Bill Belichick's decision to become North Carolina's head coach this week had the sports world buzzing.
After winning six Super Bowls, Belichick has moved from the NFL to college, where he will gameplan to face Duke and Clemson rather than the Ravens or Chiefs. However, Head Coach John Harbaugh has no doubt that his longtime NFL peer and rival will enjoy success.
"I'm really happy for coach," Harbaugh said. "I texted him, I haven't heard back yet. He's been a little bit busy.
"He'll be amazing. He'll do a great job. He'll have great players. One thing about Coach Belichick. He's going to have a bunch of guys that like football, that want to be great, that want to work hard, that think about football going home, coming into work. If you're interested in football and want to be great at what you do, North Carolina is going to be a destination."
Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who won two Super Bowls with Belichick and the Patriots, echoed those statements, saying college players who suit up for Belichick will be “coming very, very prepared into the NFL.”
Harbaugh, who hosted Belichick at the Under Armour Performance Center in May for the Harbaugh Coaching Academy summit, said he was struck by Belichick's strong desire to coach at the college level, reflecting the love he has for the game, and for teaching it.
"He's won how many Super Bowls, he's got all those rings, arguably the greatest NFL coach in the history of the game." Harbaugh said. "Certainly, the most successful. To say I've always dreamed of this (coaching college football)? That says something. Now he gets a chance to do it."
Michael Pierce 'Looks Good' After Full Week of Practice
Veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce practiced fully for three days this week and "looks good," according to Harbaugh.
Pierce could possibly be activated off injured reserve for Sunday's game against the Giants. Pierce has not played since suffering a calf injury Oct. 27 against the Cleveland Browns and would need to be moved to the 53-man roster.
Pierce is one of the Ravens' primary run stoppers, and having last week's bye has been beneficial to him and defensive tackle Travis Jones, who has been playing with an ankle injury. Having Pierce and Jones back healthy would fortify Baltimore's defensive front.
"It's huge," Harbaugh said. "Michael Pierce and Travis Jones are great players. Those guys are game-wreckers inside. Those guys being ready to go, being 100% is a possibility for us – a massive possibility. They're two massive guys playing massively good football."
Keaton Mitchell Used Bye Week to Rehab
Second-year running back Keaton Mitchell was inactive against the Philadelphia Eagles after being active for three straight games. Mitchell was activated off the PUP list (Nov. 7) after tearing his ACL last year December, and he continues to work hard during the lengthy recovery process.
"During the bye I stayed here and did rehab, worked out," Mitchell said. "I'm feeling good. I just keep coming every day ready to work."
Mitchell, one of the league's fastest players, adds another big-play element to the potent running back room led by Derrick Henry, the NFL's leading rusher, and Justice Hill. With four games left in the season, Mitchell said he's in a good place after the bye, as is the entire team.
"We're focused on every day, being ready to finish out the season to put ourselves in the best position we can possibly be," he said.
Ravens Honor High School Coaches of the Year
The Ravens named Jack Walsh of Arundel High School as the 2024 tackle football Coach of the Year, while Chad Hartman of Boonsboro High School was named girls flag football Coach of the Year.
Arundel won the Maryland 3A state championship for the first time and averaged 46 points per game for the season.
"We've been waiting 49 years and we did it," Walsh said. "It was very surreal. Aside from my daughter being born and I have to say getting married to my wife, holding that trophy up in front of the home crowd was just second to none."
In year one of the girls flag football program, Hartman's team was unbeaten until falling to Clarksburg, 21-12, in the final game of the season. Boonsboro was the smallest school represented in the final tournament of eight at M&T Bank Stadium.
"It's crazy to see some of the athletic ability of some of the young ladies in the state of Maryland," Hartman said. "I can't wait for it (girls flag football) to grow. We're short like 30-some teams from making it an official state sport in Maryland. We're really hoping Baltimore County, Carroll County jump on board and making this something that's going to last a long time."
Harbaugh praised both coaches for their contributions.
"You guys are the best," Harbaugh said. "What you do, on the frontlines of our youth – teaching them the lessons and the values that you can only really learn through a team endeavor, especially something like football, as challenging and as tough as football it is. Thanks for what you do."
