Kyle Van Noy on the Type of Head Coach Ravens Need to 'Take Them to the Next Level'
The Ravens had a lot of success under a "CEO head coach" in John Harbaugh, but outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy said Harbaugh's successor should be an "X's and O's guy."
"I would love to see a guy … just take it to another level," Van Noy said on NFL Network's "NFL GameDay." "Get the best out of the players that you have there. Get the best out of Lamar [Jackson]. Get the best out of Derrick Henry. Get the best out of Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. Just see what heights you can go, and I really believe they need an 'X's and O's guy' in there to take them to that next level."
All 15 head coach candidates the Ravens have interviewed thus far would be considered "X's and O's" types, which is not surprising considering what General Manager Eric DeCosta said the Ravens are looking for in their next head coach.
"We want somebody who's an expert in X's and O's, and we want somebody who the players can relate to, but also somebody that's going to be firm and continue the culture that we've built, which we think is important," DeCosta said in last week's press conference.
Van Noy, who is an unrestricted free agent, is confident the Ravens will get it right with their head coaching hire.
"I believe in [Owner Steve Bisciotti]," Van Noy said. "I think every fan after watching his press conference was impressed, because I was impressed. I've been around him. He has high expectations of being in the Super Bowl and so do we. And so when we didn't even make the playoffs, I understand what he had to do.
"I'm excited for the Ravens fans because they have a person like Steve Bisciotti at the helm."
On a side note, Van Noy appeared on the “Throwbacks with Matt Leinart & Jerry Ferrara” and reflected on the Ravens losing twice to the Steelers, including in the regular-season finale that eliminated Baltimore from playoff contention and clinched the AFC North for Pittsburgh.
"We let a 42-year-old [Aaron Rodgers] wax us twice, which just eats at me, because they weren't a good football team," Van Noy said. "They were better that day, but they weren't a good football team collectively. And we weren't a good football team either. It just sucks to not perform at the level we were capable of, especially in those big games.
The Ravens lost 27-22 at M&T Bank Stadium and then 26-24 in Pittsburgh.
"I think the first game there were a couple calls that didn't go our way. I hate saying that, but they were huge plays in the game," Van Noy said. "Then, the second game where we lost, we battled in the first half, and then in the second half, they just outplayed us.
"It was Aaron Rodgers basically saying, 'F you' to [Steelers Offensive Coordinator] Arthur Smith, 'I'm calling my own offense,' and it ended up working. And losing Kyle Hamilton was detrimental for us. But they ended up winning, so they were the better team."
How the Playoff Results Affect Ravens' Head Coaching Search
Just because the Ravens weren't playing in the postseason over the weekend doesn't mean they weren't affected by the results of the divisional round games.
Per league rules, in-person interviews with coaches on teams who will play in this Sunday's conference championship games must wait until at least Jan. 26, a week from today.
Five of the Ravens’ head coach candidates fall into this category: Denver Broncos Defensive Coordinator Vance Joseph and Pass Game Coordinator Davis Webb; Los Angeles Rams Defensive Coordinator Chris Shula and Pass Game Coordinator Nate Scheelhaase; and Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak.
Also, coaches whose teams are still playing cannot sign a contract with a new team until after their team is eliminated.
On a side note, The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that the Ravens were among the teams that had showed "strong interest" in former Cleveland Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski, who was hired as the Atlanta Falcons' new head coach on Saturday.
This Is 'One of the Most Stunning Offseasons for Coaching Movement in NFL History'
Another coach hit "free agency" this morning as the Bills fired Sean McDermott, according to multiple reports, after their playoff loss to the Denver Broncos.
There were 10 teams with openings this offseason and two have been filled (Harbaugh with the Giants and Stefanski).
Suddenly, the Ravens aren't the only team on the market with an opening and a premier quarterback. The Bills and Josh Allen are in a similar situation to Baltimore as they're looking to get over the hump.
Giants Reportedly Reached Out to Mike Tomlin Before Hiring Harbaugh
Harbaugh was officially hired as the Giants' head coach over the weekend, a few days after it had been reported that a deal was in the process of being finalized.
Harbaugh was the Giants' main target after the Ravens parted ways with him last Monday, but NFL Network's Tom Pelissero said the Giants also had interest in former Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
"Sources say a member of Giants ownership reached out to Mike Tomlin shortly after Tomlin stepped down as the Steelers' head coach on Tuesday," Pelissero said. "Tomlin reiterated the same thing that he has told everybody else: He does not plan to coach in 2026."
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer reported that Harbaugh will report directly to Giants ownership. Previously, the Giants' head coach reported to the general manager. Harbaugh reported directly to Bisciotti during his 18 seasons in Baltimore.
Jamison Hensley Says Ravens Need to Be More Aggressive in Free Agency to Win AFC North in 2026
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley said the Ravens need to be more aggressive in free agency to win the AFC North next season.
"The Ravens are typically among the teams that don't make big splashes in March because they believe the draft is the best way to build a team," Hensley wrote. "It's a philosophy that has made them one of the winningest franchises over the past 25 years.
"But Baltimore has plenty of needs -- including upgrading the offensive line and adding pass-rushers -- while entering a critical championship window with Jackson, who turned 29 in January. All of this would hinge on lowering Jackson's cap number, which would increase Baltimore's cap spending."
DeCosta said last week that he'd like to "potentially go after a couple of big-ticket items in free agency." He noted that the key to having the ability to be more active in free agency is to sign Jackson to a new deal.
Where Do Ravens Rank in 'Misery Index' for Non-Playoff Teams?
The Athletic’s Saad Yousuf ranked the 18 teams that missed the playoffs in terms of their overall future outlook. He referred to the rankings as the "Misery Index." The higher the number, the more positive it is for the team.
The Ravens landed at No. 17, second only to the Detroit Lions. Yousuf rated the Ravens' future outlook an eight on a 1-10 scale.
"The injuries, especially to Lamar Jackson, helped sink the 2025 season, but the Ravens didn't feel like a team with much potential — even if Tyler Loop had made that field goal and they had snuck into the playoffs," Yousuf wrote. "Obviously, the head coaching hire will contribute strongly to how the future outlook is viewed, and the same can be said for every team with an opening.
"But the Ravens have an elite quarterback in his prime and some competent pieces in place on both sides of the ball. That's pressure on the next coach to produce instant results."
Bucky Brooks Admits He Was Wrong About Henry
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks identified 10 players who proved him wrong this season. Henry, who again showed that age is just a number, was among them.
"It is rare for a running back to nearly claim a rushing title in his 10th season, but Henry (1,595 yards) did just that, falling 26 yards shy of James Cook's league-leading total of 1,621," Brooks wrote. "The 6-foot-2, 252-pounder -- who already owns two ground crowns -- showed no signs of slowing down despite his advanced age (he turned 32 earlier this month) and heavy workload (2,860 career rush attempts, including the playoffs).
"Henry led the NFL with 17 explosive runs (20-plus yards) and finished second in rushing touchdowns with 16, all while averaging a robust 5.2 yards per carry. Although he coughed up some costly fumbles, the veteran's production as a downhill runner nearly helped Baltimore claim a division title despite some serious flaws on the roster."
