Ravens Coach Harbaugh Signs 3-Year Extension
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh signed a three-year extension Monday that will keep him under contract through 2014.
Harbaugh took the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his three seasons after replacing Brian Billick in January 2008. Baltimore is 32-16 in the regular season under Harbaugh and 4-3 in the playoffs.
Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti assured Harbaugh last month that an extension was forthcoming, and the team delivered on that promise after lengthy negotiations.
"Steve said that we want to make sure John remains as our head coach. We reached a new agreement late last week and Coach signed it (Monday) morning," Ravens President Dick Cass said. "Having John increases our opportunity to compete for the NFL championship every year, which is our goal."
The Ravens are the only NFL team to win a playoff game in each of the past three seasons. Baltimore went 12-4 this season, tying Pittsburgh for the AFC North title. The Ravens then defeated Kansas City in the wild-card round before losing to the Steelers.
"This is much appreciated, and I am thankful to Steve," Harbaugh said. "I want to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him, (general manager) Ozzie (Newsome), Dick, our players and everyone else in the organization as we work to bring championships to Baltimore.
"We have a lot of great people who are Ravens. I'm proud to be part of this. We all push each other and pull together. I said it when I came here: It's about the team. And, we plan to be a championship team."
Harbaugh, 48, had never been a head coach or an NFL coordinator before joining the Ravens.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
