The NFL-Trainerkarussell 2026 is richer by a big name since the Baltimore Ravens last night their long-time head coach John Harbaugh fired have.
The official reason given is that Harbaugh refused to withdraw from OffCoord Todd Monken to separate. But upon closer inspection you simply have to state: It was time.
Harbaugh is by no means a bad head coach. He’s not a sexy playcaller or defensive guru, but one of the “CEO-Headcoaches“, who, as an overarching figure, guide the fortunes of the franchise and give their coordinators a relatively large amount of autonomy. Harbaugh is one of the few head coaches who got the job as a former special teams specialist.
Harbaugh had been with the Ravens since 2008. He quickly turned the franchise’s fortunes around after the crash in the 2007 season, leading Baltimore to the playoffs a total of twelve times in 18 years, including a slightly freaky one, but overall “life’s work” was still absolute deserved Superbowl triumphs in the 2012/13 seasonwhen a strong Ravens generation was actually already a year past its peak, but pulled itself together again for a playoff run.
The last few years have been of a high standard, but also of many Disappointments in the playoffs embossed. Since the convocation of Lamar Jackson In 2018, the Ravens did a lot of things right and were an annual contender – but in the end they suffered from the same problems that meant they never made the big leap: Penalties, Drops, small mistakes with major impacts at critical moments.
There wasn’t much missing – and yet the Lombardi Trophy was so far away because the Ravens simply lacked the basics.
Harbaugh parted ways with his long-time DefCoord at times Wink Martindalebut hesitated too long before modernizing his offense; Monken has been with the Ravens for three years, but he should have arrived a year or two earlier.
The last 1-2 years you inevitably had that Feeling like something is coming to an end for the Ravens goes. It felt a little like Andy Reid’s final years in Philadelphia. It was simply the moment in which change occurred because of the change’s sake meaning might.
The Ravens won’t necessarily find a better head coach than Harbaugh. That is a Risk and has probably saved her from pulling off the move earlier a few times. But they need new impulses. This necessity alone justifies the move.
Harbaugh Should have no problem finding a new job quickly as long as he wants to continue without a break. He is one of the best organizerssuper connected in the NFL, a man who doesn’t fall short of a certain basic quality. I would say he is in worst case the 10t to 12t best head coach in the NFLwhich means that his employer only has a real disadvantage on the sidelines in rare cases.
Die Ravens should on their part interesting employer be. They have longstanding ones Stability in the front office. You have one of the five, six best quarterbacks in the NFL in Lamar Jackson. They still have high quality and gutes Know-How in defense and one definitely good core players in his prime football age.
So maybe you are the one most attractive open head coaching positions in recent years.
Of course it has to happen Also question the front office: Baltimore is one of the teams that probably lacks aggression in the Personnel policy pursued – too few free agents, too much neglect of eternal weak points like Edge Rush or Interior Offensive Line. Presumably, the commitment of an ambitious new head coach candidate also comes with a certain level of commitment more emphasis on the transfer market to show.
But that’s speculation. Let’s just summarize by saying that I agree with the separationher as I see an opportunity for both parties and believe that both Harbaugh and the Ravens will look back on the last 18 years with satisfaction – and both can look to the future with confidence.
