John Harbaugh’s tenure with the Baltimore Ravens ended Tuesday, two days after the team lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers and missed the playoffs.
The departure of the league’s second-longest-tenured coach is a major upheaval, and it will likely spark a flurry of activity in the market.
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Harbaugh led the Ravens to 193 wins, a Super Bowl title in 2012 and earned NFL Coach of the Year honors in 2019. The team recorded just three losing campaigns in his 18 years at the helm.
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Baltimore faces the crucial task of naming his successor. Here are five candidates who could take on this role.
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Five Ravens HC candidates to replace John Harbaugh
1) Brian Flores
Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores had a rough stint as coach of the Miami Dolphins from 2019 to 2021. He finished with a 24-25 record and no playoff appearances.
However, many analysts say Flores’ disappointing results aren’t solely his fault. The Dolphins were plagued by leadership issues and poor roster decisions at the time.
Flores has the chance to restart his coaching career in Baltimore at 44 years old. Superior management and a stronger roster provide the ideal conditions.
He is an elite defensive strategist and respected player coach. Flores also has a proven track record of building dominant defenses and establishing a winning culture, regardless of talent limitations.
2) Jesse Minter
LA Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter stands out as one of the top candidates for the Ravens coaching job this offseason.
He is the betting favorite and has deep ties to Jim and John Harbaugh. Minter spent two years with Jim in Los Angeles and two years as Michigan’s defensive coordinator under him. He also spent four years under John’s leadership in Baltimore from 2017-2020.
Minter has been dominant as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator over the past two seasons. His unit led the NFL in fewest points allowed last year and ranked in the top 10 in points, yards and takeaways this season. Combined with his understanding of the team’s football culture, Minter’s background makes him an attractive candidate for the coaching role.
3) Robert Saleh
Robert Saleh is back in the NFL spotlight as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator after a rocky stint as Jets coach from 2021 to mid-2024.
Saleh remained in demand even after his firing, interviewing with the Jaguars before the job went to Liam Coen.
Few coaches in the NFL can match Saleh’s defensive acumen. Injuries to Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams haven’t stopped San Francisco from maintaining a top-10 defense for much of the season. He found creative ways to slow down his opponents even without excelling in traditional metrics.
Saleh would probably be happy to coach a dynamic playmaker like Lamar Jackson if given the opportunity in Baltimore.
4) Kevin Stefanski
Kevin Stefanski spent six years as coach of the Cleveland Browns before being fired Monday. The Ravens know him, given their shared membership in the AFC North.
Stefanski transformed a franchise that hadn’t reached the playoffs since 2002. He guided Cleveland to two playoff appearances and won two AP Coach of the Year awards during his tenure.
Stefanski is expected to be one of the hottest names on the market and has already been invited to interviews with several teams.
Baltimore has a franchise quarterback in Lamar Jackson and a stable, well-managed front office. This presents the perfect environment for Stefanski, giving him a chance to put challenges with the Browns behind him.
5) Kubiak Clint
Klint Kubiak has transformed the Seahawks offense with a dependable, action-oriented system this season. Sam Darnold played some of the best football of his career, while Jaxon Smith-Njigba rose to stardom in the passing game.
Seattle’s No. 1 seed in the NFC is a testament to Kubiak’s system, in which many experts view the team as a serious Super Bowl threat.
Kubiak’s impact in Seattle has been evident this season. The team scored a franchise-record 483 points, third in the NFL, and averaged 351.4 yards per game, good for eighth in the league.
The Ravens are hoping for a similar boost with playmakers like Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers and Derrick Henry. Although Kubiak isn’t seasoned as a coach or coordinator, his offensive approach aligns with the NFL’s trend of putting young minds in charge of high-powered offenses.
Edited by Víctor Ramon Galvez
