In a season where every point counts, the Baltimore Ravens saw their playoff dreams slip away with a heartbreaking final kick. A missed 44-yard field goal as the clock ran out resulted in a 26–24 loss to the Steelers, handing Pittsburgh the AFC North title and leaving Baltimore on the outside looking in.
Now, as emotions settle, attention is shifting from the miss itself to the bigger picture and whether head coach John Harbaugh remains the proper steward for a franchise at a crossroads.
Conservative Decisions Put John Harbaugh in the Spotlight
PFSN analyst Jason Katz has been straightforward in his critique. While he recognizes Harbaugh as a “great coach” who still deserves a spot in the NFL, Katz believes the Ravens need a fresh start after years of conservative choices that have repeatedly come back to haunt them in crucial situations.
PFSN Analyst Jason Katz says John Harbaugh is a great coach, but it’s time for a change.
A season does not come down to one singular play…or kick. But too many times this season, Katz says that Harbaugh has made conservative decisions that cost his team. He did it twice… pic.twitter.com/z3vQrqt1Wm
— PFSN (@PFSN365) January 5, 2026
Week 18 against Pittsburgh was the latest example. Early in the game, Harbaugh chose to punt from the Steelers’ 42-yard line, a spot where most teams would either attempt a long field goal or keep their offense on the field. Pittsburgh quickly took advantage of the field position they were given. But the real turning point came at the end.
With 14 seconds left, a timeout in hand, and the Ravens already in range, Harbaugh elected to settle for a 44-yard field goal attempt by rookie Tyler Loop, one of the league’s least reliable kickers this season. Rather than trying to gain four or five yards, Lamar Jackson kneeled for a three-yard loss to center the ball.
Loop missed to the right, sealing Baltimore’s fate. As Katz noted, a 35-yard attempt from a hash mark is statistically easier than a longer kick from the middle.
Those choices reopened a broader conversation that had already been gaining traction. Before the game, ESPN’s Adam Schefter said league insiders were quietly watching Harbaugh more closely than his longtime rival, Mike Tomlin.
“That seems to be a situation, right now, that’s up in the air,” Schefter said, noting that both sides are expected to meet after the season to discuss direction. While Harbaugh is still considered “leaning safe,” those talks now loom larger.
The loss was especially painful given Baltimore’s rally from a 1-5 start. Harbaugh finishes the regular season with a 180-113 record and a 13-11 playoff mark over 18 years, numbers that underscore his legacy. Yet the pattern of late-game caution has become harder to ignore, particularly after a winner-take-all division showdown slipped away.
The Ravens are ranked 20th in offense with a 72.7 impact score in the PFSN Offense Impact Metric.
Katz thinks a change could be beneficial for everyone involved. Harbaugh, if available, would be “a great get” for another team. For the Ravens, a new voice could unlock a more aggressive approach around Jackson’s prime years.
Nothing is decided yet. But with the season ending on a missed kick born from conservative choices, Baltimore now faces a familiar, uncomfortable question: whether loyalty and legacy should outweigh the need for a new direction.
