Regardless of the outcome yesterday, there’s been a scammer perpetrating the streets of Baltimore since 2008. When Stringer Bell sat in those Baltimore Community College macroeconomics classes during Season 1 of The Wire and truly thought he could become a legitimate businessman—that’s how I imagine John Harbaugh sat in meetings as the Eagles’ Special Teams Coordinator back in 2007. A coach who has been the embodiment of mediocrity, relying solely on the talents of generational athletes to cover up his incompetence, John Harbaugh has held the Baltimore Ravens back for far too long.
Before last season, under Mike Macdonald, the defense finished 1st in Points Per Game and 6th in Yards Allowed. The last time a Baltimore Ravens defense was ranked Top 5 in both categories was from 2018 to 2019, when Wink Martindale coordinated the defense. Before that, it was 2011, under Chuck Pagano, one of the best defensive minds in the NFL at the time. However, immediately after Pagano left to become the Colts’ head coach in 2012, Baltimore struggled, finishing 12th in total points and 17th in total yards.
2012 was, of course, the Super Bowl year, but while Ray Lewis only played in six regular-season games that year, there’s no excuse for a defense featuring Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Jimmy Smith, and a Pro Bowl-level Bernard Pollard not to be ranked in the Top 10 of any defensive categories. People forget that Baltimore lost four out of their last five games to end the season after starting 9-2, fired Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron on December 10 (replacing him with Jim Caldwell), and had a coup on defense due to veterans feeling they were not being put in positions to succeed by the coaching staff. They finished 10-6. A Super Bowl was won, yes, but the defensive issues and lack of in-game adjustments that plagued Baltimore for years were on full display. The Ravens nearly blew Super Bowl XLVII, barely avoiding one of the biggest choke jobs in sports history. Baltimore was almost the original 28-6.
Before Mike Macdonald took over as defensive coordinator in 2022, Baltimore boasted one of the worst defenses in football, ranking 19th in points and 25th in yards during the 2021 season. This was a stark contrast to the year prior when the defense, coordinated by Wink Martindale, ranked 2nd in points and 7th in yards per game. It also took the city of Baltimore nearly revolting before Harbaugh replaced Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman with Todd Monken—a move that everyone knew was necessary to facilitate the growth of their young MVP quarterback, Lamar Jackson. But let’s not forget, the only reason Jackson got his opportunity in 2018 was that the team was struggling at 4-5 by Week 10. It was shaping up to be Baltimore’s fourth consecutive season missing the playoffs, leaving Harbaugh with no other option but to play Jackson as the grim reaper loomed over his career as Ravens head coach. Instead of fostering Jackson’s growth, Harbaugh handicapped his own MVP quarterback for years, opting to run an offense that was just good enough to get into the postseason. Just good enough to keep Harbaugh employed and maintain the illusion that the Ravens were a “well-coached team.”
John Harbaugh is not a “bad” football coach. However, history has shown that if you leave it up to him to figure things out without some of the league’s best offensive or defensive minds on his staff, the chances of success are slim to none. Consider the current state of the team: a defense ranked 23rd in points allowed and 25th in yards allowed. A team that clearly lacks discipline, leading the NFL with over 101 penalties for 865 yards—100 yards more than second place (Houston Texans, 754 yards) and 200 yards more than third place (Tennessee Titans, 665 yards). Is Baltimore truly coached by the elite, or have they relied on the greatness of generational talents to scrape through each Sunday? This reliance becomes glaringly obvious when matched up against elite coaches, especially in playoff games. Since their Super Bowl victory in February 2013, the Ravens have only won three playoff games. By comparison, Donald Trump nearly has as many election victories in less time and with fewer attempts. A conversation needs to be had.
Over time, society has corrupted the meaning of “mid.” Mid isn’t inherently bad; it’s not good either—it’s right in the middle. It gets the job done when there’s no other choice, but you know you deserve better. That is John Harbaugh. But this is the NFL. How much longer should we accept underachievement when there’s so much more out there?
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