Baltimore, MD – June 22, 2025
At a time when NFL headlines are dominated by blockbuster trades and viral workout videos from star players, the Baltimore Ravens stole the spotlight for an entirely different reason — and not because of Derrick Henry or Roquan Smith. This time, the moment belonged to the 62-year-old man running the show.
The viral clip of head coach John Harbaugh casually squatting 405 pounds eight times during minicamp week didn’t just leave fans stunned — it left MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson genuinely speechless. And for someone known for making jaws drop every Sunday, that's saying something.
"That man’s built different," Lamar said after Thursday’s practice, laughing while shaking his head. "I thought I was strong until I saw Coach H do that. He ain’t just coaching us — he’s outworking us."
It wasn’t a publicity stunt. According to multiple team staffers, Harbaugh had been training in private for months. The moment his daughter, Alison, shared the clip online, Ravens players flooded the comment sections with disbelief and admiration. Lamar, however, took it a step further.
"We talk about culture, about setting the standard," Lamar added. "Coach H is the standard. His energy, his strength, his fire — it trickles down to everybody. If our 62-year-old coach is hitting 400 pounds like it’s nothing, what excuse do we have?"
Harbaugh, who enters his 18th season with the franchise, is already the winningest coach in Ravens history. But for players like Lamar, it's not the 185 victories or the Super Bowl XLVII ring that matter most — it’s the attitude. The quiet grind. The relentless example.
"He's not just telling us to be great — he's showing us how," Lamar said. "That’s what makes him legendary. It ain’t about titles, it’s about how you carry yourself. And Coach H carries himself like a Raven, every single day."
The Ravens’ locker room, filled with freak athletes and rising stars, has taken notice. From rookie safety Malaki Starks to veterans like Kyle Hamilton and Odell Beckham Jr., the tone this summer feels different. Sharper. Hungrier. Harbaugh’s performance in the weight room may have just lit the fuse.
In Baltimore, where toughness isn’t a trait but an identity, this summer’s most inspiring moment didn’t come from the field — it came from a squat rack. And according to Lamar Jackson, that speaks louder than any highlight reel.
"He’s a legend in our building," Lamar said. "And now the whole league knows why."
