ExtremeRavens Posted 12 hours ago Posted 12 hours ago The last time Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti was tasked with hiring a head coach, the TV show “Breaking Bad” was about to premiere, Instagram didn’t exist and Barack Obama was just an Illinois senator. In January 2008, Bisciotti took a chance on a relatively unknown 45-year-old special teams coach named John Harbaugh, who was known more for being Jim’s older brother than he was for his coaching prowess. The now-63-year-old was fired last Tuesday. The NFL looks very different 18 years later. Some teams swing for the fences on the potential next big name. Others prefer a proven track record or a retread hire. Bisciotti will speak with reporters Tuesday and perhaps shed some light on the kind of coach he’s eyeing. As of this writing, the Ravens have completed interviews with six coaching candidates. Ravens reporters Brian Wacker and Sam Cohn discuss what kind of coach makes sense to keep open Baltimore’s championship window: Cohn: Brian, you’ve been covering the Ravens for the past three seasons. You’ve seen historic regular season success and each accompanying postseason collapse. When Bisciotti is deciding on Harbaugh’s successor, what kind of coach should he prioritize? Wacker: First and foremost, you want someone you believe who can get through to and get the most out of Lamar Jackson. That’s certainly not the only trait, but it has to be a significant one. Otherwise, what’s the point? That said, I don’t think that necessarily means finding an offensive guru. To me, the more concerning aspect of this past season was how much of a step back the defense has taken really the past two seasons. Some of that was personnel. Some of it not. This franchise has always been built around a strong defense. It’s part of the fabric and culture that permeates the building. Cohn: Who are a few names that fit that mold? Wacker: Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is the first name that comes to mind. He’s young at 42, brings familiarity as a former defensive assistant in Baltimore from 2017 to 2020, and he’s known to have a charismatic personality that can connect with players. He also knows his stuff, of course, and has a track record of turning struggling to middling defenses around, be it in Los Angeles or at Vanderbilt and Michigan, the latter helping the Wolverines to a national championship in 2022. Brian Flores is another defensive-oriented coach who brings perhaps an even more commanding voice. He grew up in a tough neighborhood in New York, reportedly struggled communicating and collaborating as the Miami Dolphins coach but perhaps learned from the experience as many first-time coaches have and then gone on to be successful. He also helped propel the Steelers’ and Vikings’ defense in his work for those two teams and again perhaps would be able to connect with Jackson the way others have not. Who comes to mind for you? Cohn: Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, to me, checks all the boxes. He has a proven track record calling plays for a top-three offense in the NFL. As the son of former Ravens offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, he brings some familiarity with how life works in Owings Mills. And he’s 38 years old, meaning he could bring the type of youthful energy this Ravens team is searching for. Brian, you mentioned Jackson before. Bisciotti needs to find a coach for Jackson as much as he does the Ravens. Kubiak would be a smart choice to keep the coach and quarterback in lockstep. I’ll also throw out Nathan Scheelhaase and Davis Webb. With two decades of stability under a CEO coach, I’d think Bisciotti would lean into a more established, offensive-minded name capable of keeping Baltimore in contention right now. If he’s willing to swing at an off-speed pitch then Scheelhaase, the Rams pass game coordinator, and Webb, Denver’s pass game coordinator and QBs coach, are the two popular youngsters this coaching cycle. Wacker: Harbaugh was an unconventional hire the last time Bisciotti was looking for a coach, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see him do the same here, and Webb is a guy who people around the league are very high on. Scheelhaase is likewise viewed as a “boy wonder” candidate by some and at 35 is five years older than Webb, so he has a little more experience. I’d still want someone perhaps a bit more seasoned, though, and Bisciotti has made it clear he wants to win now. Harbaugh did that, making the playoffs each of his first four seasons then won the Super Bowl in his fifth with a roster that still had some holdovers from before his arrival. I also think the situation begs the question, how much input will or should Jackson have? Cohn: A lot — but there’s a line. The Ravens won’t get over the hump of making it to a Super Bowl unless their two-time Most Valuable Player is happy in a system that works for him. He’s the focal point of this team and the face of the franchise. To say he shouldn’t have sway is like saying LeBron James should keep his paws off front office decisions. It’s asinine. So, two things. The Ravens need an offensive resurgence after a year Todd Monken admitted they never really “fired on all cylinders,” which starts with the quarterback. But giving Jackson too much say could result in a decision more consequential than his urging to sign failed experiment Jaire Alexander. Brian, what’s your read on the power Jackson may wield? Wacker: The difference, of course, is that James has won four rings. During Jackson’s previous contract negotiation, Bisciotti through general manager Eric DeCosta doled out $15 million for Odell Beckham Jr. and this past season another $6 million for DeAndre Hopkins, two players the quarterback flatly said he wanted. They also brought in cornerback and former college teammate Alexander. How’d those moves ultimately pan out with respect to production? This isn’t to say Jackson’s input shouldn’t be taken into consideration. It should be. But a lot? I don’t know. They should hire someone that can get the most out of Jackson — however that manifests — but also keep in mind life beyond him. He will be entering his ninth season in 2026, has plenty of talent and the defense still needs to be fixed. Cohn: OK, here’s a hypothetical: Let’s say you and Bisciotti are switching places for a day. Who are you hiring as head coach and two coordinators? Wacker: This is tough because the reality is there aren’t a lot — if any — coaches out there better than Harbaugh in this cycle. But clearly things had reached their zenith here and the situation had at the very least started to grow stale. I think Minter is a guy who’s ready to be a head coach and could command Jackson’s attention while also doing the things Baltimore needs on defense. Jackson has enough talent around him and enough of an understanding of what works and what doesn’t that the Ravens don’t need an offensive guru as head coach. Someone like Webb or Scheelhaase at offensive coordinator could help reinvigorate the offense, while Minter could tap his current defensive line coach in L.A., Mike Elston, who has a strong reputation for player development, or perhaps Flores, though the latter would seem less likely. Cohn: I like that lineup. As you said, there won’t be a coach “better” than Harbaugh. Rather, Bisciotti is looking to pin down the right replacement to fumigate the playoff ghosts haunting that locker room. Give me Kubiak at the helm. Because I’m leaning offensive-minded coach, I like Scheelhaase as the offensive coordinator. Anthony Weaver, if he’s open to a coordinator position rather than the head coaching gigs he’s already interviewed for, is the kind of defensive strategist-slash-culture-builder this team needs. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Rams offensive assistant Nate Scheelhaase looks on during a 2024 game. The 35-year-old coach has developed into a head coaching candidate in early 2026. (Kyusung Gong/AP) View the full article Quote
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