The long-standing stability of the Baltimore Ravens has officially fractured as the team parts ways with head coach John Harbaugh after eighteen seasons. Following an 8-9 record and a failure to reach the 2025 postseason, ownership decided it was time to move on from a leader who posted a 180-113 record.
While the decision was difficult, it followed a year where a late missed field goal and various injuries hampered the squad. Adam Schefter broke the news that the franchise is moving in a new direction to lead the back half of Lamar Jackson’s career.
The change marks the first time in nearly two decades that the organization will be searching for a new head coach to oversee the roster.
Speculation is already mounting that this leadership change is directly tied to the financial future of the franchise's star quarterback. An ESPN report highlighted that a team source pointed out how “it wasn't a coincidence that the dismissal of Harbaugh came at a time when Baltimore needs to get a new contract completed with Jackson.”
With the quarterback's salary cap figure jumping to $74.5 million this offseason, the front office is looking for a staff that can reset the relationship. This same team source noted that Jackson's lack of participation in spring workouts and a new routine of sitting out one practice per week “became a point of friction between Jackson and the coaching staff.”
The hope is that a fresh voice can reconnect with the two-time MVP.
Despite the firing, the veteran coach remains one of the most respected figures in the industry, drawing immediate attention from across the league. Within the first forty-five minutes of his availability, his agent, Bryan Harlan, revealed that he “received calls from seven NFL teams expressing interest in his client.”
As the search for a successor begins, the team must decide if offensive coordinator Todd Monken stays to provide continuity or if a complete overhaul is necessary to achieve the playoff success that has eluded them in recent years.
