Ravens Owner Jokes About Hiring Mike Tomlin
Most of the AFC North is going to need a new head coach after Mike Tomlin stepped down from the Pittsburgh Steelers. That includes the Baltimore Ravens, whose owner joked that it would be incredible if the former Steelers coach joined their sidelines.
The Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Steelers all have head coaching vacancies now. The Cincinnati Bengals were the only team to retain their head coach from last year. It's possible that those coaches move around within the division, albeit unlikely. Nevertheless, Steve Bisciotti thinks it would be amazing.
Ravens owner laughs about theoretical Mike Tomlin hiring
Could Mike Tomlin make his way across rivalry lines and coach the Baltimore Ravens? It's possible, but unlikely. The Ravens owner would love to see it, although he has one condition for this shocking swap to take place.
"Holy s---, wouldn't that be awesome?" Steve Bisciotti said via ESPN. "Only if John (Harbaugh) takes the Pittsburgh job. Wow. Wouldn't that be interesting? I don't know that thing last week maybe disqualified him from (the Ravens' open head coaching job) after our kicker missed a kick that let them advance. Good for Mike."
An important thing to note is that Mike Tomlin cannot just be outright hired by the Ravens or anyone. The Steelers own his coaching rights through 2027, so he would need to be traded. It is also being reported that he's likely to take a year off, meaning the Ravens won't get him.
"Yeah, I don't know. Talk to him. I love Mike. I mean I've admired Mike for 18 years and that's really shocking that he did it that way, but yeah, that's kind of crazy. Didn't know that. I'll leave that to (Eric DeCosta, Ravens GM)," Bisciotti said.
Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh has a few interviews lined up, and the Ravens have already completed several interviews with head coaching candidates as well. It remains unlikely that Tomlin dons the purple and black.
Steve Bisciotti defends John Harbaugh decision
Firing John Harbaugh after his successful 18-year tenure could not have been an easy choice for the Ravens. However, they did it anyway. After a missed kick sent them home without a playoff berth, the Ravens moved on.
Owner Steve Bisciotti admitted that Harbaugh would probably only have been safe for another week had the kick been good. When the Ravens' season ended, assuming they didn't go on a run and win it all, Harbaugh was always likely to get fired.
"I just hope you respect me enough to know that 100 percent my instincts told me this was the time," Bisciotti said of his decision. "And I may be right, I may be wrong, but I did it because I'm in charge of doing it."
He admitted it was the hardest firing he's ever had to do, even adding that he regrets doing it over the phone. He apologized for it at the onset of the press conference. The owner also said that Harbaugh ended up being the one consoling Bisciotti on the emotional call.
"I got to the point that I didn't believe that I would feel regret after I made that decision," Bisciotti added. "And that's what instinct is when you finally get to the point that you're pretty damn sure that you are not going to regret the decision a day or a week later, then that's the time to make the decision."
He concluded, "(Our relationship) was a wonderful, wonderful marriage. We accomplished great things. The next coach we get, I want him to be a Super Bowl-winning coach, too." Harbaugh was 180-113 in the regular season and 13-11 in the playoffs during his Ravens career.
