SI:AM | End of an Era in Baltimore

It instantly makes the Ravens the most desirable open coaching job in the league and makes Harbaugh the most sought-after coach available.

Dan Gartland Good morning, I'm Dan Gartland. I'm still scratching my head at one of the strangest NHL box scores I've ever seen. The Islanders beat the Devils last night, 9–0, but New Jersey outshot New York 44–24. Devils captain Nico Hischier called it "flat-out embarrassing." In today's SI: AM: ⭐ Sportsperson of the Year 👋 Harbaugh canned after Ravens flop 🏈 Our NFL award winners Jeff Hanisch/Imagn Images Put another quarter in the carousel The Ravens just threw the 2026 NFL coaching carousel off its axis.  Baltimore made the shocking announcement yesterday afternoon that it had fired coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons with the franchise. It's a stunning move that instantly makes the Ravens the most desirable open coaching job in the league and makes Harbaugh the most sought-after coach available.  The team's decision came two days after it suffered a gut-wrenching loss to the Steelers in a do-or-die season finale when rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed from 44 yards as time expired. The Ravens finished the season at 8–9, only the third time in Harbaugh's tenure that they'd finished below .500. It's just the second time in the past eight years that Baltimore failed to reach the playoffs.  It seems harsh to fire a Super Bowl-winning coach after nearly two decades with the franchise following a season in which the team missed the playoffs by one game, especially when the team's All-Pro quarterback missed four games due to injury and was visibly diminished in others. But the decision apparently stems from the franchise's desire to have a new voice in the locker room.  READ MORE FROM DAN 2025 SI Awards Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated Shai Gilgeous-Alexander poses on the red carpet at the 2025 Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award at a ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas.  SGA accepts Sportsperson of the Year award in Las Vegas Some of the biggest stars in sports were on hand last night at Sports Illustrated's Sportsperson of the Year Awards at the Wynn Las Vegas. Oklahoma City star and reigning NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named the 2025 Sportsperson of the Year, accepted his award from Thunder general manager Sam Presti and owner Clayton Bennett. Also honored and in attendance were Olympian Michael Phelps (Muhammad Ali Legacy Award), women's basketball star Breanna Stewart (Innovator of the Year with Napheesa Collier) and Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (Breakout Star of the Year). Click here for full coverage of past and present SPOTY winners.  Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated New York Liberty star Breanna Stewart chats before the award ceremony at the Wynn Las Vegas.  The best of Sports Illustrated John Harbaugh may not be a young offensive prodigy or grizzled defensive guru, but he's an expert in keeping his football team on the cutting edge, writes Albert Breer. Conor Orr details how Harbaugh's firing just upended the NFL coaching market, with the best coach becoming available for hire since Andy Reid in 2013. Kevin Stefanski is a serious candidate for the Giants' job—Breer has more on that and the GM front in his latest notebook. The MMQB staff reveals their selections for the NFL's seven major awards. Bryan Fischer goes inside Ole Miss's unprecedented College Football Playoff run amid coaching chaos. Chris Mannix explains why the Golden State Warriors' fading dynasty is running out of time. Get the print edition of Sports Illustrated delivered to your door. Click to subscribe!  Jake Crandall/Imagn Images The top five ... … things I saw last night:  5. A windmill dunk by LeBron James that has to be the best dunk by a 41-year-old ever.  4. This clip of Victor Wembanyama kicking the net.  3. The controversial finish to the Texas A&M-Auburn men's basketball game as Auburn's deep buzzer beater was waved off following a replay review.  2. Connor McDavid's slick moves to slice through the defense on his way to the net.  1. Luka Dončić's preposterous shot to beat the shot clock buzzer.  Sign up for SI Newsletters Stay ahead of the game—sign up for all of SI's newsletters, from golf and soccer to MMQB, and never miss a moment. Get it in your inbox We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email. Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. 625 Broadway, 10th floor New York, NY. 10012 You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter. You can unsubscribe here . Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions © 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved. SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC. All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators' opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER or texting 800GAM. Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.