Tyler Loop’s last-second missed field goal didn’t just keep the Baltimore Ravens from narrowly clinching the AFC North against the Steelers. In the aftermath, it became the third strike for head coach John Harbaugh. While some speculated his exit after a disappointing 8-9 season with a possible disconnect with star quarterback Lamar Jackson, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini has another theory.

“A key pressure point in the John Harbaugh dismissal, according to those familiar with today’s discussions, was his refusal to entertain any conversations about potentially moving on from offensive coordinator Todd Monken,” Russini tweeted today.

Monken has been with Harbaugh since 2023 and has led the offense to two top 10 finishes in the last three years. With him, Baltimore ended as the fourth-best scoring offense in 2023, with the sixth-most yards per game. Following that season, they improved to third in points and first in yards.

However, in an inconsistent season with Lamar Jackson bouncing in and out of the lineup, they took a nosedive this season, ending the year 11th in points and 16th in total yards. So, in his long conversations with team owner Steve Bisciotti, Harbaugh ensured one name that he wouldn’t be firing entering the next season. Unfortunately, he struck his own name with that.

The Ravens fired Harbaugh on Tuesday after his 18 seasons in Baltimore, making him one of the longest-serving coaches in the league so far. He is also the most successful coach in Ravens history with a 180–113 record, a Super Bowl XLVII win, and an NFL Coach of the Year award in 2019. The move brings an end to one of the longest and most stable coaching eras in the NFL. 

According to some sources, Harbaugh and Jackson haven’t been on the same page. The latter’s injury may have only added to the team’s pain, as his absence only made the offense worse. The fact that they entered this season as strong Super Bowl contenders but have been out of the race for some time now only makes the reasoning stronger.

Squandering significant advantages also became a troubling trend in the defensive-minded coach’s last few seasons. The Ravens have blown ten double-digit leads in the second half in the past six seasons. No other team has done that more than seven times. This is probably the reason why Bisciotti wanted to cut Monken off. But despite his slump, the offensive coordinator would not go unemployed.

Reports from Cleveland.com suggest that Todd Monken could return to the Cleveland Browns, as he is the first known coaching candidate interviewed by Cleveland as it looks to replace recently-fired Kevin Stefanski. Monken previously spent one season with the Browns in 2019 under head coach Freddie Kitchens, who was fired after that year.

The Ravens finished the 2025 season with an 8–9 record and did not reach the playoffs. Their season ended with a 26–24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a final game they needed to win. The Ravens also struggled in the playoffs, winning only three postseason games in eight years. This happened while star quarterback Lamar Jackson was on the roster.

Russini has identified fired Kliff Kingsbury as a possible replacement for Harbaugh in Baltimore. The update of his dismissal from the Ravens comes at a time when Harbaugh stands in heavy demand.

Which NFL teams are now interested in John Harbaugh?

Soon after his exit from the Baltimore Ravens, interest in John Harbaugh rapidly spread across leading teams. Within 45 minutes of the news breaking, Harbaugh’s agent confirmed that seven NFL teams had reached out to discuss potential opportunities.

While the agent didn’t name names, with only a limited number of head coaching jobs officially open, at least one team is believed to be considering replacing its current coach to try Harbaugh out. Here’s a list of some of them:

• New York Giants – Before the reports even emerged from Baltimore, the Giants were the leading candidate for Harbaugh. The 4-13 team has struggled under Brian Daboll, ranking 17th in points and 13th in yards. Their defense is only worse, with a 26th rank in points allowed. With a defensive-minded coach like Harbaugh, they may turn the tide.

• Miami Dolphins – Mike McDaniel remains in place after a 7–10 season, but the team is exploring options. If they finally decide to move on from McDaniel, their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa, has the potential to improve his game.

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – The Bucs kicked off their 2025 season successfully but soon found themselves slumping. While Todd Bowles has won three straight division titles, his recent public actions that have put the team under fire may have made his future in Tampa Bay unsafe.

• Dallas Cowboys – Harbaugh could be a high-profile option for the Jerry Jones-led team. However, while he has fired defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus after a subpar defense pulled them out of the playoffs, Jones hasn’t said anything about his head coach. It is very likely that Harbaugh will not want to step down to a DC role.

• Cincinnati Bengals – For the first time since his rookie season, an injury-plagued Joe Burrow saw his team end a losing season with a 6-11 record. However, a move from Zac Taylor would give Harbaugh a roster led by a quarterback who has shown promise of changing the offense when at full strength.

The Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals also have open searches.

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While his chapter in Baltimore is over, Harbaugh clearly doesn’t have a lack of interest. It still remains to be seen if he regains the legendary status under a different banner.