Todd Monken is not deflecting blame after a turbulent season in Baltimore. As the Ravens begin a new era following the firing of longtime head coach John Harbaugh, the team’s offensive coordinator has publicly taken responsibility for the offensive collapse that derailed the franchise – and for the struggles of quarterback Lamar Jackson in particular.
Speaking candidly on the Ryan Ripken Show, Todd Monken acknowledged that he fell short in guiding one of the league’s most dynamic talents during the 2025 season.
“I didn’t coach Lamar well enough,” Monken admitted. “I didn’t have as good of a relationship as I could have. I didn’t do the things we needed to do this year to win enough games to give ourselves a chance. I believe that.”
Monken accepts responsibility as Ravens’ season unravels
The comments come just days after Baltimore officially moved on from Harbaugh following a disappointing campaign that ended without a playoff berth. The result was especially jarring considering the Ravens entered the season with championship aspirations after fielding the NFL’s most productive offense the year before.
In 2024, Jackson and Monken were widely praised for their collaboration, helping Baltimore dominate offensively and reestablish itself as a Super Bowl contender. That momentum, however, never carried over. Injuries across the roster – including to Jackson – disrupted continuity, and the offense struggled to rediscover its rhythm.
Monken made it clear that health played a role, but he did not use it as an excuse.
“I really wish Lamar would have been healthy and seen what we kept building on,” he said. “Where we went from ’23 to ’24, and then we just never got it going. That’s what you have to live with.”
Throughout the season, reports surfaced suggesting tension between Jackson and the coaching staff, particularly Monken. Some league insiders even pointed to Harbaugh’s reluctance to consider changes on offense as a contributing factor in his dismissal. Monken pushed back firmly against that narrative.
“Lamar and I, to me, had a good relationship,” Monken said. “Could it have been better? Of course. But Lamar and I never had an issue.”
Fallout after Harbaugh’s exit signals change in Baltimore
Monken also rejected the idea that the locker room fractured under Harbaugh’s leadership.
“I never saw Lamar and Coach Harbaugh not have a great relationship,” he said. “I never saw Coach Harbaugh and any of our players not have a great relationship. Never. Not one time.”
Still, accountability has become the theme of Baltimore’s offseason. With Harbaugh gone and the franchise reassessing its direction, Monken’s future with the team appears uncertain. After three seasons in Baltimore, it’s widely expected he will explore opportunities elsewhere.
He leaves with visible regret, not over effort, but over missed potential.
“That’s the hard part,” Monken said. “You feel like there was more there.”
As the Ravens search for new leadership, Monken’s self-reflection underscores just how high the expectations were, and how painful the fall ultimately became.
Read the full article here
