Baltimore Ravens

2016 Will Shape John Harbaugh's Legacy

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:14 p.m. ET

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Sep 25, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (center) talks with wide receiver Steve Smith (89) after a altercation with Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey (not pictured) following a game at EverBank Field. Baltimore Ravens won 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Logan Bowles-USA TODAY Sports

When all is said and done, what will be the legacy of John Harbaugh as the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens?

No matter what happens this season, John Harbaugh is a legend in Baltimore. The veteran coach has taken the Ravens to six playoff appearances. He won Super Bowl XLVII in the 2012 season. It was the Ravens fifth straight year knocking on the door of the Super Bowl. It took three trips to the AFC Championship to finally get to the big game. Winning the Super Bowl is legendary, but the pursuit of that championship through the first five years of Harbaugh’s tenure, was pretty special as well.

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Since the Super Bowl victory things have soured a bit. The Ravens had a frustrating 8-8 season in 2013 and they missed the playoffs. 2014 made it seem like the Ravens were back. Baltimore beat their arch rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the wild card round. They then pushed the New England Patriots to the brink of elimination, but came up short. 2015 was a 5-11 nightmare that hit Baltimore fans like a ton of bricks. During the four game losing streak earlier this season, it was hard not to worry that 2016 was going to be just like that 5-11 nightmare.

The Ravens are currently 6-5 and have righted the ship to a large degree. Sure, the offense isn’t humming, and sure their six wins have mostly come from weaker competition, but the Ravens have a chance to make 2016 a special season. Winning the division is within reach and a trip to the playoffs makes anything possible. Baltimore has a chance to soar back to their familiar heights and if they don’t it spells bad news for Harbaugh.

If the Ravens don’t win the division, this was another wasted season and a continuation of a downward trend. If the Ravens don’t win the AFC North, they will have wasted a highly ranked defense and a ton of talent all across the roster. That would be a bad look for John Harbaugh. Greg A. Bedard of Sports Illustrated wrote an article suggesting that Harbaugh could be on the hot seat if the Ravens crumble down the stretch.

Bedard makes a compelling point, Steve Bisciotti could be put in a familiar situation. When the Ravens said good-bye to Billick, it was because they needed a fresh start, not because he was a bad coach. Billick is a member of the Ravens ring of honor, and walking away from him was not an easy decision for Bisciotti. Baltimore is fond of Harbaugh, but the Ravens have to be going in the right direction.

Oct 16, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh during the first half against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

How Will Harbaugh Be Remembered?

The question in front of us today is not what should happen to Harbaugh at the end of the season. What will become Harbaugh’s legacy if the Ravens don’t take advantage of their opportunity this season? That is what we need to ask, because that is possibly the more interesting conversation. When we get into these hypothetical situations there are a lot of ways to think about it.

Harbaugh will likely be a victim of the most recent memories. People will remember the blood boiling moments after the Super Bowl glory. They will remember the 5-11 season. They will remember Marty Mornhinweg becoming the fifth offensive coordinator for Joe Flacco after Marc Trestman proved to be an awful hire. When you cannot have any continuity at such a key position, you have a problem.

There will be a large faction of fans who will try to separate Harbaugh from the glory of his tenure. The Ravens won when they had Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to lead the way. There is already a perception looming in Baltimore that Harbaugh ran out players that challenged his authority. I have always thought that argument was silly. Lewis retired. Reed took more money in Houston. Boldin was traded away by Ozzie Newsome. Bernard Pollard was overrated and he wasn’t actually a leader, he just hit really hard. Silly or not, that perception is there and it isn’t going anywhere.

Nov 24, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh walks off the field after their 34-27 win over the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The Adversity Could Still Strengthen His Legacy:

Today we talked about the nightmare scenario. The conversation is more interesting if things go south, because it means the era could be coming to an end. Ravens fans must understand however, that they would be losing a lot if they parted with Jack Harbaugh’s son. The grass may not be greener on the other side. Harbaugh has been a great coach who has done great things. The Ravens are in the driver seat for a division title. If they win the division after a brutal four game losing streak, Harbaugh could continue to build on his impressive resume.

It is also important to remember that Harbaugh is not facing an ultimatum. If the Ravens don’t make the playoffs, we don’t know how Bisciotti will react. Playoff football is a very real possibility.  In the playoffs anything can happen and a Super Bowl would elevate the Ravens coach into the pantheon of greatness.

No matter what happens, Harbaugh will always have my admiration and respect. To me he is a legend. That doesn’t change in my book. The Ravens have been treated to some incredible moments under Harbaugh’s leadership. The court of public opinion is not always a fair place. The Ravens are at a crossroads moment. Baltimore could reach the heights they are accustomed to. They could also fall into troubling murky waters. Only when the future unfolds, will we have the full picture.

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