Unbelievable: Brain Billick, the former head coach of the Ravens, announced his return to the team.
Maryland’s OWINGS MILLS Less than a day after the Baltimore Ravens’ dismal 5-11 season came to an end, Brian Billick was fired as head coach on Monday.
At the team’s practice facility, players were informed of their dismissal as they were packing up their lockers.
In his second season with the Ravens, Billick won the 2001 Super Bowl. In 2006, he guided the team to a 13-3 record that was a franchise record. However, Baltimore’s losing streak this season was snapped on Sunday with a 27-21 victory over Pittsburgh, snapping a record nine games in a row.
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“This is our business’s reality,” said cornerback Samari Rolle.
Billick’s nine seasons with Baltimore were the third-longest current run with the same team, tied with Andy Reid of Philadelphia. Although he led the team to four postseason appearances in 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2006, Baltimore has only triumphed in one postseason game since its 2000 season, which ended in a Super Bowl.
After a while, the message can become monotonous, according to 12-year offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden.
This month, Ogden said that Billick had told the team he would be coming back in 2008. However, it seems that owner Steve Bisciotti had second thoughts.
With nearly every starter from the AFC North winners from previous season returning, the Ravens anticipated contending for a world championship this year. However, after a 4-2 start, injuries and a turnover-prone offense led to a total collapse, and Baltimore finished last in the division.
Linebacker Bart Scott stated, “This year the injury bug hit not only us, but our prime-time players as well.”
In January 1999, Billick, then 53, took over as Baltimore’s second head coach, replacing Ted Marchibroda. For the first time, the Ravens finished at.500 (8-8) in Billick’s debut season. Subsequently, he guided Baltimore to a 12-4 record and a Super Bowl berth, where the team defeated the New York Giants 34-7.
Billick’s record as Baltimore’s coach was 80–64. Prior to joining the Ravens, he was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
Kicker Matt Stover responded to Billick’s dismissal by saying, “I’m not saying I agree with it, but sometimes things have to change.”
