John Harbaugh was known two weeks ago as the man who was passed over for the UCLA head coaching job given to former Ravens offensive coordinator Rick Neuheisel.

Now, he’s viewed as a serious candidate to become the third coach in Ravens’ history.

The Philadelphia Eagles secondary coach is expected to be interviewed by the Ravens for the second time as early as today.

Harbaugh wowed many of the Ravens’ employees when he interviewed with the team Jan. 8. The brother of former Ravens quarterback and current Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh has never been a coordinator on any level. He has spent the past 10 years with the Eagles as a special teams and secondary coach.

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But when he emerged from his first interview with the Ravens, the relatively unknown coach oozed confidence.

“Everybody in the organization has been first class all the way,” Harbaugh told a small group of reporters at the team’s Owings Mills complex last week. “It’s been challenging, but it has been fun.”

Harbaugh, however, is not the front-runner to become head coach of the Ravens. The team did not interview any candidates on Wednesday, but the team has offered the job to Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Garrett interviewed with the teams for seven hours on Tuesday, but left the Owings Mills complex without accepting the job. Garrett was in Atlanta Wednesday interviewing with the Falcons for their coaching spot.

Garrett’s agent, David Dunn, did not return an e-mail Wednesday for comment.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said he anticipates hiring a coach by the end of the week. Recently fired Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is considered a top candidate along with Garrett.

Ryan remained at the Ravens’ complex Wednesday as Garrett interviewed in Atlanta. He had his second interview with the Falcons earlier this week, reportedly taking his wife to meet Falcons’ officials. Ryan left the Ravens’ team complex early Wednesday afternoon.

The Ravens and Falcons are not the only teams enamored with Garrett. Dallas owner Jerry Jones has reportedly told Garrett he will match any offer made to his coordinator, except naming him head coach.

Jones’ admiration of Garrett has been long gestating. Former Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman said in a conference call with the national media Wednesday: “Jerry wanted to hire Jason as offensive coordinator my last season. He would have been offensive coordinator/backup quarterback.”

After Miami hired Dallas assistant head coach Tony Sparano as head coach on Wednesday, the Ravens, Redskins and Falcons are the only teams with head coaching vacancies.

Sparano interviewed with the Ravens on Jan. 5 — the same day the team met with Garrett for the first time. Ravens officials were impressed with Sparano, but many inside the building believed Sparano would rejoin his mentor, Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells, in Miami as head coach.

mpalmer@baltimoreexaminer.com