Entering Sunday night’s game against the Steelers, the Ravens were focused on the unexpected opportunity to turn a difficult season into another AFC North title. Now that another season has failed to live up to preseason expectations, decisions will have to be made.
Right away, owner Steve Bisciotti must decide whether to bring back coach John Harbaugh for a 19th season. The same questions that emerged when it appeared the Steelers were doomed to miss the playoffs apply to the Ravens.
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Is it time for a new start, for the team and/or the coach? Is it wise to separate from each other? Could a trade to another team be organized?
Harbaugh has something to say about this. He earned that much. If he’s ready to move on, the Ravens should respect that, just as the Steelers should respect Mike Tomlin’s desire to make a change after nearly two decades on the job.
If Bisciotti thinks it makes sense to change coaches, he needs to be sure he can find someone just as good, if not better. He also has to be willing to see what Harbaugh would do with another team. Maybe in the same conference, with a team like the Titans. Maybe in the same division, with a team like the Browns.
Then there’s the Lamar Jackson factor. Both sides say all the right things. But there’s enough smoke for someone to make the call and see what it would take to get the two-time MVP quarterback. (If, of course, another team is willing to pay the Ravens a premium price and is able to re-sign Jackson, who is only signed for two more seasons.)
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The only Super Bowl appearance under Harbaugh now resides 13 years later in the rearview mirror. The same concerns that have been expressed about the Bengals’ inability to win a Super Bowl with Joe Burrow and the Bills’ inability to win a Super Bowl with Josh Allen apply to the Ravens and Lamar Jackson.
For the Ravens in particular, the failure to qualify for the AFC Championship more than once is glaring. They have been seeded twice since Jackson became a starter. Far too often, they fail to deliver on their promises in big moments.
This year, they couldn’t even get a ticket to the ball, due to too many failed leads.
Maybe it’s just time. Few coaches have been with a team as long as Harbaugh has been with the Ravens. And yes, there’s a very good chance Harbaugh will immediately have more success with a new team than the Ravens would have with a new coach.
That must be a factor in Bisciotti’s decision, although there’s no reason to think a trend dating back to 2019 will suddenly change if the status quo extends through 2026.
