The Ravens shook up the NFL world Tuesday night by firing longtime head coach John Harbaugh, according to Dianna Russini.

BREAKING: The Ravens have fired head coach John Harbaugh, per source.

Harbaugh won Super Bowl XLVII and six division titles with Baltimore in 18 seasons. pic.twitter.com/oHBTR8Wn35

— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) January 6, 2026

John Harbaugh instantly rockets to the top of almost every team’s wish list when it comes to head coaching vacancies, including the Atlanta Falcons.

In his 18 seasons as the Ravens’ head coach, Harbaugh won a remarkable 180 games with a 61.3% winning percentage. He posted double-digit win totals 11 times, led Baltimore to six division titles, and, of course, won a Super Bowl in 2012.

This feels like a rash decision by Baltimore, an organization that has clearly grown frustrated with its inability to get over the hump despite having two-time MVP Lamar Jackson under center. The Ravens missed the playoffs this season for the first time since 2021, but Jackson played in only 13 games while battling a slew of injuries.

There’s been a belief that the Falcons will prioritize an offensive-minded head coach in this hiring cycle, and that makes sense given their ongoing quarterback issues. Whether it’s Michael Penix Jr. or someone else, Atlanta desperately needs a coach who can develop a quarterback. However, when a future Hall of Famer like John Harbaugh becomes available, it forces everyone to pause.

There will be a line out the door for his services, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see teams with current head coaches make a move to try to land him. But among the openings that exist right now, there’s no question the Falcons are one of the more attractive situations.

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Photo: Peter Joneleit/Icon Sportswire