Pundits Debate Whether Ravens or Bills Have Best Head Coach Opening
The NFL coaching carousel took an unexpected turn when the Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott on Monday, and the move could impact the Ravens' head coaching search.
The Ravens' job has been universally regarded as the most attractive of this coaching cycle, but with the Bills entering the competition for candidates, the Ravens are no longer the only franchise in the mix that has an elite quarterback and Super Bowl expectations.
Largely because of Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, pundits are in agreement that the Ravens and Bills are the most desirable destinations among the six current openings, but there is debate over which job is the best.
NFL.com columnist Judy Battista hedged, ranking the Ravens as 1A and the Bills as 1B.
"It's more than just having a two-time league MVP as the quarterback," Battista wrote of the Ravens. "It's that Owner Steve Bisciotti is known to be extremely patient – 18 years with one head coach! – and a non-meddler."
Regarding the Bills, Battista wrote: "Whoever takes this job is going to have a busy offseason because there is significant work to be done on the roster. Buffalo has expiring contracts with starters on the offensive line, as well as at defensive end, linebacker and safety. A massive remake of the wide receiver room is in order. And right now, the Bills are projected to be over the salary cap. So, getting back to where this team was is going to be a project.
"Still, Allen is a huge draw and so is the brand-new stadium that will open next season. General Manager Brandon Beane is staying on and has been named president of football operations, giving him greater power, including oversight of the coaching staff. That's an interesting development, considering there were some inarguable roster deficiencies this season."
Yahoo! Sports’ Frank Schwab put the Ravens' opening at No. 1 and the Bills' at No. 2.
"Many of the most appealing candidates will look at the opportunity to work for a rock-solid organization, which should still be in a Super Bowl window with Lamar Jackson, and put Baltimore at the top of their list of openings," Schwab wrote.
As for the Bills, Schwab wrote: "There will be no adjustment period for the new coach. He'll be expected to make a Super Bowl right away or it will be considered a failure. That's tough. Also, it's a roster that is flawed around Allen. Yet, the opportunity to coach a player like Allen in his prime doesn't come along often. That makes it a big job, even with the immediate heat involved with whoever is hired."
CBS Sports’ Jared Dubin and Garrett Podell gave the Bills the nod over the Ravens for the top spot.
"The Buffalo Bills have arguably the best player in the league at the most important position in the sport in Josh Allen," Dubin and Podell wrote. "That alone makes this the most coveted job of this cycle, after the Bills fired Sean McDermott after their latest playoff loss to the Denver Broncos. Pairing yourself next to Allen has championship potential, so every head coach who hasn't already accepted a job will almost certainly stop what they're doing and see if they can align themselves with Allen."
Russell Street Report’s James Ogden said the Ravens' organizational structure gives them an edge over the Bills.
"Bisciotti confirmed [last week] that for a new coach, the Ravens structure will remain: Both [General Manager Eric DeCosta] and the new coach will report directly to the owner," Ogden wrote. "Whatever your opinion of Beane as the GM in Buffalo, he doesn't appear to warrant a promotion to overseeing the whole football operation. Bisciotti put some subtle and some less-subtle pressure on EDC in the press conference, and he didn't change his structure to give his GM all-encompassing power.
"Many expected that EDC would pick the new head coach and he'll certainly have a big say, but Bisciotti reminded us all that he has the power. And the structure he laid out, reporting directly to him, and in collaboration with the GM, will be a very attractive thing for the smart HC candidates."
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio favored the Bills because there are "no questions about [Allen's] short- or long-term future with the team." The Ravens plan to re-enter contract negotiations this offseason with Jackson, who is under contract through 2027. If an agreement isn't reached, his contract's escalation will make it tougher to build around him.
NFL Insider Says McDermott Could 'Make a Lot of Sense' as Ravens' Next Head Coach
With McDermott suddenly without a job, could the Ravens add him to their list of candidates?
"Baltimore is certainly one that I could see making a lot of sense for Sean McDermott," NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero said on ESPN's "Rich Eisen Show."
McDermott, 51, had a 98-50 record (.662) in nine seasons with the Bills and took them to the playoffs eight times. Much like the Ravens during that span, the Bills have been unable to get over the Super Bowl hump.
Before becoming Buffalo's head coach, McDermott was the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles and Carolina Panthers.
One prominent name the Ravens can scratch off their list is San Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator Robert Saleh, who is expected to be hired as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach. The Ravens interviewed Saleh on Sunday.
Bisciotti 'Showed What Great Ownership Looks Like' at Press Conference
Bisciotti continues to get rave reviews for his candor and humor at last week's press conference.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando said Bisciotti showed what great ownership looks like, which is especially important now, considering the Ravens are competing for the top head coaching candidates.
"Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti was a rock star during his recent news conference, a huge contrast to other teams seeking coaches," Sando wrote. "Bisciotti had not spoken to reporters since 2022 before breaking his public silence following coach John Harbaugh's recent firing. It was worth the wait. During a roughly one-hour session, Bisciotti exuded confidence and competence.
"Awesome stuff. Bet you wish your favorite team's owner had it figured out to this degree."
Sando shared an anecdote about Bisciotti from an executive with another team.
"The guy once showed up shoeless to NFL meetings," the exec said. "God bless. That is him. They are so confident in themselves and who they are and what it means."
Harbaugh Reportedly Was Still in Play for Titans Before Finalizing Deal With Giants
The news broke early last Thursday morning that Harbaugh and the New York Giants were finalizing a deal for him to be their new head coach, but the move wasn't officially announced until Monday.
During the time in between, Harbaugh's agent, Bryan Harlan, was talking with the Titans, according to The Athletic’s Ian O’Connor.
"Harbaugh's done deal with the Giants was not done. And the Titans weren't the only NFL team ready to pounce if the unimaginable happened and the whole thing fell apart," O'Connor wrote. "Executives around the league wondered if the delay in finalizing a contract meant there was a problem brewing between the Giants and Harbaugh. Harlan wouldn't have been doing his job and protecting his client if he didn't keep talking to the Titans, just as the Giants wouldn't have been protecting themselves if they didn't keep alternative candidates warm in the bullpen.
"As both sides worked in good faith, some vultures circled above. One NFL executive told Harlan that his team's owner was willing to hop on a plane the next day and make a nine-figure offer to Harbaugh if the Giants negotiations went cold."
O'Connor said the holdup was that Harbaugh needed it in writing that he would report to Owner John Mara, and not to GM Joe Schoen, which ran counter to the way the Giants have conducted business. During his 18 seasons with the Ravens, Harbaugh reported to Bisciotti.
Had the deal with the Giants fallen through and Harbaugh ended up with the Titans, he would've been on the visitors' sideline at M&T Bank Stadium next season. The Ravens and Giants will meet in Baltimore in 2028.
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