BREAKING NEWS: Former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick now the head coach of Oklahoma Sooners sent a message to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh concerning…see more

In a stunning development that has sent shockwaves through both the NFL and college football worlds, former Baltimore Ravens head coach Brian Billick has been named the new head coach of the University of Oklahoma Sooners.

The 71-year-old Super Bowl champion, who coached the Ravens from 1999 to 2007 and led them to victory in Super Bowl XXXV, steps into a new chapter at the collegiate level nearly two decades after his last head coaching job. Billick replaces Brent Venables, who stepped down after a string of underwhelming seasons.

Shortly after the announcement, Billick issued a public message directed toward current Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who succeeded him in Baltimore in 2008.

> “John, I just want to say thank you—for continuing the legacy in Baltimore and raising the standard even higher. Watching you lead with class and consistency has been a joy over the years,” Billick said in a video posted to his official social media channels. “Now, it’s my turn to take that energy and build something special in Norman. Let’s see if I can give college football a taste of that old Ravens grit.”

The message, both respectful and motivational, highlights the mutual admiration between the two coaches who have become synonymous with Ravens history. Harbaugh, who has led Baltimore to multiple playoff appearances and a Super Bowl title of his own (Super Bowl XLVII), is now the second-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL behind Bill Belichick.

Billick, who has spent recent years as a television analyst and occasional adviser in the NFL, cited the challenge of developing young athletes and restoring Oklahoma’s prominence as key motivations for taking the job.

Oklahoma’s Gamble

The Sooners’ decision to hire a veteran coach with an NFL pedigree is seen as a bold but calculated move. With the program transitioning into a new era in the SEC, Billick’s leadership, discipline, and Super Bowl-winning resume are expected to appeal to recruits and boosters alike.

“We’re bringing in a proven winner,” said OU Athletic Director Joe Castiglione. “Brian Billick knows what it takes to build a championship program, and we believe he’s the right man to guide us into this next chapter.”

What’s Next?

Billick is expected to assemble his coaching staff in the coming days and begin summer workouts immediately. He’ll make his college football coaching debut this fall when the Sooners open the 2025 season against Michigan State.

As for John Harbaugh, the Ravens coach responded to Billick’s message with one of his own on Sunday afternoon: