John Harbaugh responds to firing with gratitude to God, ‘the Author and Finisher of our faith’

One of the NFL’s top coaches was fired this week after 18 seasons at the helm, but chose not to respond with frustration or blame – instead offering gratitude, thanking the organization that gave him a chance and the Savior who guided him along the way.

The Baltimore Ravens announced Tuesday that John Harbaugh would not be returning for another season, concluding a lengthy successful run that included a Super Bowl championship, multiple playoff appearances and 13 winning records. The Ravens narrowly missed the playoffs this year and finished 8-9.

Harbaugh – an outspoken Christian – responded with humility.

“Well, I was hoping for a different kind of message on my last day here, someday, but that day has come today,” he wrote in a statement released the same day he lost his job. “It comes with disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE & APPRECIATION.”

He expressed thankfulness to the “owner and organization who was willing to bring in a head coach who made his mark with Special Teams success” – a reference to his pre-Ravens background as a coach focused on kicking and coverage units, typically not a pathway to an NFL head-coaching job.

Harbaugh also voiced “appreciation for all the moments, all these years, that are etched into eternity. I hope a legacy built on Faith, always Fighting, always Believing.” He added that his teams were grounded in values – “values built into an Organization, through a Team, that are Worthwhile, Good and Lasting and that are admired by fans and foes alike.”

Further, Harbaugh said he will cherish his relationships with players and those in the Ravens organization.

His final words pointed to faith and family.

“Mostly to my treasured Family, my Ingrid and my Alison, who are beyond compare in every way and the Loves of my life, and my close-knit family and good friends who stick with you no matter what,” he wrote. “Finally, to the author and finisher of our faith, Gratitude for a Journey beyond anything I could have dreamed of on my own – All is well with my soul because of the Good God who guides and sustains me.”

Harbaugh won a Super Bowl with his 2012 team and finished his 18 seasons with a 13-11 playoff record. The 2023 Ravens fell just one game short of another Super Bowl appearance.

Harbaugh has spoken openly for years about his Christian faith.

In 2023, he told the Sports Spectrum Podcast that he believes in the resurrection of Jesus not only because of the biblical witness but also due to the historical evidence.

The apostles, he noted, were willing to die for their faith.

“Nobody at any point in time recanted when it happened – even to martyring themselves and being executed in the most gruesome ways,” he said. “They all held firm to saying that this Man was crucified and rose from the dead, and they saw it. That is strong evidence to me. … I don’t think you can ignore that.

“You’ve got to look into it,” he said. “You’ve got to study it.”

During that interview, he said he trusts God’s sovereignty for his life.

“Before the beginning of time, He had a plan for us, and He created us in a way [that] He knows us intimately,” Harbaugh said. “He knows what our true desires are, what our purpose is. So trying to find that purpose or connection with God and being connected and filled with the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit – that is success. That is the ultimate success.”