John Harbaugh Fallout: Ravens, Monken, Timing, Jackson, Kingsbury
The Ravens’ decision to fire John Harbaugh on Tuesday might be this offseason’s biggest move. The ramifications are already spreading around the NFL, and no team has more to handle than the Ravens themselves. This offseason was already a crucial one for Baltimore, as Lamar Jackson is due for another round of extension negotiations in the coming months.
The two-time MVP already has considerable sway inside the organization, and the leverage from his contract talks only boosts his current influence. That factored into this process, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. While Jackson did not necessarily engineer Harbaugh’s ouster, there still may have been some friction between the veteran quarterback and Baltimore’s coaching staff. The team has long been frustrated with Jackson’s offseason practice habits, and routinely skipping Wednesdays this season to rest and recover from a myriad of injuries may have re-raised the issue.
While Harbaugh and Jackson were still believed to have a good relationship, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Ravens seem to be looking for a better fit with their franchise quarterback. According to Rapoport, the team is looking for someone who can “reach,” “invigorate,” and get the “absolute most” out of Jackson. The Ravens were believed to have pushed Harbaugh to fire OC Todd Monken. The HC’s refusal contributed to his own exit.
Here is the latest from this firing:
- Harbaugh himself felt unappreciated in his final years in Baltimore and seems ready for a new challenge, according to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. That aligns with his exploration of other jobs around the league, particularly those like the Giants’ with a young quarterback and a desire to rebuild.
- A number of teams are already interested in Harbaugh, including a few that still have head coaches under contract. Those teams will need to carefully weigh their chances of hiring the ex-Ravens leader. They are unlikely to axe their current coaches unless they are confident they can land Harbaugh, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Teams are permitted to reach out to Harbaugh as a coaching free agent.
- Though Harbaugh’s removal seems to be the culmination of several things in Baltimore, the timing still took team and coach by surprise, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Those in the building seemed to expect Harbaugh to go along with firing Monken but his refusal to do so precipitated his firing. As of Tuesday afternoon, a view in the building pointed to Harbaugh staying, Hensley adds. The firing coming soon after will bring sweeping changes for an organization that has exuded stability for many years.
- The Ravens are expected to have a “complete makeover, especially on offense,” according to Hensley. Jackson’s input on the direction of the unit will likely play a factor.
- One route the team could go down is hiring Kliff Kingsbury, who recently parted ways with the Commanders. The offensive guru has found success with mobile quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Jayden Daniels, and Jackson would no doubt be an interesting move considering Jackson’s status as maybe the greatest running quarterback in NFL history. Baltimore has already been mentioned as a landing spot for Kingsbury, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and The Washington Post’s Mark Maske. The Commanders moved on from Kingsbury after a report indicated friction between he and GM Adam Peters, among disagreements between the front office and the coaching staff, took place this season.
Ravens Request HC Interview With Anthony Weaver, Klint Kubiak
The Ravens have begun their search to replace longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
Baltimore’s first two interview requests have gone to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Weaver, 45, is a former Ravens player and coach. He was drafted by then-general manager Ozzie Newsome in the second round of the 2022 draft and started for his entire time in Baltimore. He then spent three years in Houston before retiring and joining the coaching ranks, first at the college level before jumping to the NFL with the Jets. He then served as a defensive line coach for the, Bills, Browns, and Texans before a stint as interim defensive coordinator in Houston after Bill O’Brien was fired in 2020.
Weaver went back to Baltimore in 2021, this time as a coach with a dual DL coach/defensive run game coordinator role. In 2022, he added associate head coach to his title. The Ravens were consistently one of the league’s top run-stopping defenses under Weaver, and his unit was a huge factor in the team’s success under Mike Macdonald in 2022 and 2023.
Weaver interviewed for the Ravens’ DC job when Macdonald left for Seattle, but it went to Zach Orr instead. Weaver was then hired by Mike McDaniel to replace Vic Fangio in Miami. The Dolphins defense improved from 22nd in points and 10th in yards in 2023 to 10th and fourth, respectively, in 2024. The unit regressed to bottom-10 numbers this past season, though Weaver was not helped by general manager Chris Grier. He virtually ignored the defense in the offseason, leaving his DC especially weak at cornerback and defensive tackle.
Weaver would return to Baltimore armed with two years of play-calling. experience and a few connections to potential offensive coordinators. Ex-Texans OC Bobby Slowik spent the 2025 season in Miami, and it is not out of the realm of possibility that Dolphins owner and Michigan alum Stephen Ross consideres replacing McDaniel with Harbaugh. That could make McDaniel an option to come with Weaver to Baltimore as OC, though he himself may garner head coaching consideration, too.
Kubiak, 38, is arguably the hottest offensive head coach candidate this hiring cycle, which is far stronger in defensive-minded coaches. He has been with five different teams in the last five years, which is a potential red flag, but it also gives him a number of connections around the league. He has also spent time under Kyle Shanahan and Mike Zimmer, two other experienced, well-respected coaches that add to Kubiak’s pedigree. That could help him build a strong staff – for example, bringing Seahawks DC Aden Durde to Baltimore. He also has play-calling experience for multiple offenses and could likely adapt his system to Lamar Jackson’s skillset.
Obviously, Kubiak’s last name is relevant to the Ravens, who employed his father, Gary Kubiak, as their offensive coordinator in 2014. Kubiak departed the next season for Denver, but he is still fondly remembered in Baltimore.
Ohio State S Caleb Downs Declares For 2026 Draft
Ohio State safety and projected first-round pick Caleb Downs has declared for the 2026 NFL Draft (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer).
Downs, 21, was a five-star recruit out of Georgia who was thought to be the No. 1 safety in the class of 2023. He committed to Alabama, and not only did he earn a starting job as a freshman, he led the SEC in solo tackles. He finished 107 total tackles, plus 3.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions, and four passes defended and earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors for his efforts.
Nick Saban’s retirement after the 2023 college football season led Downs to transfer to Ohio State, where he continued to dominate opposing offenses. He did not match his freshman-year raw tackle totals in Columbus, but he made more splash plays around the line of scrimmage while continuing similar ball production in the passing game.
Downs racked up the accolades in his two years at Ohio State, earning first-team Big 10 and All-American honors in both years, plus Big 10 Defensive Player of the Year and the Jim Thorpe Award in his final seasons. Downs also played a key role on the Buckeyes defense that ran through a gauntlet of tough offense on their way to the 2024 national championship.
Downs is currently considered the top safety prospect in the 2026 draft class by a significant margin. At the moment, he is the No. 1 prospect on Pro Football Focus’ big board and No. 11 on ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s rankings. As an early-declaring prospect with three years as a starter and the growing impact of versatile safeties in the NFL, Downs could be seen as a young cornerstone around which teams can build their entire defense.
The NFL has not spent top-10 picks on safeties in recent years. The highest drafted safety in the last five years was Kyle Hamilton, the 14th overall pick in 2022, while Jamal Adams (sixth overall, 2017) was the last one to go in the first 10 picks. Downs has the potential to have the same kind of multi-dimensional impact in an NFL defense, though landing under the right coach in the appropriate defensive scheme will still be important. Downs’ testing at the Combine could solidify his status as a top-10 prospect, but a poor showing could drop his stock similarly to Hamilton’s pre-draft fall.
Ohio State WR Carnell Tate Declares For 2026 Draft
Ohio State wide receiver and projected first-round pick Carnell Tate is planning to leave school early and declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Tate, 20, arrived in Columbus in 2023 and managed to carve out a small role on offense as a freshman, despite the Buckeyes’ crowded receiver room. He stepped into the No. 3 job in 2024, and averaged 48.9 yards per game with four touchdowns on the season. This past season, he posted 79.5 yards per game with nine touchdowns, positioning himself as one of the top receiver prospects eligible for the 2026 draft.
Ohio State is known as ‘WRU,’ or Wide Receiver University, for their history of producing elite NFL wideouts under longtime receivers coach (and ex-Dolphins WR) Brian Hartline. (Hartline recently took a head coaching job at South Florida, so it will be interesting to see if that affects OSU’s status as the most consistent producer of pro-caliber wide receiving talent.)
Tate is the latest product out of that pipeline, which includes former teammates Emeka Egbuka and Marvin Harrison Jr. along with 2022 and 2023 first-rounders Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Based on those names alone, it is easy to see why NFL teams would be interesting in adding a Buckeyes receiver of their own.
Tate’s resume is not limited to his school. In addition to his solid traditional stats, he logged 3.03 yards per route run and a 85.7% contested catch rate, per Pro Football Focus. He also was not charged with a drop on 66 targets this season. Between his reliable hands, consistent route-running, and 6-foot-3 frame, Tate has plenty to offer that could fit in any NFL offense. He is already seen as a potential top-10 pick, and a strong gauntlet of testing at the NFL Combine in March could secure his stock.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/6/26
While many teams are making major decisions on head coaches, those remaining in the playoffs are still tweaking their practice squads before the wild-card round this weekend. Here are the latest updates:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Julian Hicks, WR Kisean Johnson, TE Messiah Swinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Luke Grimm
- Released: TE Tanner McLachlan
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Ben Niemann
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Jeremiah Pharms
- Released: CB Brandon Crossley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DB Parry Nickerson
- Released: DB Ambry Thomas
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: DB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: OT David Sharpe
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/6/26
Four teams signed players to reserve/futures contracts on Tuesday, though only the Dolphins made more than two moves. Here are the latest updates:
Detroit Lions
- OL Seth McLaughlin
Indianapolis Colts
- LB Joseph Vaughn
Miami Dolphins
- WR AJ Henning, DT Alex Huntley, LB Derrick McLendon, LB K.C. Ossai, OL Josh Priebe, OL Kion Smith
Washington Commanders
- G Tyler Cooper, WR Nick Nash
Panthers EVP Brandt Tilis To Interview For Falcons’ Football Ops. Job
The Falcons have another candidate for their newly-created president of football operations role: Panthers executive vice president of football operations Brandt Tilis.
Tilis is set to interview for the role, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, though ex-Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan appears to be a frontrunner for the position. Atlanta is nonetheless obligated to interview other candidates, who may also emerge as figures in their search for a new general manager.
Tilis came up in the Chiefs’ front office, starting as a salary cap analyst in 2010 and eventually rising to vice president of football operations in 2021. In 2024, he interviewed for the Panthers’ GM position, and though that ultimately went to Dan Morgan, Tilis still came to Carolina in a VP role. Carolina went 5-12 in their first year under their new front office and improved to 8-9 this year to secure the franchise’s first NFC South crown since 2015.
While head coach Dave Canales‘ work with Bryce Young and the Panthers offense has yielded clear results on the field, Morgan and Tilis have knocked their roster moves out of the park. Major investments, like drafting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and signing safety Tre’von Moehrig, have paid off, and Carolina’s roster is peppered with key contributors on excellent contracts that were signed in the last two offseasons. Among them are safety Nick Scott, cornerback Michael Jackson, and running back Rico Dowdle.
The Falcons’ focus on Ryan seems to close the door on Tilis securing the top football operations job, but his initial discussion with the team may keep him in the race for general manager, as well. The other known candidate for that job is Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham, who the team has already requested to interview.
Atlanta will likely finalize Ryan’s hiring as director of football operations before moving onto their GM and head coach selections, by which time Tilis’ name may come back up. He could also draw interest from another team looking to reshape their front office with an executive who helped build a dynasty in Kansas City and has contributed to Carolina’s rapid return to relevance.
Browns Request Interview With Seahawks DC Aden Durde
Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde has joined the Browns’ list of head coach candidates.
The Browns submitted an official request to interview Durde on Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The 46-year-old U.K. native began his coaching career in Europe before internships with the Cowboys (2014-2015) and the Falcons (2016) led to more opportunities in the NFL. He returned to Dan Quinn’s staff in Atlanta in 2018, first as a defensive quality control assistant and then as outside linebackers coach. Durde then followed Quinn to Dallas in 2021 and took over as the Cowboys’ defensive line coach.
The Seahawks came calling last offseason after hiring Mike Macdonald as their new head coach. Though Macdonald has been Seattle’s defensive play-caller, Durde has still played a key role in a unit that finished 11th in scoring and 14th in total defense in his debut season before ranking first and sixth, respectively, in 2025.
The Browns seem to be open to a new head coach with a background on either side of the ball, though their last four hires have all been offensive-minded coaches. Durde would not only represent a departure from that pattern, but a major leap of faith in a relatively unproven coach. His units in Seattle have been excellent, but that might have more to do with Macdonald, who is among the foremost defensive minds in the NFL. Handing Durde play-calling duties along with the other responsibilities of a head coach would be a tremendous leap of faith, one that could probably only be inspired by a flawless interview process.
Durde seems like a long shot to land the top job in Cleveland, but his consideration reflects the defensive focus of this offseason’s hiring cycle. Continued success in Seattle this postseason and in 2026 will keep him in the mix for future head coaching vacancies.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor Does Not Anticipate Coaching Changes
The Bengals announced on Monday that head coach Zac Taylor would stay in place in 2026 on Monday. Taylor, in turn, told reporters (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) that he would not be making changes to the rest of his coaching staff.
That means offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, defensive coordinator Al Golden, and special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons will all return for next season. None of the three seemed likely to garner interest for a head coaching job elsewhere, which was the only other way they would depart Cincinnati this offseason.
In his two years as OC, Pitcher’s offense has consistently been among the best in the league when Joe Burrow is healthy. Like any offense that loses a star quarterback, the Bengals immediately struggled after Burrow’s injury. Pitcher struggled to get the best out of backup Jake Browning, but a trade for Joe Flacco set the offense on fire for three game before the Bengals’ bye. After two rough games coming out of the bye, Burrow returned to the field, as did the offense to their usual heights (outside of getting shut out by the Ravens in Week 15). Though Pitcher has struggled to get Cincinnati’s running game going, that has been a perennial problem from the franchise that has to do with more than just coaching.
Golden was hired last offseason to improve a defense that ranked 25th in points and yards allowed last season. Instead, Cincinnati regressed to 30th and 31st, respectively, raising speculation that he could leave after just one season. Taylor has decided to stick with Golden, perhaps in the hopes that he can better re-acclimate to the NFL after spending three years at Notre Dame.
Cincinnati’s special teams ranked fourth in the NFL with a 90.6 team grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Kicker Evan McPherson bounced back after a rough start and punter Ryan Rekhow ranked among the league’s top punters. In other words, there is no reason to remove Simmons from his job; his unit was arguably the team’s most consistent throughout the season.
Browns Notes: Schwartz, Stefanski, QB Situation
The Browns’ first decision of the offseason was to fire head coach Kevin Stefanski. The next step will be finding his replacement.
Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz is an internal candidate, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal, which is no surprise given his success over the last three years. Owner Jimmy Haslam refused to confirm that Schwartz is a candidate on Monday (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand), but admitted he wanted to retain his veteran DC.
The Browns defense has consistently been the team’s stronger side of the ball since Schwartz came aboard in 2023. They ranked first in total defense in his debut season and fourth in 2025; between was a down year that was impacted by a turnover-prone offense. Schwartz’s defenses have never ranked higher than 13th in points allowed, though that can again be partially attributed to the offense consistently losing the field position battle. But his familiarity with the current roster – which is primarily built on defensive cornerstones – is a major factor in his favor.
The Browns’ quarterback situation is, as always, a key part of their long-term planning that goes hand-in-hand with their decision on a new head coach. Despite some potential flashed by Shedeur Sanders this season, Cleveland still seems to be intent on nabbing a top quarterback prospects in one of the next two drafts. That would normally lean a team towards hiring an offensive coordinator for the top job. However, this hiring cycle is considered a weak one for potential offensive-minded head coaches who could groom a young QB.
Cleveland may therefore be better served by promoting Schwartz and adding an up-and-coming offensive assistants to work with the next quarterback. However, Haslam also indicated that he is ultimately open to a head coach with a background on either side of the ball. Their last four hires were offensive-minded coaches, but their lack of success in that stretch could inspire them to break the pattern.
Here is the latest out of Cleveland:
- Even if they hire a defensive head coach, the Browns will be focusing on improving their offense this offseason. General manager Andrew Berry promised “significant investment” in the unit, per Grossi, with a first-round quarterback no doubt on the table. Cleveland may also need to replace multiple offensive linemen this offseason and could stand to improve their wide receiver corps.
- Deshaun Watson is expected to be on the roster in 2026, Berry said on Monday (via Grossi). He is still completing his rehab from dual Achilles tears suffered last season. This follows a report indicating the same, with Watson’s onerous contract requiring an untenable dead money number to shed.
- The Browns will still wait on any potential quarterback moves until they hire a new coach. From there, though, his first priority will likely be figuring out the team’s 2026 starter.
- Stefanski has no intention of taking time away from football and has immediately thrown his hat in the ring for other head-coaching opportunities, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. He is already expected to interview with the Giants, Titans, and Falcons. He will not, however, take a lesser job with the Buccaneers and reunite with Baker Mayfield, per FOX Sports’ Greg Auman.
- Longtime Browns guard Wyatt Teller is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career. The eight-year veteran does not know if his agent has discussed a new deal with the team, according to Easterling. If Cleveland is pursuing another rebuild, they may opt to move on from the 31-year-old lineman in favor of younger players.
- Though rookie tight end Harold Fannin emerged as an impact pass-catching this season, the Browns are still interested in retaining pending free agent David Njoku. He wants to stay in Cleveland, too, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano, but coaching staff changes could change the calculus for either side.