The Baltimore Ravens made a bold decision to fire head coach John Harbaugh after missing the playoffs this season and finishing 8-9. Harbaugh was the lead man in Baltimore for the past 18 seasons and now moves on to the New York Giants. However, the Ravens must find a new head coach who will maximize quarterback Lamar Jackson’s future.
The Ravens cast a wide net in their search and may be looking for a defensive-minded coach to lead the team. Even if that is the case, Jackson has his sights set on an innovative playcaller to run the offense.
Lamar Jackson Wants Ex‑Cardinals Coach as Ravens OC
No matter who the Ravens hire as head coach, the offensive playcaller will be just as important. The Ravens seemingly lost some of their explosiveness and creativity this past season, and that should not be the case for an offense led by Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers. The Ravens ranked 20th in PFSN’s Offense Impact Metric, and they will be hoping for much better results in 2026.
According to Dianna Russini via Bobby Trosset, Jackson and the team are hoping to bring in former Arizona Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury as the team’s offensive playcaller. It appears unlikely that Kingsbury will be hired as head coach, but he could serve as offensive coordinator. Russini said, “Anthony Weaver is gonna be in the running for this job, and from what I understand, Kliff Kingsbury would be his OC.”
.@DMRussini on the Ravens’ latest activity:
“I know for a fact that Lamar Jackson and those receivers would like Kliff Kingsbury to run their offense. They’ve shown support, they’ve been vocal about it. They’ve been part of some of these interviews, too. Lamar Jackson’s part of… pic.twitter.com/tS6lrYNHlM
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) January 21, 2026
Kingsbury has been known for producing exciting offenses in the NFL. Two seasons ago, he helped lead rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Commanders to the NFC Championship game. That season, Washington ranked seventh in total yards and fifth in points scored. The Commanders also finished in the top five in rushing offense.
Ravens Hoping to Get Back Into Contention Next Season
Even with a new coaching regime, the Ravens have no interest in rebuilding. Instead, they expect to compete for a Super Bowl next season, which makes sense with a two-time MVP at quarterback.
Thanks to Jackson, the Ravens are among the most appealing jobs on the market. Few coaches would pass on the opportunity to work with a player of his caliber, especially when healthy. If Kingsbury does end up as the offensive coordinator in Baltimore, the Ravens’ run game should remain elite. Jackson and Henry create significant problems for opposing defenses, and that dynamic could separate Baltimore from the rest of the field.
The Ravens may not enter next season as a clear Super Bowl favorite, but they should be firmly on the shortlist of teams capable of making a deep playoff run.
Kingsbury would be an amazing fit for the Ravens as OC and I believe he can really unlock the true power of Lamar Jackson.