INDIANAPOLIS (93.7 The Fan) – Taking questions as the new Giants head coach, John Harbaugh also discussed the respect he has for Mike Tomlin and why he said those games were so great.
Up until their last meeting, on the last day of the 2025 regular season to determine who won the AFC North, every Ravens-Steelers game was much watch. For the last 18 seasons, the constants were Harbaugh and Tomlin.
They met 44 times with Tomlin winning 25, they each won a pair of playoff games against each other. The first eight matchups were decided by one score, 31 in all were decided by seven points or less.
Representing the Giants for the first time, Harbaugh was asked about Tomlin stepping away from the Steelers and coaching.
“Nothing but respect and admiration for what he’s done,” Harbaugh said. “I feel just honored to be a part of that. The thing about Mike, the thing that makes him a great coach is that you know what to expect from his teams.”
Harbaugh would elaborate on it and discuss the coaches before him that set the standard.
“The Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t the Pittsburgh Steelers because they are in Pittsburgh or because they wear black and gold or because they have a nickname that is tough or steely,” Harbaugh said. “Or because of anything other than the personalities of the people running the program, Mike has been the face of that organization. They’ve had a lot of great people that have worked hard and do a great job.”
“That team reflected Mike Tomlin. They reflected Bill Cowher before that and Bill Cowher was one of the greatest coaches in the history of football. Chuck Noll before that, one of the greatest coaches in the history of football, now Mike Tomlin.”
“I got to be across from Mike Tomlin for 18 years in some heated battles. You always knew what you were going to get because it was a Mike Tomlin coached football team. I admire that very much.”