Who should the Ravens hire to replace John Harbaugh? With Lamar Jackson, the Ravens have a luxury their counterparts don’t have

When the Cleveland Browns And Las Vegas Raiders As they interview head coaches in the coming weeks, they know the most important question they must answer: How are we going to identify and develop a young quarterback?

When the New York Giants And Tennessee Titans interview the head coaches, they also know the essentials: first-round quarterbacks Jaxson Dart And Cam Room need molding and development. Every club’s quarterback prospect is in the house. But how will he grow?

A reshuffle at the top of the Atlanta Falcons And Arizona Cardinals there will also be a need for answers on a position with major question marks in 2026 and beyond.

These answers don’t all have to come from offensive head coaches during a recruiting cycle richer in defensive candidates than offensive ones. And in many successful franchises, including the defending Super Bowl champions, the head coach’s primary responsibility is not to call offensive plays.

But when teams play young quarterbacks or face questions from the quarterback, the pressure to find the offensive panacea increases. Coaching research is often biased as a result.

So the Baltimore Ravens have a clear advantage.

Because like They announced Tuesday evening that 18-year-old head coach John Harbaugh had been “relieved of his duties.” the Ravens are the only team currently searching for a head coach that isn’t simultaneously seeking clarity on their answer at the quarterback position.

Recruit coaches while being a double MVP Lamar Jackson being under contract is a luxury.

Of course, many will say that, just like the Ravens become most attractive of seven NFL openings and counting, Harbaugh immediately became the most attractive candidate when he hit the market. That’s not to say the decision should be confusing. With a Super Bowl-winning coach and an MVP-winning quarterback, it should come as no surprise that everyone thinks they have the answers to future success. And if these answers don’t match, it’s time to change.

But as the Ravens search for a coach who will end their 13-year Super Bowl drought, they won’t need to place as much emphasis on developing a quarterback.

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This could allow them, if they wish, to select the best overall candidate first. Their ceiling will immediately be high.

“We have so much talent on this team, and it’s just disappointing that we’re not able to be the team that can execute and win games when we need to be,” the guard said. Patrick Ricard said this week. “As long as we have Lamar Jackson, I feel like this team can win a Super Bowl.”

Among 7 openings, Ravens’ Jackson offers best QB by far

A minority of coaches and executives around the league will argue that a coach in the Shanahan and McVay systems may prefer a more structured passer around whom to build his offense.

But more often than not, when the surprise of Harbaugh’s firing hit Tuesday, the league’s voices understood the new pecking order of openings.

“The jobs this cycle are all missing QBs as usual, so he’s definitely the best QB and offense available to any coach,” an NFC executive told Yahoo Sports.

An AFC aide added of Jackson: “Any plan works for him. »

Jackson has demonstrated that in eight seasons since the Ravens selected him with the 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. He earned four Pro Bowl berths, three All-Pro honors and two MVP awards while winning 76 of 107 regular season starts.

In total, Jackson completed 64.8% of his passes for 22,608 yards and 187 passing touchdowns to 56 interceptions. His career passer rating of 102.2 and 8.25 air yards per attempt currently hold the all-time career records, according to Pro Football Reference.

And those numbers don’t even include Jackson’s additional 6,522 yards and 35 rushing touchdowns.

His health has been spotty at times, with Jackson recently missing four games and about half of another this season with hamstring and back injuries. But even though he was healthy, he was thriving. Consider his Week 18 return from a back injury in Pittsburgh with the AFC North title on the line. While the Ravens lost on a botched field goal attempt Sunday night, Jackson completed 11 of 18 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns.

He turned it on another level in the fourth quarter, with touchdown passes of 50 and 64 yards to receiver Zay Flowers. The first came despite two defenders appearing to have Jackson wrapped up. Jackson was unfazed.

“Shoot – I cut a nose guard, and he somehow slipped out of it and threw the ball 50 yards for a touchdown,” center Tyler Linderbaum said. “That’s the kind of ability he has. So, it’s fun to play with him. (He’s an) ultra-competitor, and every time the ball is thrown to him and it’s in his hands, you know something electrifying can happen.”

“The most electrifying player in this game.”

After Harbaugh’s last game against the Ravens, Jackson didn’t support him

As reports of tension between Jackson and Harbaugh have mounted this season, Jackson was asked last Thursday if he had a good relationship with Harbaugh.

“Yes, I believe so,” he said. “I don’t know where the noise is coming from. I don’t know where the noise is coming from.”

After the Ravens’ 26-24 loss on Sunday, Jackson was asked about Harbaugh again.

Did he want to see Harbaugh as head coach next season?

“You’re asking me about next year,” Jackson said. “I’m so wrapped up in what just happened tonight. I can’t focus on it right now, I just told you. Like he asked me, ‘Are you stunned?’

“I’m stunned right now and I’m still trying to figure out what’s going on. I know we lost, but what the… you know?”

Of course, the emotions of the season’s sudden end were fresh, as Jackson’s herculean fourth quarter wasn’t enough to advance to a sixth playoff berth in eight years. But Jackson wasn’t the first player to receive a question about his coach’s future at the end of the season. He wouldn’t have been the first to back a leader after a loss, especially after an 18-year tenure in the organization with a Lombardi Trophy under his belt and an AFC Championship Game berth partnered with Jackson.

Jackson didn’t choose that.

Tuesday night, Harbaugh was out. The Ravens thanked Harbaugh for his “tremendous” 18 years and the Super Bowl title.

Harbaugh released his own statement, curiously including a smiling emoji as he said goodbye with “disappointment certainly, but more with GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION.”

The Ravens’ coaching search, as team owner Steve Bisciotti said in a statement, is beginning. Their ability to quickly evolve on the best defensive candidates, notably the Los Angeles Chargers“Jesse Minter, Los Angeles Rams“Chris Shula and Houston Texans‘Matt Burke could prove to be an asset.

“It’s a dream to have Lamar and Derrick (Henry) and playing with those guys,” Ricard said. “I feel like as long as they’re there, this team has a chance no matter who else is playing.”