Ravens Pick John Harbaugh

Eagles' secondary coach and brother of ex-QB Jim was Baltimore's second pick
By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 18, 2008 6:59 PM CST
Ravens Pick John Harbaugh
Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick walks the sideline as his team loses to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter of the NFL football game in Pittsburgh, in this Nov. 5, 2007 file photo. Billick was fired as coach of the Ravens on Monday, Dec. 31, 2007, less than a day after his team concluded...   (Associated Press)

The Baltimore Ravens have decided to make a first-time head coach out of their second choice: The battered NFL team hired Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach John Harbaugh, 45, to the top job today, making him the league’s ninth-youngest head coach. The Ravens' first pick, Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, turned the team down yesterday, the Baltimore Sun reports.

Harbaugh, who replaces the ousted Brian Billick, flew back home to Philly to tell his family before the team’s official announcement tomorrow. A finalist for two other head coaching jobs, Harbaugh is known around the NFL for his energy and ability to motivate players, and football runs in his family: he’s the brother of ex-Ravens QB and current Stanford coach Jim. (More John Harbaugh stories.)

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