John Harbaugh knows Baltimore's opponents for 2024, even if its upcoming opponent in the AFC championship is slightly more important for the time being. Still, he already has one of next year's foes circled on his calendar for whenever the game is scheduled.
That would be another AFC West foe that has made headlines in the past day. The Chargers announced they hired John's brother, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, to be the franchise's next head coach, and in 2024, all four AFC North teams will face off with each of the four AFC West teams as part of the schedule.
"My thoughts are we play them next year," John Harbaugh said on Thursday. "So, we're looking forward to all of it."
MORE: Jim Harbaugh pens farewell to Michigan, expresses excitement for Chargers
For now, the only AFC West team that matters is the Chiefs, who John Harbaugh's Ravens will play in the AFC championship Sunday afternoon in Baltimore.
Amid all the excitement over John Harbaugh's team getting ready for the conference title game, there is still plenty of excitement in the Harbaugh family over the older brother's new job. John Harbaugh said when talking with their parents, he heard Jim Harbaugh's kids had already started to prepare for Los Angeles.
"My mom and dad told me that he called back in the evening and he found out that all of his kids, starting with Addy and Katie, they had their bags packed already. They were ready to go. So, they're excited, too," John Harbaugh said.
When do the Chargers and Ravens play next season?
The 2024 NFL schedule has not been released yet, so even though we know that the Chargers and Ravens will play each other next season, we don't know the exact date. Chances are, it will be a prime-time game.
Have Jim and John Harbaugh coached against each other before?
The two coaches have shared the field before beyond just the 2024 national championship when John Harbaugh came over to visit with his brother on the sideline and after the game when they celebrated the title. First, on Nov. 24, 2011, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers played John Harbaugh's Ravens, with Baltimore winning 16-6. The most notable, however, came in Super Bowl 47, when the Ravens survived a hectic game against San Francisco to win 34-31.
John Harbaugh might be 2-0 against his brother, but now that Jim is back in the league, he has the highest winning percentage among active NFL head coaches at .695. With a national championship also in his pocket, his resume is as stout as about any coach patrolling the sidelines.
"It's going to be great, he's well deserved, and I'll say this, the Chargers just got themselves one great coach," John Harbaugh said.
