The Baltimore Ravens need a coach. There are many, many possibilities. Some have already interviewed for the job. The Ravens have requested to interview others and will do so in the coming days. Some candidates who would seem likely have surprisingly not been connected yet but almost certainly will be. And a couple have only been connected hypothetically but seem to at least be worthy of discussion.
I’ve decided to make a big board. Well, a big … internet space. I’m going to run through my “power rankings” of Ravens coaching candidates.
Some things to be aware of:
1. I’m typically inclined to prefer offensive coaches to defensive coaches. I do tend to fear that it is more difficult to replace a successful offensive coordinator who moves on to a head coaching job than it is to replace a successful defensive coordinator who does the same. I’d rather have the consistency of the offensive vision coming from the head coach.
2. I think experience matters … sorta. I do recognize a rookie NFL head coach hasn’t won a Super Bowl since George Seifert in Super Bowl XXIV. And even that was unique. Seifert was essentially an extension of Bill Walsh, with whom he had already won three Super Bowls. The Ravens are in “Super Bowl now” mode, but if it takes two years to win a Super Bowl instead of one, we’ll probably forgive that.
3. I did not include any current NFL head coaches that have not been fired as of Sunday night, Jan. 11. If Matt LaFleur were to become available, he’d probably be fifth on my list. If Nick Sirianni were … I have no idea. He should probably be second or third. But given his personality, I’ll say ninth. If Mike Tomlin were to become available, I’m not remotely kidding when I say he’d be atop the list. He hasn’t disappointed in the postseason. He’s miraculously guided seriously flawed teams with mediocre to awful quarterback play to the playoffs.
4. It’s not like I’m sitting in on the interviews. I don’t know (most of) these guys personally. I’m basing it on what I know.
Here’s my list:
21. Ravens OC Todd Monken
There is absolutely no reason to think that Monken would be involved in the process. But he’s a current assistant who is interviewing for other head coaching jobs, so I figured he needed to be mentioned. Obviously this is a non-starter given the personality differences he had with current Ravens offensive players.
20. Chiefs DC Steve Spagnuolo
I’m admittedly a little surprised the former Rams head coach (and briefly Giants interim head coach) hasn’t been connected to the job in any way. Spagnuolo has history in Baltimore (two years working under John Harbaugh 2013-2014) but is 66 years old. Which probably has a lot to do with why there’s been no connection.
19. Packers DC Jeff Hafley
Hafley is one of the top names in the coaching cycle this year but has yet to be connected to the Ravens job. That’s a little surprising considering his obvious connection to one of their top stars (he coached Zay Flowers at Boston College). It might be tough to overcome his defense getting run over by Derrick Henry in Week 17 and then blowing an 18-point lead against the Bears in the playoffs.
18. Rams Pass Game Coordinator Nathan Scheelhasse
Albert Breer reported this past weekend that the Ravens intended to interview the 35-year-old former Illinois quarterback. He’s an intriguing young candidate who could be the impressive offensive mind the Ravens need, but it’s tough to gather how prepared he is for the job.
17. Former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury
The Ravens intend to interview Kingsbury, which makes sense. He’s become a bit of a punch line because he never really lived up to the hype in Arizona. It’s fair to consider how much of that is on him and how much of that is on Kyler Murray. Things didn’t improve for Murray post-Kingsbury, either. Maybe I actually have Kingsbury too low on the list, but I think there are better bets to make.
16. Rams OC Mike LaFleur
This is another odd one that has yet to be connected to the Ravens. LaFleur is one of the more popular names in the cycle. His struggles with the Jets have been forgotten thanks to his success with the Rams, but it’s hard to know where Sean McVay ends and LaFleur begins.
15. Former Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel
McDaniel is set to interview this week. I think a lot of us would be interested in seeing him as the next offensive coordinator, but there were enough issues in Miami that it doesn’t feel like the time is right to be a head coach again right now.
14. Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver
If you’ve ever had one conversation with Anthony Weaver, you know why the Ravens are interested in him as their next head coach. He is the definition of a leader and potential “football CEO” type. I just think the Ravens need real X’s and O’s answers right now and the Dolphins were a bottom-third defense in the league.
13. Chiefs OC Matt Nagy
Nagy was interviewed by the Ravens this past weekend. His stint as the head coach in Chicago probably wasn’t quite as bad as you remember it being. He went 34-31 in four seasons and made the playoffs twice! But it’s tough to measure what he’s done in Kansas City because, like with Mike LaFleur, it’s hard to know where Andy Reid’s vision ends and Nagy’s begins.
12. Rams DC Chris Shula
Albert Breer also reported this past weekend that the Ravens had requested to interview Shula, which makes sense. The 39-year-old has coaching in his blood. He is the grandson of Baltimore Colts legend Don Shula and the son of former NFL head coach Dave Shula. The Rams finished as a top-10 scoring defense this season. Shula warrants legitimate consideration.
11. Broncos QB Coach, Pass Game Coordinator Davis Webb
The Ravens interviewed the 30-year-old last week. Comparisons to McVay are inevitable. Webb would be the first 30-year-old head coach since McVay, which obviously worked out quite well for the Rams. Webb is fascinating. He’s clearly off the radar, which is sort of reminiscent of how the Ravens found John Harbaugh 18 years ago. He’s really intriguing. This probably isn’t the moment to take such a chance. But I’m interested.
10. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski
If the Ravens are in the market for an intriguing 30-year-old offensive mind, the former Towson defensive end is deserving of consideration considering he has coordinator experience. He has not been connected to the Ravens job as of yet, but that could change with Jacksonville eliminated. The only downside in trying to measure his role in the Jaguars’ success is that it was Liam Coen who called the plays.
9. Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman
I don’t think it’s realistic, but he’s so incredibly impressive as a leader that I’d at least want to make the call. He at least has some NFL experience as a player. I’ll save some more of my broader thoughts for the other college coach coming up on the list.
8. Bills OC Joe Brady
On one hand, he’s a 36-year-old coordinator for one of the best offenses in football. On the other, there seem to be pretty regular rumblings about whether or not the Bills should keep him and he was fired from his previous coordinator gig in Carolina. The negatives of the Bills’ offense can at least in part be explained by their lack of offensive playmakers, but the positives may well have more to do with the quarterback than they do the coordinator.
7. Indiana HC Curt Cignetti
Cignetti might be the greatest coach in the history of football. Unlike Freeman, he has an offensive background. Still, he has absolutely no NFL experience whatsoever. There hasn’t been a successful head coach with no NFL experience at all since Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer in the late ’80s and early ’90s.
The issue with both Cignetti and Freeman (neither of whom has been connected in any way) is that the team couldn’t bring them in for an interview. Neither can go through the process and fail to get the job. It would be extremely damaging to their otherwise impeccable brands. The team can attempt to do it all under the guise of secrecy, but it’s tough to prevent that type of thing from getting out.
I’d want to make the phone call. I’d want to know what he thinks. But I don’t think it’s logical or at all practical.
6. 49ers DC Robert Saleh
Saleh is slated to interview with the team this week. His stock is back on the rise after an impressive road playoff win in Philadelphia. His stint as a head coach with the Jets was a mess, but, you know, the Jets. He’s particularly intriguing because there’s a thought he could bring fellow former 49ers staffer Mike McDaniel with him as offensive coordinator.
5. Chargers DC Jesse Minter
Perceived as the favorite for the job, he’s the guy to hire if you’re trying to replace the one who got away (Mike Macdonald). His connection to the Harbaugh coaching tree (including four years as a defensive assistant in Baltimore) is a perceived negative to some. But many of those people still think the Ravens should have fired Harbaugh in favor of Macdonald, so the argument makes little sense. He’s the central casting hire. He makes sense.
4. Broncos DC Vance Joseph
Joseph interviewed last week. It’s easy to dismiss him based on his 11-21 record in two seasons as Broncos head coach (2017-2018). What I can’t be dismissive of is how the Ravens’ biggest issue is their complete inability to generate a consistent edge rush and how Joseph has made a superstar out of a 64th overall pick (Nik Bonitto) and gotten an insanely high level of production from a 239th overall pick (Jonathon Cooper). That’s what the Ravens need.
3. Vikings DC Brian Flores
I don’t know how Steve Bisciotti feels about his lawsuit against the league and other teams. I don’t know if Flores’ success in Minnesota has made teams see past that. I’m a little concerned about reports of power struggles in Miami even before he was allegedly asked to tank games. But he would definitely bring a much-needed edge to the defense. I’m very interested.
2. Former Browns HC Kevin Stefanski
I acknowledge the 45-56 record. I also believe that taking the Cleveland Browns to the playoffs twice is like winning two Super Bowls with a real team. I know his reputation as a creative offensive mind never seemed to translate to the quarterbacks he worked with in Cleveland. But his success was so impractical he was literally a two-time NFL Coach of the Year.
I need to know more about what happened with Shadeur Sanders. He needs to explain it. My gut tells me he was sick of having ownership impose upon him and he couldn’t hide his frustration. But if he actually took that out on Sanders, it’s going to be very hard for other players to trust him. He’ll need to thoroughly explain it to the Ravens and he’ll need to thoroughly explain it to Lamar Jackson. If Jackson trusts him, that’s all that matters. If he can’t, it’s a non-starter.
1. Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak
I know I said experience matters and then topped the list with a coach who has no head coaching experience. But my gut tells me that Kubiak’s life in coaching helps make up for it. His relationships will almost certainly help him build a better staff. And I think his time with Mike Macdonald has benefitted him as well.
But beyond just his last name, I absolutely love how he simplified the Seahawks’ offense. If you have a game-changing offensive talent, get him the ball. And then get him the ball again. And then again. And again. Don’t overthink it. The Ravens don’t have a Jaxson Smith-Njigba, but they would be well served to learn from how boring Kubiak was willing to be.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox