The Baltimore Ravens are over a week into their search for a new head coach, and many potential options have revealed themselves. As of January 16, the team has conducted 11 interviews, and there appear to be 15 candidates that they will be weighing the pros and cons of.
It’ll take quite some time before the Ravens officially land on a new head coach. After firing a Hall of Fame-caliber head coach like John Harbaugh, the team’s front office is looking to hit the ground running with their new hire. With reports indicating Harbaugh will accept a job with the New York Giants soon, Baltimore may have to work a little quicker with the hiring cycle getting underway.
Of those the Ravens have interviewed so far, there are plenty of qualified candidates. Some may be former head coaches looking to get back to the top of the ladder, and others are young coordinators looking to prove themselves as the leading voice in the locker room.
When it comes to the fanbase, it seems like there’s an even split. Many are hoping for an offensive mind to get the most out of Lamar Jackson and company, and others are looking to see a defensive mind in charge, someone who can reinforce that stout defensive identity that has been a common theme throughout Baltimore’s history.
Former Ravens Pro Bowl linebacker Bart Scott sides with the latter. On an episode of ESPN’s Get Up on Friday, he highlighted why a defense-first head coach would make the most sense.
“I believe that Steve Bisciotti recognized that they got off-brand. This is an organization that’s always been about defense,” Scott said. “So I look at a guy like LaFleur, I look at a guy like Robert Saleh coming in there and re-identifying who they are; them staying on-brand. Offense is cool, but when they won their Super Bowls…it was based on tremendous defense.”
LaFleur’s name has been tossed around as an option if the Green Bay Packers fire him, but he is touted as a great offensive mind. Scott likely meant Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who the Ravens have interviewed, and who led one of the top defenses in 2025.
Bart Scott identifies defensive minds who could fit Baltimore’s philosophy
Scott may be a bit biased, being that he was a part of some of those Baltimore defenses, but he told no lies. The Ravens' defense flat-out stunk in 2025, and it was largely inconsistent in 2024. They haven’t been able to make statements on the defensive side in a couple of seasons, and a new head coach like Saleh or Flores could be just the guy to bring that kind of football back.
Saleh’s first run as a head coach didn’t go as planned. From 2021 to 2024, as head coach of the New York Jets, he compiled a 20-36 record and never finished a season with a better than 7-10 record. He did build some crazy, talented defenses, though, and a lack of talent on offense was the reason for consistent struggles.
In 2025, Saleh returned to the San Francisco 49ers as their defensive coordinator. It took just one season back in a coordinator position to prove himself as a top head coaching candidate for 2026. His group has dealt with countless injuries, but he has built them into a sturdy unit, which shut down the Philadelphia Eagles' offense in a Wild Card win last Sunday.
For Flores, his head coaching run with the Miami Dolphins was also considered a failure. He went 24-25 in three seasons, and although he led some competitive teams, strained relationships led to his firing. Make no mistake about it, though, he can coach a team, and he can get the most out of his defenses.
Since arriving in Minnesota as their defensive coordinator in 2023, he has led some high-end defenses. He made a statement in 2025 with a top-three defense in yards allowed. His first chance came to an end somewhat unfairly, and if he gets another opportunity, it could come in Baltimore.