The air in Baltimore usually smells like Old Bay and optimism come January. Not this year. Honestly, it feels a bit like a fever dream for most fans right now. After 18 seasons of stability—the kind of stability most NFL franchises would sell their souls for—the Ravens are staring at a blank whiteboard. John Harbaugh is gone.
Yeah, you read that right.
The winningest coach in franchise history was fired after an 8–9 finish that saw the team crumble when it mattered most. Steve Bisciotti didn't just tip the apple cart; he threw it into the Inner Harbor. Now, the Baltimore Ravens news and rumors mill is spinning faster than Lamar Jackson on a broken play. People are panicking, others are thrilled, but everyone is asking the same thing: what now?
The coaching carousel is officially out of control
Bisciotti is casting a massive net. We're talking 14 or 15 candidates deep. It’s not just about finding a "guy." It's about finding a philosophy that stops the late-game bleeding that defined the 2025 season.
The big name everyone is whispering about? Brian Flores. He just finished making the Vikings' defense a nightmare to play against, despite not having a single Pro Bowler on that unit. The Ravens already interviewed him, and his "no-nonsense" vibe fits the Baltimore identity like a glove. But he’s not alone.
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Then you have Kevin Stefanski. The former Browns coach knows the AFC North better than almost anyone. If you can't beat 'em, hire 'em? Maybe. Baltimore also looked at Matt Nagy (Chiefs OC) and Kliff Kingsbury. It’s a weird mix of defensive grit and offensive "gurus."
The wildest rumor? Mike Tomlin. He stepped away from Pittsburgh recently, and Bisciotti didn't exactly hide his admiration. He called Tomlin’s candidacy a "holy s**t" scenario. Imagine that. The man who haunted Baltimore's dreams for decades wearing the purple and black. It's probably a long shot, but in 2026, the long shots are hitting.
Why Todd Monken might be packing his bags
It’s not just the top job that’s vacant. Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken is already interviewing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He’s got ties there, and he’s reportedly told people he doesn't expect to be back in Baltimore without Harbaugh.
The "rift" rumors between Monken and Lamar Jackson have been floating around for months. Monken denied them, of course. He even said he could have coached Lamar better. But the results on the field—a stagnant offense in the red zone and questionable play-calling in big moments—speak louder than any press conference. If Monken leaves, the Ravens aren't just looking for a coach; they're looking for a whole new identity for the most expensive player in the building.
The $74.5 million elephant in the room
Lamar Jackson is still the guy. Bisciotti made that crystal clear. "I want him to be my quarterback," the owner said. But here’s the kicker: Lamar’s cap hit is scheduled to explode to $74.5 million in 2026.
That is 24% of the team's entire cap space.
You can't build a Super Bowl roster when one guy takes up a quarter of the bank. General Manager Eric DeCosta is basically begging for an extension to happen before free agency hits. An extension would smooth those numbers out, giving the team a "nest egg" to actually sign some help.
If Lamar plays hardball? The Ravens can "play" with the money by using void years, but that’s just kicking the can down a very expensive road. Lamar says he wants to stay "absolutely, man," but until the ink is dry, the Baltimore Ravens news and rumors regarding his contract will keep every fan in Maryland awake at night.
The roster purge is coming
Check the list of pending free agents. It’s a bloodbath. We are looking at 24 players who could walk out the door.
- Tyler Linderbaum: The heart of the O-line. He’s an unrestricted free agent.
- Isaiah Likely: The guy who proved he could be a TE1. He’s also looking for a bag.
- DeAndre Hopkins: The veteran experiment that had mixed results.
- Kyle Van Noy: He’s 34, but he’s still the most consistent pass rusher they had.
And then there's Marlon Humphrey. Rumors are swirling that the Ravens might actually part ways with the All-Pro corner. He’s 29, his cap hit is massive, and some pundits think the team needs a total youth movement in the secondary. Nate Wiggins is the future, but losing Humphrey would be a massive cultural shift.
What actually happened in 2025?
To understand the rumors, you have to look at the wreckage of last season. An 8–9 record doesn't tell the whole story. They started 1–5. They went 3–6 at home. Think about that. M&T Bank Stadium used to be where opponents' dreams went to die. Last year, it was where the Ravens gave up double-digit leads in the fourth quarter.
Lamar missed time with a back injury but came back and played well enough to win AFC Offensive Player of the Week in Week 9. The talent is there. Kyle Hamilton is a superstar. Jordan Stout is an All-Pro punter (which, let's be honest, you never want your punter to be your best player).
But the "culture" felt off. Staffers have been anonymous in the media, calling "BS" on claims that Harbaugh lost the locker room. Yet, when you lose a must-win Week 18 game to the Steelers to miss the playoffs, questions have to be answered.
Actionable steps for the 2026 offseason
The Ravens can't afford to "wait and see" this time. The window isn't just closing; the hinges are rusting.
First, DeCosta needs to lock Lamar Jackson into an extension before the league year begins in March. Without that cap flexibility, the Ravens will be bargain-bin hunting while the rest of the AFC North gets stronger.
Second, the head coaching hire needs to be someone with a clear plan for the late-game collapses. Whether that's Brian Flores’ defensive discipline or a young innovator like Jesse Minter, the days of the "CEO" coach might be over in Baltimore.
Finally, they have to hit on the 14th overall pick. With so many veterans like Kyle Van Noy and potentially Marlon Humphrey leaving, this draft needs to produce two or three immediate starters.
Keep an eye on the internal interviews too. Zachary Orr is being courted by the Cowboys. If the Ravens lose their DC and OC in the same month they fired their head coach, the "stability" tag is officially dead. This is the most pivotal three-month stretch in the history of the Baltimore Ravens.
The standard used to be the Super Bowl. Right now, the standard is just trying to figure out who’s leading the huddle.