A Disappointing 2025–2026 Season Ends the Harbaugh Era in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens’ disappointing 2025–2026 season did more than fall short of expectations — it prompted a necessary turning point for a franchise in need of new direction. After weeks of inconsistency, stagnant game plans, and missed opportunities, the organization made the bold but justified decision to part ways with head coach John Harbaugh. While Harbaugh’s tenure will be remembered for stability and success, his dismissal signals the Ravens' willingness to evolve, reset, and pursue a future better aligned with the modern NFL.

The Beginning

This season had so much promise. With the acquisition of star cornerback Jaire Alexander, the Ravens seemed poised for that Super Bowl run that we have been craving so much for since we drafted Lamar Jackson. But it all fell downhill during that first game against the Bills. Up by two scores in the 4th quarter only to lose at the end? We've seen this before, Ravens fans. 19 TIMES. The most by any franchise since 1991. The Ravens didn't even exist during that time. And it gets even better: the team in 2nd place with this "accomplishment" has lost nine games when up by two scores. Jaire Alexander was eventually let go by the Ravens after an injury-plagued start to the season and not being the defensive piece they were looking for.

The Injuries

It didn't help when the injuries came; All by one team, the Kansas City Chiefs. Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Kyle Van Noy, and to top it all off, Lamar Jackson. The Ravens were lost without their key leaders on both offense and defense, and it showed. While the defensive players returned before the bye week, the damage was already done with the Ravens going 1-5 to the bye. When the bye week was over, and Lamar Jackson returned, he just looked off. he looked like he was still nursing an injury. He didn't come to practices on Wednesday anymore, and he wouldn't run as often. It became hard to watch, but there seemed to be a turning point in the season when he looked much better, leading the Ravens to a Week 15 shutout of the Bengals. That all came crashing down again when Lamar was injured in a pivotal game against the Patriots the following week. It looked like the 2x (3x if you count last season's, since Josh Allen was given a pity trophy) MVP could not catch a break, and the Ravens lost to the Patriots in that game. #8 was able to return for the crucial regular season finale game against the Steelers, a game that decided both the AFC North Division title and a spot in the playoffs, but it didn't matter as the Ravens lost by a razor thin margin due to Kyle Hamilton suffering a concussion mid game and the Steelers were able capitalize and make a comeback late in the game.

The Drama

There was a lot of scrutiny at the midway point of the season, with the Baltimore Sun's controversial beat writer, Mike Preston, making an outrageous claim that Lamar Jackson was up until 3 am playing video games and falling asleep during team meetings. Hence, according to Preston, Lamar no longer looked like the MVP he had been. Of course, the media ran with this narrative. They decided that this was the most valid statement, even backed up by another controversial figure, sports analyst (and Lamar Jackson hater and racist) Nick Wright. Teammates passionately defended their Qb1, but it came down to Lamar himself addressing the media after practice to set the record straight; he has (or rather had) a good relationship with John Harbaugh (although I believe he said this not to cause drama), he doesn't play video games at all, and he is always in team meetings sitting up front. Proof of this is in the Ravens' beatdown videos posted weekly by the team's social media team. It didn't help at all that a debunked sportswriter decided to get clicks to gain relevance and spin a very false narrative about the NFL's most electrifying player.

The Coaching

Tension within the Ravens coaching hierarchy became a recurring storyline, centered on contrasting perceptions of offensive coordinator Todd Monken and defensive coordinator Zach Orr under head coach John Harbaugh. Monken, whose offensive performance produced inconsistent results after early success, drew criticism from fans and some media outlets alike. Meanwhile, defensive coordinator Zach Orr faced intense scrutiny as Baltimore’s once-dominant defense struggled mightily, leading to calls from the fanbase for his removal. Despite this, Harbaugh consistently backed Orr publicly during the season, resisting mid-year staff changes and emphasizing cohesion even as defensive lapses mounted. The situation highlighted different evaluations of coaching performance within the organization. It hinted at broader philosophical rifts, ultimately contributing to a dramatic offseason shake-up for a franchise long known for stability.

Harbaugh's Departure

While John Harbaugh’s 18-year Ravens tenure is one of the most successful in franchise history, even though there have been only three in total, his refusal to make bold coaching changes during the 2025 season drew sharp criticism and is widely seen as a key factor in the costly on-field struggles that contributed to his firing. Despite persistent offensive and defensive inconsistencies—including an offense that fell outside the top 10 in yards and scoring for the first time under offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and a defense that routinely struggled to get off the field—Harbaugh repeatedly stood by his coordinators rather than shift course midseason or overhaul strategy to arrest the slide. Fans and analysts noted that Baltimore’s defense surrendered points at an uncharacteristically high rate, and Harbaugh publicly insisted that changing staff wasn’t “the answer,” even after blowout losses and calls for adjustments mounted. Reports after his firing pointed to Harbaugh’s loyalty to his staff, especially his refusal to consider replacing Monken as a “pressure point” in the organization’s decision to move on, suggesting that a reluctance to disrupt the status quo may have hindered Baltimore’s ability to adapt and win close games.

My Reaction

Simply put, it needed to happen. Harbaugh was that stale piece of gum we refused to spit out because we had grown so used to it. I was never a Harbaugh guy, especially after the so-called "mutiny" following the 2011 AFC Championship loss. This "mutiny" consisted of all the veteran locker-room leaders at the time, including Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs, in a closed-door meeting with Harbaugh, and, according to reports, it was very loud, with words that needed to be said. The very next season, we won the Super Bowl. Don't get me wrong, Harbaugh has been a great piece of the Ravens organization, establishing a culture within the team that has been widely praised across the league by both players and other coaches. But Harbaugh refused to get out of his own way (that saying of it's the Harbaugh way, or the highway), and with him gone, the Baltimore Ravens finally have that breath of fresh air they have needed for a long time.

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