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Brian Mulholland didn’t watch Tyler Loop miss a 44-yard field goal attempt at the end of the Ravens’ 26-24 loss to the Steelers on Sunday night. He quickly learned what happened, though. As chairman of the board for the John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, Mulholland receives an email notification every time a donation is made. Late Sunday, his inbox began filling up — many of the contributions coming from Steelers fans after Reddit users pointed out that Loop had volunteered at a Thanksgiving food drive with the foundation in partnership with Weis Supermarkets. The donations continued into Monday morning, arriving steadily as criticism mounted on Loop’s social media accounts. By Tuesday night, Mulholland estimated more than $10,000 had been raised through roughly 500 donations — gestures fueled partly by rivalry, but also by empathy for a rookie kicker enduring a difficult moment. “The thing that hits me about this is Steelers and Ravens, you’re supposed to be such bitter rivals,” Mulholland said. “At the end of the day, both the fans did something nice. They looked out for their neighbor in need.” Loop’s kick ended Baltimore’s first losing season since 2021 and crowned Pittsburgh as AFC North champions. The Ravens fired coach John Harbaugh two days later, proving his miss costly. Loop volunteered for the foundation, which serves nine food pantries across the Washington area, by signing autographs for a $25 dollar gift card. Those gift cards were used to buy turkeys for food pantries. After Sunday’s game, many of the donations have come in the final score of $26.24, or $33 for his number or $30 for his successful field goals this season. “It’s been nuts since Sunday night,” Mulholland said. After Loop’s miss, thousands of vile comments filled the comment sections of he and his fiancée’s Instagram. “I deadass hope everyone you love starts getting picked off 1 by 1,” one comment read. “I pray your wife is cheating on you,” another read. “You will never walk the streets of bmore and feel safe again,” one user posted. Steelers fan Emily Householder-Stacey saw the comments, and said that many Pittsburgh fans on the Steelers’ subreddit felt bad about the harassment the rookie received. They wanted to donate to a charity of his in return. Yet, nobody could find a charity affiliated with him. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ Tyler Loop missed. He deserves grace. | COMMENTARY Josh Tolentino: Ravens must find right coach to pair with Lamar Jackson | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens make the right call firing John Harbaugh | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens firing coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons Ravens coach candidates: Who could potentially replace John Harbaugh? The 33-year-old first went to research if Loop had participated in My Cause My Cleats. He hadn’t. She then found a Facebook referencing Loop’s work with John S. Mulholland Family Foundation and posted onto the subreddit. “It says a lot about NFL fans and Pittsburgh Steelers fans that their reaction was to feel bad for him and want to do something to raise his spirits a little bit,” said Householder-Stacey, a Canton, Ohio, resident. Jaclyn Seguiti, a 34-year Pittsburgh fan, saw Householder-Stacey’s detective work and created another post to increase awareness of the foundation. The post has over 800 upvotes and 100 comments, with many saying that they donated. The effort mirrors one from last season after tight end Mark Andrews dropped a potential game-tying 2-point conversation attempt in the divisional round against Buffalo. Bills fans Nicholas Howard created a GoFundMe for Breakthrough T1D, a Type 1 diabetes research and advocacy organization that Andrews has been connected to. $146,624 has been raised since the GoFundMe was created. “I’m happy that the Steelers won and we’re moving on, but it’s just devastating to see and to know that he and his fiancée started getting death threats and all of this vile commentary that was thrown their way,” Seguiti said. “It’s just trying to make something good out of a negative situation. It’s just nice to see the fans come together in that way.” The John S. Mulholland Family Foundation, established in 2013 in honor of a WWII Navy hero and former FBI agent, serves 1,000 families annually and 15,000 people last year. The foundation is 100% volunteer-run, ensuring that every dollar donated goes directly to food. More donations can be made at the Mulholland Charities website. “Steeler fans and Ravens fans agreed to meet in the middle,” Mulholland said. “There’s hope for us as a people, isn’t there?” Have a news tip? Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, or x.com/Mikephowes. View the full article

Tyler Loop will live with his missed 44-yard field goal attempt that ended the Ravens’ season in Pittsburgh. That’s part of the job. What he shouldn’t have to live with is the avalanche of harassment that has followed, directed not just at him, but at the people he loves. An NFL kicker’s responsibility is brutally simple and unforgiving. Make it, and you’re the hero. Miss it, and you own the ending. Loop mishit the ball, catching a bit of the ground and sending it spinning wide right. Season over. That critical mistake deserves scrutiny. It should also welcome additional competition at the position when training camp opens. The Ravens should absolutely bring in another kicker and make Loop earn the job again. What often gets lost in these moments, though, is what comes next, and how players respond when the ending is theirs to wear. Last postseason, after Baltimore’s AFC divisional round loss in Buffalo, veteran tight end Mark Andrews did not speak publicly after a critical end zone drop and a fourth-quarter fumble. He wasn’t available postgame and he didn’t address his performance at the ensuing locker room clean-out day. Outside of an Instagram post, the entire offseason passed without a real-life explanation for his drop on a game-tying 2-point conversion attempt inside the final two minutes. Under similar circumstances of failure in a do-or-die spot, Loop chose a different path. Inside the visitors’ locker room Sunday night at Acrisure Stadium, Loop bravely stood and answered 11 questions for nearly eight minutes. The rookie sixth-round draft pick explained exactly what went wrong technically. He described the moment he knew the kick was off, the instant his foot connected with the ball. Zero deflection. Full accountability. “The result didn’t match my process,” Loop said. “I’m super blessed to be here, and it’s been one of the most amazing experiences being kicker for the Ravens. It’s time to move forward and get back to work, so I can keep doing good things for Baltimore.” Loop also spoke about his teammates having his back, as long snapper Nick Moore and punter/holder Jordan Stout flanked him while he endured the spotlight. When I asked what he was reading at his locker moments after, Loop explained that he was rereading a prayer that he had written before the game. It was a reminder of faith and perspective, an excerpt from Romans 8, that he’s here to love on the people around him, to be a good teammate and steward the opportunity he’s been given, even when the moment hurts. “Just being placed in Baltimore with this team has been the biggest blessing of my life,” Loop said. “I’m super grateful for it. It’s been incredible, so I’m just reminding myself that, ‘Hey, God has my back even when stuff sucks.’” It was a thoughtful, humane moment. And it was all happening while something far darker brewed online. In the hours after the loss, Loop and his fiancée, Julia Otto, were on the receiving end of nonstop harassment across social media. Fans flooded the comments section of the couple’s joint Instagram post that celebrated their engagement. One message read, “Hope you get divorced.” Other nasty messages escalated further with threats. The volume on the post ballooned over 12,000 comments before the couple smartly shut off public replies altogether. The off-the-field threats directed at Loop’s family and fiancée are absurd. Related Articles Steelers fans donate to charity supported by Ravens’ Tyler Loop: ‘Feel bad’ Josh Tolentino: Ravens must find right coach to pair with Lamar Jackson | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens make the right call firing John Harbaugh | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens firing coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons Ravens coach candidates: Who could potentially replace John Harbaugh? Unfortunately, the fallout from Loop’s missed game-winning field goal attempt is part of the reality of social media. We live in a crazy world, one in which a missed kick can invite cruelty from people who have never met the person on the other end of it, in which anger travels faster than empathy and consequences feel optional behind a screen. My video of Loop’s news conference has generated nearly 4 million views across just Instagram and TikTok. One of the most engaged comments reads: “Can you walk us through the worst moment of your life in detail.” That’s exactly what he did. Back inside the visitors’ locker room, Loop was doing what fans of the NFL’s multi-billion dollar empire often say they want from athletes in moments of failure. He absolutely owned it. Outside, the response quickly veered away from criticism and into something personal and dangerous. It’s unacceptable. Loop addressing his mistake does nothing to absolve him of his missed kick. None of it guarantees his future, either, after Loop led the league in kickoff infractions with eight. But the 24-year-old from Lucas, Texas, deserves some off-field grace. The game and Baltimore’s season ended in Pittsburgh. The cruelty unfairly followed Loop and his family home. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSportsand instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

So … now what? The Ravens on Tuesday expressed urgency for change as they parted ways with John Harbaugh, ending the second-longest coaching tenure in the NFL. Harbaugh’s departure also opened something far more complicated and equally exciting: Who will now be the Ravens’ most significant hire since 2008, the ever-important coach who will help define the remainder of Lamar Jackson’s prime with hopes of securing the franchise’s third Super Bowl title? How’s that for urgency? Harbaugh departs as the winningest coach in franchise history, a one-time Super Bowl champion and a stabilizing force who helped shape the franchise’s identity for nearly two decades. He also leaves at a time when stability slipped throughout the Ravens’ disappointing 2025 season that endured injuries, suffered in home attendance and ended in heartbreak. Owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Eric DeCosta now face what Bisciotti described in a statement as an “exciting challenge.” This hire, the franchise’s incoming fourth coach, has to hit. Harbaugh’s greatest strength was always his ability to operate like a CEO coach. He oversaw the entire operation, relying on a handful of different coordinators over the years to direct the scheme. Harbaugh also was valued as a communicator and relationship builder. Different players often believed in his vision. Many still do. An assortment of Ravens, including veteran Marlon Humphrey, shared their parting sentiments across social media. “John Harbaugh. A good man,” Humphrey posted Tuesday night on X. The Ravens, though, reached an unraveling point in which belief no longer translated consistently to execution, particularly when the season and circumstances tightened before it all eventually crumbled. Missing the playoffs completely with Jackson under center, despite the injuries, proved to be a fireable offense. In other words, Harbaugh’s messaging ultimately became stale. Defensive veteran Roquan Smith revealed as much after Baltimore’s season-ending 26-24 loss to Pittsburgh. “The way this team is built, and the actual reality of it and the guys that we have, [we] know that playoffs is not enough,” Smith said. “I hear, ‘Coach this. Coach that.’ But at the end of the day, yes, [Harbaugh] can be here and there, but it’s the players that make the plays on the field, and [it’s] the players who go out there on the field. When I turn on the film … I felt like we were in really good calls, and it was about the players actually executing the call and not getting lackadaisical [or] complacent. “I feel like that’s something that we have to work on. I don’t know what it is, personally, but it’s something. It’s something where it’s … why can’t you do this, play in and play out, including myself? I feel like that’s something we have to do if we want to ever go and get over the hump, and I don’t truly know what it is.” Deflecting the brute of the criticism toward himself and his teammates was commendable. But Smith’s comments about not knowing why the same issues repeatedly occurred time and time again this season — the same sentiment could be said about the multiple late collapses Baltimore has endured in recent seasons — was more of an indictment on the preparation and execution of the entire Harbaugh-led operation. That can’t happen with this next important hire. Related Articles Mike Preston: Ravens make the right call firing John Harbaugh | COMMENTARY NFL pundits react to Ravens firing coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons Ravens coach candidates: Who could potentially replace John Harbaugh? Instant analysis: Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after failed 2025 season Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in Baltimore Baltimore immediately surfaces as one of the NFL’s most attractive destinations during this coaching cycle. The Ravens are not in a rebuild like many other teams who’ve fired their coaches in recent days. Aside from identifying the team’s next leader, DeCosta has plenty of work in the coming months with retooling the roster. But for the most part, the Ravens should be considered a win-now organization with a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player under center. Maximizing what’s left of Jackson’s prime should be at the forefront of the organization’s thinking. The defense, which finished 24th in the league, also needs some necessary straightening. Regardless of the next hire’s coaching background, that person must bring with him the right peers and assistants to both reach and raise Jackson’s ceiling with offensive creativity. Harbaugh, meanwhile, has earned freedom to explore all of his options. “John’s a lock to find a job somewhere this cycle if he wants one,” one league source close to Harbaugh messaged me shortly after the news broke. If the right opportunity doesn’t present itself, it wouldn’t be surprising if Harbaugh, 63, chooses to step away for a year, whether to recharge with family, explore media opportunities or simply wait for an ideal situation that aligns with everything he’s looking for at his next stop as he attempts to solidify his coaching legacy. He’s earned that. The Ravens, however, must continue to act with urgency. Bisciotti exuded as much when he bid farewell to Harbaugh. Choosing apparent necessary change was only step one. Now Bisciotti and DeCosta are responsible for what comes next. It better be a hit. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSportsand instagram.com/JCTSports. The Ravens were consistently one of the AFC's best teams under John Harbaugh, pictured in May, but the franchise won only one Super Bowl over his 18 seasons. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) View the full article

I disagree there. I don’t see anyone getting much more from him.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/articles/2026-nfl-mock-draft-2-120100349.html

A potential fly in the ointment for sure but I'm optimistic he'd want out if, a big if, that becomes an option. With the right coach and coordinator and dammit an offensive line that can pass protect, he can still be a star here or there.

The Biscuit on this move https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/steve-bisciotti-john-harbaugh-ravens-statements

Just remember Lamar would have to wave his no trade clause.

I’m not making tshirts to sell in the lots next yr. I was prepared to trademark Turdbaugh and horribaugh. I had the John turd pic. I was going to print a bunch of shirts.

Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti made the right decision in firing John Harbaugh as the team’s coach. It was time. His message had become stale among the players, and there really was no other choice. In the previous 18 seasons, Harbaugh, 63, had fired or allowed several defensive coordinators to leave, such as Don Martindale, Dean Pees, Greg Mattison and Chuck Pagano, and he also parted ways with offensive coordinators such as Marty Mornhinweg, Marc Trestman and Greg Roman. But this was about Harbaugh and a disaster of a 2025 season with, on paper, the most balanced lineup in the team’s 30-year history. I’m pretty sure Bisciotti considered the amount of injuries the Ravens suffered early in the season when the team slipped to 1-5, but this wasn’t just about injuries, not after Harbaugh spent 18 seasons as the coach. It was about a new voice, a new direction and a team that failed to get out of its own way even after it seemed to have found itself with a strong running game late in the season to make a playoff push. Harbaugh never lost the respect of his players in the locker room. That was always his strongest selling point, which allowed him to build teams. The problem is that the charisma had faded, and it was time for the team to build and move on. We’ve been through this before in Baltimore. The Ravens gave coach Brian Billick, Harbaugh’s predecessor, a contract extension before he was fired at the end of the 2007 season. Bisciotti signed Harbaugh to a three-year extension nearly a year ago, and he fired Harbaugh in the middle of that deal, too. A contract means nothing in the NFL. Harbaugh had his shortcomings throughout his tenure here in Baltimore. He became too much of a gambler during crucial in-game situations and his clock management decisions were poor. He wasn’t very creative, especially this season. There were no double reverses, no fake punts and no flea flickers. The offense was predictable, and the Ravens forgot about running back Derrick Henry in the postseason. Those were unforgivable sins. On defense, the Ravens were a disaster. With young coordinator and first-time play caller Zach Orr the past two seasons, the Ravens were extremely mediocre in the front seven and horrendous on the backend. It was easy to blame offensive coordinator Todd Monken or Orr, but this was Harbaugh’s team. He was the coach, the leader on the field. Maybe the biggest tipping point was the Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots, when Henry never carried the ball in the final 12 minutes of regulation despite Baltimore owning an 11-point lead. Harbaugh declared that it was basically a coaching decision based on the rotation of Henry and backup Keaton Mitchell. Really. Privately, the players complained about the lack of a running game, even though they never said anything publicly. On defense, the Ravens were simply a disaster going into the Pittsburgh game Sunday night with the No. 27-ranked unit overall and tied for No. 29 in pass defense, allowing 245.3 yards per game. Everything was just starting to add up. Would Harbaugh have saved his job if the Ravens had beaten the Steelers on Sunday night? Probably not. It was Super Bowl or bust. It had to be hard for Bisciotti to fire Harbaugh. The tandem got along extremely well, and it was Bisciotti who pointed out that the Ravens wanted longevity in a coach, much like the Pittsburgh Steelers have had with Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and now Mike Tomlin, the longest-tenured active coach in the NFL. The Ravens achieved that with Harbaugh. There were a lot of criticisms about Harbaugh, some of them rightly deserved. But overall, he was a righteous and good man. His love for the Bible and his respect for his players were incredible. The Ravens will find a good coach to replace him. When they hired Ted Marchibroda for the start of the 1996 season, he was the right coach at the right time. The Ravens came to Baltimore with no money, and Marchibroda wasn’t about to complain. Plus, he had ties with the Baltimore community coaching the old Colts in Baltimore in the 1970’s. Billick was the perfect choice to replace Marchibroda, the face of a franchise that needed someone loud, talkative and extremely effective. The Ravens were in dire need of direction. No one had even heard about Harbaugh, a former Philadelphia special teams coordinator, but he had magnetism. He wasn’t afraid to get in the face of players, especially early in his career. Harbaugh never backed down from a challenge, regardless if he was facing Tomlin or Kansas City’s Andy Reid, his former mentor. Related Articles NFL pundits react to Ravens firing coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons Ravens coach candidates: Who could potentially replace John Harbaugh? Instant analysis: Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after failed 2025 season Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in Baltimore Browns request to interview Ravens OC Todd Monken for head coach opening But there was speculation circulating for about two months that Harbaugh’s tenure was near its end. Early in the season, when the Ravens were 1-5, they struggled which wasn’t unusual, but that team quit in those contests. That was a sign of possible things to come, even though the Ravens were without prominent starters like quarterback Lamar Jackson, middle linebacker Roquan Smith and offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. And let’s address something here: There is this belief that the Ravens could have hired current Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald, who is 24-10 in two seasons and an NFL Coach of the Year candidate after leading Seattle to the NFC’s No. 1 seed. But few teams have ever replaced their coach after losing in the AFC championship game, which is the situation Baltimore faced with Harbaugh and Macdonald, then the defensive coordinator, after falling to Kansas City at the end of the 2023 season. The Ravens will find a good coach and move on. It might take them a year or two to rebuild, but the Ravens are a good organization with sound management. They still have things to work out with Jackson and his new contract as well as the draft and signing some free agents. But after finishing 8-9, they made the right decision. It was time to move on. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

I can't see us paying over $70m each year for the next two years and being able to upgrade the roster. The Ravens should offer him a fair extension and if he hems and haws about it, trade him. I would not let the negotiations hang around going nowhere like last time. We don't have the luxury this year of doing that. So far as Eric is concerned, I'm conflicted. Half of me says can him while the other half says give him a chance with his own coaching hire. I could go either way.

The Ravens fired coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday, ending his 18-year tenure with the team. It’s a surprising move, given how successful he was in Baltimore and his strong relationship with ownership and the front office. Here’s how pundits reacted to the news that Baltimore will make a coaching change in 2026: Tony Kornheiser, ESPN “I’m stunned by this,” he said on “Pardon the Interruption.” “Steve Bisciotti is not a quick-trigger guy. … I’ll say this, if John Harbaugh wants to work again, he can have an open job in 30 seconds. Thirty seconds. He has everything to recommend him.” Nick Wright, FOX Sports “I have tried all year long to point to publicly available things to demonstrate what I knew was a real rift between Lamar and John Harbaugh … if it’s one or the other, you’ve got to go with the star quarterback,” Wright said on “First Things First.” “That’s my read.” Chris Broussard, FOX Sports “It was time … he’s a good coach, but 18 years. After they won that Super Bowl, he missed the playoffs four out of the next five years,” he said on the same show as Wright. “And then Lamar popped. It wasn’t going well Lamar’s rookie year, and then he put him in for Flacco, and the rest is history. They became a contender, but … I thought they were an undisciplined team. … I look at a lot of that as coaching.” Robert Mays, The Athletic “Here’s why I think you can talk yourself into staying the course,” Mays said on “The Athletic Football Show.” “It’s because, in my opinion, it hadn’t been stale for that long. As I think about the overall trajectory of the Ravens over the last few years, I think they were on an upward trajectory for most of last season. … As stagnant as they felt this year, I wasn’t sure 17 games of stagnation and not having it be a multiyear thing was worth pulling the cord on this.” Jordan Schultz “An interesting ‘what if’ in all of this is that Baltimore had Mike Macdonald on staff — and he’s now doing wonders in Seattle,” the NFL insider posted on X. “The Ravens went 13-4 and made the AFC Championship Game the year Macdonald left, so there was never a realistic scenario of moving on from John Harbaugh. But you do wonder if there are second thoughts today: Macdonald is 38, Harbaugh is 63.” Torrey Smith, former Ravens WR “Harbaugh is a hell of a man and coach,” he posted on X. “He had a great run in Baltimore. He will EASILY be the top coach in the market. Great corporations make tough decisions to move on from qualified leaders when the ultimate goal isn’t met. It’s just business.” Kevin Clark, ESPN “When was the last time a job as desirable as *this* Ravens job was open? Packers after McCarthy?” he posted on X. Mina Kimes, ESPN “The Ravens instantly become the most appealing HC job in football,” Kimes posted on X. “I would *strongly* consider Brian Flores if I were them.” Bill Barnwell, ESPN “Harbaugh’s pretty obviously the best coach on the market and the Ravens job is pretty obviously the best job available,” Barnwell posted on X. Sam Monson, Pro Football Focus “Funniest thing that could happen: Houston annihilates Pittsburgh, Tomlin gets fired in 6 days. PIT hires Harbaugh and BAL hires Tomlin,” he posted on X. Related Articles Instant analysis: Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after failed 2025 season Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in Baltimore Browns request to interview Ravens OC Todd Monken for head coach opening Watch Episode 19 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens grapple with expected offseason roster shakeup: ‘Gotta go get a job’ Aaron Schatz, FTN Fantasy “Given his ability to manufacture pressure with blitzes, the Baltimore roster would be amazing for Brian Flores,” he said on X. “I don’t know them personally but Lamar Jackson and Tua Tagovailoa do not seem like similar dudes.” Dan Orlovsky, ESPN “The Arizona Cardinals should hire Harbaugh tonight,” the analyst posted on X. Barstool’s Dan “Big Cat” Katz “Need Harbaugh on the Browns just to keep the Tomlin rivalry,” the Barstool personality joked on X. Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports “The Chicago Bears are the No. 2 seed and the Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh in the same season the Bears lost to a Ravens team with Snoop Huntley at QB. What a league,” he posted on X. Glenn Clark, WBAL Radio “The only celebration I’m interested [in] is celebrating the outstanding tenure of John Harbaugh. It was time, yes. But he has more than earned incredible appreciation,” he posted on X. Steve Wyche, NFL Network “John Harbaugh is one of the few coaching candidates that has the gravitas to pull a Liam Coen, and get the GM-in-place bounced, if he feels that is needed,” he said on X. Peter Schrager, ESPN “Having not spoken to him yet or being given any confirmation that he does, indeed, want the job … I’d think John Harbaugh would be a perfect fit in New York with the Giants. A QB, several pass rushers, a number 1 wide receiver, 2 young RBs, cap space, and a top 5 pick,” he said on X. Have a news tip? Contact Bennett Conlin at bconlin@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/BennettConlin. View the full article

What will you do with your time now?

Yes

For the first time in nearly two decades, the Ravens are looking for a new head coach. John Harbaugh was fired Tuesday evening, ending his 18-year run in Baltimore just two days after the Ravens lost a de facto AFC North championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With a slew of injuries and underperformance, the Ravens fell stunningly short of preseason expectations as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl. The 8-9 finish in 2025 marked just the third losing season of Harbaugh’s tenure, in which the 63-year-old former Philadelphia Eagles special teams coordinator went 180-113 in the regular season and 13-11 in the playoffs, including winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 2012 season. Now, the Ravens will be hiring just their fourth coach in franchise history. Here’s an early look at the potential candidates (names are listed in alphabetic order by last name): Joe Brady, Bills offensive coordinator: The 36-year-old’s name has been floated as a potential candidate for a head coaching job for a few years. He gained recognition in 2019 after serving as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for national champion LSU, which was led by future NFL stars Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson. Brady spent two seasons as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers under coach Matt Rhule before getting fired but has since led a top-10 scoring offense as the coordinator for reigning NFL Most Valuable Player Josh Allen and Buffalo over the past three seasons. Brian Flores, Vikings defensive coordinator: Flores, 44, has already turned a second chance into a redemption tour. Since resurfacing as a coordinator, the former New England Patriots assistant and Miami Dolphins coach engineered one of the league’s most aggressive, suffocating defenses. If Flores earns another head coaching opportunity, though, he’ll need to demonstrate growth in his relationship management skills after his public fallout with Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Flores’ DNA is full of intangibles and winning attitude; his reported interaction with Miami owner Stephen Ross and his unwillingness to tank was commendable. Flores would have to surround Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson with a proven offensive mind capable of maximizing a superstar talent in the middle of his prime. Kliff Kingsbury, recently fired Commanders offensive coordinator: Kingsbury, 46, is only one season removed from overseeing Jayden Daniels’ historic offensive breakout, and that success came despite an aging Washington roster that showed clear signs of decline at key skill positions. Kingsbury’s system thrives on spacing, tempo and quarterback confidence, elements that could translate to a new environment built around Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP. Kingsbury’s tenure as coach of the Cardinals (28-37-1) should provide caution, but in the right setting, with a stronger infrastructure and fewer personnel responsibilities, Kingsbury has shown at several spots that he can unlock elite quarterback play. He also served as coach of Texas Tech, helping mold quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Patrick Mahomes. Klint Kubiak, Seahawks offensive coordinator: The son of former Ravens offensive coordinator and Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak is a popular name this cycle because of his work in his first season calling plays in Seattle under former Ravens defensive coordinator and Coach of the Year candidate Mike Macdonald. With new quarterback Sam Darnold, the Seahawks earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed with the third-highest scoring offense in the league. Kubiak, 38, also spent a year as offensive coordinator for Minnesota in 2021 and New Orleans in 2024. Mike LaFleur, Rams offensive coordinator: The 38-year-old LaFleur has been the Rams’ offensive coordinator since 2023, although coach Sean McVay calls the plays. LaFleur has been a linchpin in coaching Los Angeles and Matthew Stafford to the top offense in the NFL, both by total yards per game (394.6) and passing yards per game (268.1). The Rams were also among the best in the league at avoiding sacks and interceptions while boasting a top-10 running game. This would be owner Steve Bisciotti swinging at potentially the next big, unproven commodity. Jesse Minter, Chargers defensive coordinator: Minter, 42, would represent continuity with an edge. A former Ravens assistant (2017 to 2020) who helped modernize Baltimore’s defense before leaving for Michigan, Minter has built a reputation as a fierce teacher whose willingness to mix his calls and disguises has resulted in sustained success at Michigan and Los Angeles under John’s younger brother, Jim. Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Saleh, 46, is expected to be a coaching candidate this offseason after one season back as defensive coordinator in San Francisco, which finished 12-5 despite losing star defenders Nick Bosa and Fred Warner to season-ending injuries early on. His four-year tenure with the Jets left more to be desired, with a 20-36 record and the failed Aaron Rodgers experiment. His defense was consistently strong, however, a trademark both in San Francisco and New York alongside his sideline energy. Chris Shula, Rams defensive coordinator: Shula, 39, has coaching in his blood. His father Dave formerly coached the Bengals and his grandfather, Don, is the Hall of Famer who has more wins than any other NFL coach, having led the Dolphins for 25 years. Shula comes from McVay’s coaching tree having worked his way up from linebackers coach in 2017 to coordinator. If Baltimore chose Shula, he’d be a pivot from Harbaugh’s longstanding regime to a more youthful energy. Kevin Stefanski, former Browns coach: Stefanski is a two-time Coach of the Year — no small feat in Cleveland. He led the franchise to two playoff appearances, including a postseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Fired Monday, Stefanski would represent a quick turnaround option, bringing postseason experience despite the Browns’ instability. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Contact Michael Howes at mhowes@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/Mikephowes. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Related Articles Instant analysis: Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after failed 2025 season Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in Baltimore Browns request to interview Ravens OC Todd Monken for head coach opening Watch Episode 19 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens grapple with expected offseason roster shakeup: ‘Gotta go get a job’ View the full article

They don’t like to draft edge players. He ignored the trenches. Send Eric out too. Let him go elsewhere and not have much to do.

Say what you want, but 193 total wins puts him 12th all time. Yes, the 13-11 playoff record is not great, only winning 3 playoff games in the last 7 years sucks. Yes, he lost the team so I have no problem with this firing. I hope Monken doesn't leave but he likely will. If all the teams now in need of a head coach, the Ravens will have a pick of the litter.

He was in his prime. He is now on the back end of his career. Trade him.

It only took 14 yrs for ppl to see him the same way I have. Now blow out Eric.

Done deal, let's find a good coach

The Ravens will have a new coach for the first time in nearly two decades to start the 2026 season. Baltimore fired coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday, deciding to move away from him after 18 seasons with the franchise. Here’s what The Baltimore Sun’s sports staff has to say about the franchise’s decision to fire Harbaugh: Brian Wacker, reporter Where there is smoke there is usually fire. Speculation over John Harbaugh’s future had been widespread and started to gain traction in recent weeks. Sunday night’s loss in Pittsburgh all but cemented the decision by owner Steve Bisciotti, who along with Harbaugh, has taken postseason defeats each of the past two seasons particularly hard. After 18 years, Bisciotti felt it was time to move on, with a need for an organizational reset, even with three years remaining on his contract, which Harbaugh signed less than a year ago. Harbaugh was just the third coach in the Ravens’ 30-year history when he was hired from relative anonymity in 2008. It turned out to be a fruitful decision, with Baltimore winning the Super Bowl in 2013 and Harbaugh eventually becoming the winningest coach in team history. But after reaching the AFC title game in the 2023 season, there has been a steady and familiar decline. Baltimore lost in the division round last season and didn’t even make the playoffs this year, going from the Super Bowl favorite to an 8-9 disaster and out of the playoffs altogether. That the season ended the same way it had so many times was likely what ended what had been the second-longest tenure in the NFL. Sam Cohn, reporter This was of course thought to be a possibility after such a disappointing season in Baltimore. But there’s still plenty of shock factor when the Ravens cut ties with their leader of 18 years, the second-longest active coach in the NFL. Harbaugh is sure to be a top coaching candidate in this cycle. But it’s clear his messaging and direction became stale. The Ravens were ousted from the playoffs three (arguably four) by one memorable play. But the point is, they’ve been Super Bowl contenders a perennial playoff teams who simply have not gotten over the hump. Baltimore can’t afford to not capitalize on the Lamar Jackson era. This signals owner Steve Bisciotti’s willingness for change and urgency to win now. So begins the search. Michael Howes, reporter Well, it happened. There had to be a scapegoat. You can’t fire the starting quarterback who missed four games and was absent from practice half the season, but is a two-time Most Valuable Player. General manager Eric DeCosta isn’t going to fire himself, either. Still, changes needed to be made after missing the playoffs with a talented roster. But maybe it will be for the better. Harbaugh won just four playoff games since winning Super Bowl XLVII. That’s not going to cut it with an MVP quarterback on the roster. Where the Ravens go next is crucial. Hire an offensive-minded coach to work with Lamar Jackson? Surely there’s no in-house options — one that existed two seasons ago with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who has since led the Seattle Seahawks to the No. 1 seed. Something was going to happen. And the Ravens now have to center their approach on getting the most out of Jackson while they can. Josh Tolentino, columnist Two straight seasons of postseason regression, punctuated by Baltimore’s brutal playoff absence this campaign was finally enough for owner Steve Bisciotti. John Harbaugh’s 18-year tenure comes to a screeching halt after the Ravens woefully disappointed in a season that saw quarterback Lamar Jackson miss four games with various injuries. Some might insist Jackson refusing to acknowledge a question Sunday night about Harbaugh’s future as emotional, but the two-time NFL MVP’s non-response to not back the coach was just as telling. Missing the dance in Jackson’s age 28 season amid a weaker conference field proved to be a fireable offense. As Bisciotti navigates uncharted territory, he and general manager Eric DeCosta, who appears to be safe for now, must prioritize identifying a coach who’ll help maximize the remainder of Jackson’s prime. Bennett Conlin, editor You’ll hear the phrase “the grass isn’t always greener” uttered plenty of times this week in reference to this move. Tell that to the Seattle Seahawks, who moved on from Super Bowl winner Pete Carroll and now are perhaps the best team in the NFL under Mike Macdonald. The Ravens just went 8-9 with the best quarterback on the planet in Lamar Jackson and a future Hall of Fame running back in Derrick Henry. The roster is far from perfect — general manager Eric DeCosta deserves plenty of blame for this season — and Jackson was not 100% this season, but there was enough on the team to win the middling AFC North. The Ravens constantly got in their own way in 2025, suggesting maybe Harbaugh’s message had grown stale. Baltimore wants a Super Bowl with Jackson. Harbaugh wasn’t getting it done. This is a worthwhile risk for the Ravens, and I’m betting the grass will be greener than some analysts believe. Have a news tip? Contact Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. Related Articles Ravens fire coach John Harbaugh after 18 seasons in Baltimore Browns request to interview Ravens OC Todd Monken for head coach opening Watch Episode 19 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law Ravens grapple with expected offseason roster shakeup: ‘Gotta go get a job’ Ravens players reflect on shocking playoff-less season: ‘Hard to process’ View the full article

I would not throw the baby out with the bath water. I have joked about trading Lamar for a 1st this year and one next, but in all honesty, no way do you trade a hall of fame quarterback in his prime. We, the fans, do not know what went on inside the team, why he and so many other players did not play as well this year as they have the past several. Injuries, team politics, who knows. This year, his running was slower, no doubt. But a hammy, a knee, a foot, even a back, all slow you down even when you first get healthy. Get him healthy, fix the line, this offense will hum as it did last year, provided Monken is still here.

The way the Ravens build their team has worked out pretty well for them over the years. Eventually, even the best organizations have a down year or two. With that said, this team lost a lot of scouts over the past few years, as a result, they've missed on many important players/positions. Likewise, they lost a lot of positional coaches, the ones they brought in either are terrible are teaching their craft, & or the players they had to work with were not high quality. Proof, as we've talked about before, two highly drafted linemen on offense, actually regressed this year. Why? Only thing in common is the line coach. Fix the scouting department, you have a better chance of drafting a higher quality player. Especially if Harbs is not over ruling the scouts.