The Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh on Tuesday after 18 seasons with the team. Why was Harbaugh fired? Two of the most prominent NFL reporters have conflicting reports.
Ian Rapoport, Adam Schefter Give Conflicting Reports About John Harbaugh
From The Insiders on @NFLNetwork: The #Ravens parted ways with John Harbaugh today and among the reasons — They felt he lost the locker room. Including, but not limited to, Lamar Jackson. pic.twitter.com/ssAUrHE799
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 7, 2026
In the case of Harbaugh and the Ravens, which source should you believe?
On Tuesday, Rapoport reported that the loss to the Steelers was not the sole reason for the firing. Rapoport cited turmoil in the locker room.
“It is not just ‘they didn’t go far enough in the playoffs,'” Rapoport said on NFL Network. “My understanding after talking to several sources involved is that simply, Harbaugh lost the locker room.”
There has been speculation for most of the season of a rift between Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson. According to Rapoport, Jackson’s problems with the head coach contributed to Harbaugh’s dismissal.
“It started, it sounded like to me, with Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson not being on the same page,” Rapoport said. “It continued throughout the locker room—maybe not 100%, but more than enough for the Baltimore Ravens.”
If Harbaugh lost the locker room, Harbaugh isn’t buying it.
While speaking with Pat McAfee, Schefter shared his side of the story while calling out Rapoport’s report.
“I don’t think that information right there could be any less true,” Schefter said. “The players were coming to his office crying, hugging him, sending him goodbyes, calling him one by one.”
Schefter added, “Sometimes, nobody does anything wrong, you go on for 18 years, and it’s time for everybody to go a different direction,” Schefter said. “It’s OK. Nobody has to do something wrong. There doesn’t have to be some salacious reason. There doesn’t have to be some fight or something like that. Sometimes, it could just be they fell short the past few years.”
"I don't think that information about John Harbaugh is true..
There were players crying in his office saying goodbye..
It was just time for a change" ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/ToiBnxb0aG
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 7, 2026
John Harbaugh in High Demand
Former Ravens HC John Harbaugh is not expected to conduct any head coach interviews until next week. pic.twitter.com/q98lS3Mhld
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 8, 2026
The Ravens’ loss will be another team’s gain, as Harbaugh becomes the top coach during this hiring cycle.
Harbaugh is a Super Bowl-winning coach who finished his tenure with a 180-113 record. Harbaugh brought the Ravens to the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons.
Harbaugh will be in high demand, with reports of seven teams already monitoring the situation.
Per Schefter, Harbaugh is not expected to conduct any interviews this week.
Even if Harbaugh takes his time, some team will be patient enough to make him an offer.
