichick [New England Patriots], Sean Payton [New Orleans Saints] and Mike Tomlin [Pittsburgh Steelers] have been with their teams longer.
Baltimore only has one losing season under their coach which came in 2015 as they finished with a record of 5-11.
Harbaugh is only the third coach in the team's 23-year history, making them one of the most stable franchises in the NFL.
