There has been a changing of the guard in Baltimore for the first time in a long while. John Harbaugh is out as head coach for the first time since 2008, and first-time head coach Jesse Minter has replaced him. It is safe to say the Ravens will look much different than what we are used to, but that may be a good thing for them.
It was clear they needed a change, and it will be interesting to see what they look like on offense. Minter is a defensive-minded coach, so he hired Declan Doyle to run the offense. Doyle will have to build a strong relationship with quarterback Lamar Jackson, and that appears to have already begun.
Declan Doyle Is Excited to Work With Lamar Jackson
The Ravens hired Doyle away from the Chicago Bears, where he was their offensive coordinator last season. He likely chose to leave for the same role because he will be calling plays in Baltimore, where he did not do that last season with the Bears.
Doyle now gets the chance to show what he can do as a playcaller, which will increase his odds of becoming a potential head coach.
Doyle now has the chance to work with two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. According to Bobby Trosset, Doyle said, “I feel a guy that is hungry to learn, hungry to grow, very excited about the opportunity to work together … as I am excited to work with him. A guy that knows his ceiling still hasn’t been reached yet.”
Declan Doyle on dialogue with Lamar Jackson:
“It’s been limited, but I would say this: I feel a guy that is hungry to learn, hungry to grow, very excited about the opportunity to work together … as I am excited to work with him. A guy that knows his ceiling still hasn’t been… pic.twitter.com/8V1KhDvljE
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) February 17, 2026
The idea that Jackson has not reached his ceiling is good news for the Ravens. The talent of Jackson has never been in question, but his health has. He needs to be more durable, having only played in 13 games last season. Also, he has only played two full seasons in the last five years.
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Ravens Will Have High Expectations
Even with a first-time head coach and offensive playcaller, the Ravens will be expected to be competitive in 2026. They have a strong offensive roster led by Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers.
Also, their defense should be much improved with Minter at the helm. He did a great job with the Chargers’ defense over the past two seasons, keeping them in the top 10 in points allowed.
The AFC North will be a polarizing division in 2026 because three of the four teams have new head coaches. Despite a new coaching staff, the Ravens are not rebuilding; they should reload this offseason and be ready to compete in 2026.
