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Lamar Jackson sprints against teh Pittsburgh Steelers in a January 4 game.
After firing John Harbaugh on January 6, the Baltimore Ravens continue their search for a head coach. With a flood of potential candidates, team management prefers a specific type, as general manager Eric DeCosta said during a January 13 end-of-year press conference.
“We want somebody who’s going to hold the players accountable. We want somebody who’s an expert in X’s and O’s, and we want somebody who the players can relate to, but also somebody that’s going to be firm and continue the culture that we’ve built, which we think is important.”
DeCosta emphasizes the importance of continuing the culture Harbaugh established, seeking a coach who excels in both leadership and team management.
With these criteria in mind, DeCosta enters the search process aiming to identify the best possible candidate to lead the next era of Ravens football.
Ravens Spread Wide Net, in Hopes of Landing Ideal Coach
Two days after Harbaugh’s firing, the franchise started lining up and interviewing candidates. Replacing a coach that held the same job for 18 seasons and winning a Super Bowl in the process doesn’t appear easy. However, starting the process earlier helps the Ravens gain an advantage. Harbaugh, interviewed by the New York Giants and working out contract language, is the only known new coach far along in the hiring process.
While earning his reputation as a special team coach with the Philadelphia Eagles, Harbaugh leaned towards the defensive side of the ball, allowing his coordinators to handle the bulk of the schematic construction.
Offensive-minded Head Coach Candidates Need Flexibility with a Unique Quarterback
Granted, many quarterbacks can run the ball. However, with Lamar Jackson’s skill set, the ability to throw the ball also needs to align with running the ball. In 2025, the Ravens ranked in the top 3 in rushing attempts, yards, touchdowns, and yards per attempt. In fact, they ran for at least 150 yards 11 times, reaching the 200-yard plateau on three separate occasions.
To this point, the team interviewed former Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, former Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy, and Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
GettyFormer Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
Kingsbury led teams with Jayden Daniels and Kyler Murray to the playoffs. Nagy contributed to two Chiefs Super Bowl wins alongside Patrick Mahomes.
Jackson will enter his ninth season with a lengthy injury history. Discounting games where the team rested him, the two-time MVP missed 15 games due to leg and back injuries. These absences have disrupted offensive continuity and consistency.
For a player who relies heavily on his mobility, the new coach will need to manage his health? By nature, Jackson will break containment. How will a quarterback who just turned 29, who endured 228 sacks and 1,025 separate blitzes, adjust to a new system?
GettyBaltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson leaves the field after a season-ending loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
New Coach Could Lead Youth Movement in Baltimore
Currently signed through 2026, the Ravens have 15 players who are at least 29 years old. While 30 isn’t the end of a career, a new coach may start cycling younger players in. Eventually, they will supplant veterans who have high salaries but diminishing skills. For example, veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins turns 34 on June 6. Since 2024, his catch percentage has dropped from 69.5 to 56.4.
While the team can release him without incurring dead cap, the Ravens still need a replacement. Zay Flowers, arguably the team’s best wideout, commands attention that requires an outside receiver to make defenses pay. Rashod Bateman, a starter on the boundary caught half of his targets, dropping three passes. Drops end drives and stalls momentum.
GettyBaltimore Ravens WR Zay Flowers gets ready to take the field.
Baltimore begins its new era, hoping to land a coach who can break through. Finding the coach to do so could turn out to be the most important part of the franchise’s recent history.
Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
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