Todd Monken Discusses Relationship With Lamar Jackson, Offense's Regression
The Ravens offense was prolific under coordinator Todd Monken in 2023 and 2024, but the unit led by two-time MVP Lamar Jackson took a step back in Monken's third year.
During an appearance on “The Ryan Ripken Show” Thursday, Monken took responsibility for his role in the offense's regression and pushed back on speculation that he and Jackson had issues.
"I didn't coach Lamar well enough," Monken said. "I didn't have as good of a relationship as I could have. I didn't do the things we needed to do this year to win enough games to give ourselves a chance. I believe that.
"Lamar and I, to me, had a good relationship. Could it have been better? Of course. Lamar and I never had an issue. I don't know where that comes from."
While Monken isn't one to make excuses, he did acknowledge that Jackson's health played a role in the offense falling short of expectations this season.
Coming off one of the best statistical seasons ever for a quarterback in 2024, Jackson missed four games this season due to injury and did not look like himself for most of the games when he was active.
"I really wish Lamar would have been healthy and seen what we kept building on," Monken said. "Where we went from '23 to '24, and then we just never got it going. That's just the way it is. That's what you have to live with."
Monken also rejected the notion that former Head Coach John Harbaugh and Jackson had a fractured relationship or that Harbaugh's message got stale.
"I never saw Lamar and Coach Harbaugh not have a great relationship," Monken said. "I never saw Coach Harbaugh and any of our players not have a great relationship. Never. Not one time."
While the Ravens haven't made any other staff changes since parting ways with Harbaugh earlier this week, Monken spoke about his time with the Ravens in the past tense.
"At the end of the day, it was a great three-year run," Monken said. "I wish everyone the best. … I'll always be part of the Ravens and always be part of what we did. I'll always be a huge Lamar Jackson fan."
Jeff Zrebiec Looks at How Ravens Can Get Back on Track in 2026 and Beyond
The Ravens were a missed field goal away from hosting a playoff game this weekend, but the truth is that they didn't look like the team pundits and oddsmakers tabbed as Super Bowl favorites before the season.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec looked at what the Ravens need to do to get back on track for 2026 and beyond.
"They have plenty to fix, but this is not a teardown situation," Zrebiec wrote. "They still have a talented roster, led by a two-time league MVP quarterback. Find the right coach, get Jackson healthy and happy, and solidify the offensive and defensive fronts, and there's no reason they shouldn't be preparing for a game at this time next year — if they're not enjoying a first-round bye."
Zrebiec said the Ravens have to get back to the philosophy of former general manager and current Executive Vice President Ozzie Newsome, who "always believed in building the team from the inside out, concluding that being strong and deep in the trenches was the best way to construct a winner."
"Re-signing center Tyler Linderbaum, a three-time Pro Bowler, and adding two bookend guards around him would solidify the offensive line," Zrebiec wrote. "Adding at least two interior defensive linemen would do the trick on the other side of the ball. Earmarking several draft picks for the trenches feels like the best way for the Ravens to get back to being the physical, tough-to-play-against team they've been in their best years."
Zrebiec added that the time is right for General Manager Eric DeCosta to "take a big swing on a veteran acquisition."
"The Ravens have used a ton of early draft picks and salary-cap space on their secondary, and it's yielded uneven returns," Zrebiec wrote. "Though no secondary is going to consistently hold up if the front seven is not harassing the quarterback. The Ravens haven't really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.
"You want your defense to get off the field more often and end this pattern of gut-wrenching losses and blown leads? You want your defense to get back to being feared again? Be willing to dip into your draft capital and trade a young player or two to acquire Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby. He'd completely change the face of the Ravens defense, which had a rough 2025."
Mina Kimes Says Ravens' Next Head Coach Should Be Defensive-Minded, But Grok AI Disagrees
The first two Ravens head coaches – Ted Marchibroda and Brian Billick – were offensive coordinators. Harbaugh was a special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach.
ESPN's Mina Kimes believes the next head coach in Baltimore needs to be defensive-minded.
"One, by far the most attractive candidates this cycle are defense," Kimes said on "The Mina Kimes Show." "I think you've got really appealing candidates there. I would put in order for me: Brian Flores, Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh.
"The other reason I think they should go defense, other than the quality of the candidates, is that's lost in the 'Oh my god, they missed a kick and that's why Harbaugh lost his job,' is that they also missed approximately 1,000 tackles in the second half [of the loss to the Steelers]. I just feel this Ravens team has lost their defensive identity over the last couple of years. … This defense is what I very much would prioritize here, and bringing in one of those guys I think would go a long way towards that."
Grok AI disagreed with Kimes.
The Baltimore Sun’s Brian Wacker asked the artificial intelligence-powered chatbot who the Ravens' new head coach will be, and the answer was Seattle Seahawks Offensive Coordinator Klint Kubiak.
"Lamar Jackson is a generational talent in his prime, and the biggest criticism of the Harbaugh era in recent years has been failing to build an offense that consistently maximizes his dual-threat ability — especially in the playoffs," Grok AI said. "Kubiak's scheme in Seattle this season has been explosive: heavy pre-snap motion, wide-zone running, a balanced mix of under-center and shotgun plays, and creative ways to get playmakers the ball in space.
"Sam Darnold looked like a Pro Bowler under him, and Jaxon Smith-Njigba exploded as a receiver. That style translates perfectly to Jackson's mobility and arm talent, potentially unlocking another level for the Ravens' attack while keeping Todd Monken (if retained) or building around similar principles."
Flores, Saleh, and Kubiak are among the candidates the Ravens have reportedly requested interviews with.
