John Harbaugh Has Achieved a ‘Staggering Feat’

When a head coach has sustained success, great expectations come with the territory. When a head coach falls short of those great expectations, criticism also comes with the territory.

Two prime examples of head coaches who have become victims of their own success will meet this Sunday night when John Harbaugh’s Ravens host Mike Tomlin’s Steelers.

Press Box’s Glenn Clark noted that both Harbaugh and Tomlin are members of an exclusive club of 19 head coaches who have led teams to the playoffs at least 10 times. Names on that list include Bill Belichick, Don Shula, Tom Landry, Chuck Knoll, Bill Parcells, Joe Gibbs, and Bill Cowher.

That’s pretty good company to say the least. Writing specifically about Harbaugh, who has taken the Ravens to the playoffs 10 times in 15 seasons, Clark said his success is indisputable.

“One of my least favorite ‘takes’ Ravens fans have turned to in the past year is the ‘John Harbaugh has one playoff win since 2015’ take. It’s brainless,” Clark wrote. ” … It provides no context whatsoever. It is of course true, but the parameters are timed conveniently to present the most damning picture of futility while totally dismissing Harbaugh’s prior playoff success. It is the football version of selective outrage.”

Clark pointed out that Harbaugh — whose two losing seasons (2015, 2021) can be largely attributed to an inordinate amount of injuries — has been a constant in the organization’s success since he took over as head coach in 2008.

“Harbaugh’s success has transcended all players. With Sam Koch’s retirement after last season, no single player has been there for all of Harbaugh’s playoff appearances,” Clark wrote. “The standard has also transcended coordinators in all three phases of the game and even general managers. (Which also, of course, does not mean that those folks haven’t all played integral roles in creating the standard.) Whether you want to toast him from the end of the bar or not,…