Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh share their thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens surprisingly firing of John Harbaugh.
After 18 years as head coach, John Harbaugh's tenure with the Baltimore Ravens has come to an end, boasting a Super Bowl victory and AP NFL Coach of the Year in 2019.
Needles to say, countless players and NFL legends have paid tribute to Harbaugh, including two of his fiercest coaching rivals.
During an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin showed his respect to the former Ravens head coach and their nearly two decade rivalry.
"First, I just have so much respect for Harbs," Tomlin said. "Our stories will forever be interwoven. This rivalry that we've been fortunate and honored enough to be a part of, I've just got so much respect for him and how he's gone about his business. We've certainly had some legendary battles over the years.
"In terms of him being let go, unfortunately, I just think it's a component of today's sports culture. There have been many examples of that. And so, it's unfortunate, but I'm sure that he is going to move on, and if he chooses to coach again, I'm sure he will, and I'm sure he'll be very successful at doing so."
Harbaugh's brother and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh also seems confident that John Harbaugh will be a head coach once again.
"John Harbaugh's the best coach I know, best coach I've ever seen," Jim Harbaugh said in a press conference. "I'm his brother, so I might be biased."
When asked if his younger brother would join him on the Chargers coaching staff, Jim Harbaugh shared his belief that another head coaching position is in his future.
"As I told him, whatever team he goes to is going to be formidable," Jim Harbaugh said. "I just hope it's in the NFC. … He'll be attacking with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind the next opportunity."
Jim and John Harbaugh have faced off against each other three times during their NFL careers, with John winning all three matchups. This includes a 34–31 victory in Super Bowl XLVII when Jim coached the San Francisco 49ers.
Meanwhile, the rivalry between John Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin was much more contested. While the Ravens and Steelers were equally matched in the playoffs 2–2, Tomlin found more success in the regular season, including Harbaugh's final game as Baltimore's head coach.
Still, there is no doubt that John Harbaugh is a talented and capable head coach, and any team will be lucky to have him for the 2026 NFL season.