As OTAs roll on, we continue to learn a lot about the Baltimore Ravens ahead of the 2026 season. This team’s going to look so much different, as it’s the first time in 18 years that a new head coach will be taking the reins after they made the decision to fire John Harbaugh.
The stunning move remains one of the biggest talking points. There’s still a lot we’re unearthing about the post-Harbaugh era, as OTAs are the first time many players are speaking publicly. We’re starting to learn about their reactions to it, as well as their excitement about the new era.
As for Lamar Jackson, we already knew there was no bad blood. He loved Harbaugh and made it known on social media days after his departure. However, on Thursday, he opened up on his in-depth reaction to the coaching change.
“I got a lot of respect for Coach [Harbaugh]. I was shocked,” Jackson said. “I feel like Mr. Steve [Bisciotti] did what was best for the team. I hope Coach has a great time in New York, because we did so much for the city, for the team, for this organization…We did a lot here.”
Clearly, he and Harbaugh are still on great terms, and he sounds super excited for what the future could hold.
Lamar Jackson reflects on John Harbaugh era while looking ahead to Baltimore Ravens' future
Despite the failure to reach the ultimate goal of the Super Bowl, the Lamar Jackson/John Harbaugh pairing worked incredibly well. As Jackson said, they accomplished a lot. Yeah, it was primarily in the regular season, but they led some of the best teams in history. It's just unfortunate that they always came up short.
Jackson obviously has a ton to thank Harbaugh for. From a highly polarizing prospect in the 2018 NFL Draft, whom many thought couldn’t stick at quarterback in the NFL, to a two-time MVP and future Hall of Famer, Jackson has blown every expectation out of the water under Harbaugh’s leadership. That's not to say Jackson couldn't have developed into the player we all know and love without Harbaugh, but that player/coach relationship clearly had a very positive impact.
However, all good things must come to an end. It’s more than fair to say time simply ran out on Harbaugh in Baltimore. A change needed to be made, which Jackson acknowledged. Years of coming up short in the playoffs that culminated in a disastrous 2025 campaign all led to Harbaugh’s firing. Now, there’s an exciting new regime taking charge.
It’s hard not to love the coaching staff Jesse Minter has put together. Between Minter, Declan Doyle, and Anthony Weaver, there’s no shortage of talent. It’s a bunch of young minds that are already borderline elite. The ceiling should be limitless. And knowing Jackson had a part in building this next era of Ravens football, it won’t take any time at all for him to buy in. He’s already dived in head first.
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