Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has surfaced as a central — if complicated — figure in new reporting about the team’s decision to fire longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
ESPN reporters Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler reported that internal tension within the Ravens’ offense played a role in the Ravens’ decision. The report said Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken had “chemistry issues,” and that Jackson did not connect with Monken’s “hard-driving coaching style.”
One team source told ESPN, “The communication with Lamar and Todd wasn’t as good as it was in that first year.”
The report also described “internal bickering” throughout the season, including disagreements over play-calling, a lack of targets for certain players, and the team’s run-pass balance.
Those issues emerged after a period of strong offensive production under Monken, who Harbaugh hired in 2023 following Monken’s national championship success as Georgia’s offensive coordinator.
Ravens Offense Regressed in 2025 Amid Lamar Jackson Injury Absence
This video is extremely telling…
Monken’s first two seasons running the Ravens offense produced strong results. Baltimore finished sixth in total offense and fourth in scoring in 2023, then jumped to first in total offense and third in scoring in 2024. Jackson also had his best stretch under Monken, winning NFL MVP in 2023 and finishing second in MVP voting in 2024.
This past season looked different. Baltimore slipped to 16th in total offense and 11th in scoring offense, according to ESPN. Jackson missed four games with an injury, but ESPN reported that frustrations with the offense went beyond the time he was out.
One example involved Derrick Henry’s usage. Despite averaging 5.2 yards per carry and finishing second in the NFL with 1,595 rushing yards, Henry had five games with 12 carries or fewer. ESPN reported that issues like that fueled complaints about play-calling and the team’s run-pass balance.
With Harbaugh now out, Monken’s future is also unclear. A new head coach could choose to bring in an entirely new staff
Inside John Harbaugh’s Final 36 Hours in Baltimore
Additional reporting from The Athletic provided a behind-the-scenes timeline of the approximately 36-hour stretch that led to Harbaugh’s firing.
Harbaugh met on Monday morning, Jan. 5, with Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, executive vice president Ozzie Newsome, and team president Sashi Brown. Harbaugh reportedly discussed his vision for the team and coaching staff. One team official described the situation as “unsettled,” but sources told The Athletic there were people inside the building advocating for Harbaugh’s return.
By the next afternoon, the situation shifted.
The report states that around 5 p.m. Tuesday, players began receiving messages indicating a major organizational change was coming. Harbaugh was fired by owner Steve Bisciotti in a phone call while Harbaugh was driving home from the team facility. The report emphasized the move was not a resignation or mutual decision.
“I was shocked,” one player told the outlet.
A team source said the firing stemmed from multiple factors.
“It wasn’t just one thing as it’s being reported,” the source said. “There were a number of things that they felt needed to be fixed.”
Where ‘Pillar of the Organization’ Lamar Jackson Fit Into the Decision Remains Unclear
Thank you Steve.
The Athletic reported Bisciotti spent much of Tuesday seeking additional information and input, including conversations with several players about the direction of the team. One player reportedly went to Bisciotti’s home for an extended discussion.
However, Jackson’s involvement in those conversations remains uncertain.
It isn’t clear how much, if at all, Bisciotti spoke to two-time MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson, who isn’t an easy player to get ahold of in the offseason,” The Athletic reported. A Ravens veteran told The Athletic that some players urged Jackson to be more vocal with team decision-makers.
“He’s the pillar of the organization,” the veteran said. “Our hopes and dreams rest in his hands. You have to include him in the decisions more than any of us.”
The report also described increased locker room frustration during the 2025 season. Monken, described as having a “brash and edgy style,” faced anonymous criticism from offensive players in stories cited by The Athletic, including reports from The Baltimore Sun and The Baltimore Banner. The Athletic also reported there was “plenty of noise” about Harbaugh, including feedback that his messaging in meetings could “rub some people the wrong way.”
Ravens’ ‘Pillar’ Lamar Jackson’s Silence Looms Over John Harbaugh Firing