The Baltimore Ravens Are Failing Lamar Jackson
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How John Harbaugh’s leadership approach is limiting the prime of a generational quarterback
By any objective measure, Lamar Jackson is the most gifted offensive player the Baltimore Ravens have ever had. He is a two-time MVP, one of the most dynamic dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history, and a player whose presence alone elevates the franchise’s national relevance. Yet despite his talent, work ethic, and leadership, Jackson has spent the majority of his career working against structural limitations that should never burden a player of his caliber.
The truth is uncomfortable but unavoidable: the Baltimore Ravens, under John Harbaugh’s leadership, have failed to support Lamar Jackson in ways worthy of a franchise quarterback.
This is not an indictment of Jackson. It is an indictment of decisions surrounding him — decisions that have limited his growth, handicapped his offensive environment, and forced him to overcome obstacles that other elite quarterbacks do not face.
The Greg Roman Era: A System That Restricted Lamar’s Evolution
From 2019 through 2022, Greg Roman oversaw the Ravens offense. Roman’s system produced historic rushing numbers, but his passing concepts were widely criticized as outdated, static, and predictable. The scheme relied heavily on tight ends, featured limited route diversity, and did little to help receivers create separation or give Jackson modern progressions.
This wasn’t speculation. Prominent voices across the league said it outright:
- Steve Young, in a highly circulated ESPN segment, argued that Jackson was being “held back by the Ravens system,” not by his own abilities.
- Steve Smith Sr. repeatedly described Roman’s passing game as “elementary,” noting that Baltimore’s scheme lacked the sophistication needed to fully develop an elite quarterback.
- Former Ravens receivers echoed similar frustrations after leaving the organization.
Jackson’s critics often focused on his passing numbers without acknowledging that the system itself limited his opportunities to grow as a passer. The Ravens’ philosophical commitment to a run-heavy identity may have produced wins, but it also created a ceiling — one that capped Jackson’s evolution during his early prime.
Most importantly, the Ravens waited until Jackson’s contract year to part ways with Roman, despite multiple seasons of offensive stagnation. It was a reactive move, not a proactive one.
Todd Monken Proved the Narrative Was Wrong
The arrival of offensive coordinator Todd Monken in 2023 finally provided a modern offensive framework. Under Monken, Jackson flourished:
- His efficiency improved
- His intermediate and deep passing numbers increased
- His anticipation throws became a weekly highlight
- The offense diversified beyond tight-end-heavy concepts
Monken didn’t reinvent Jackson — he simply gave him the platform he should have had years earlier.
The success validated what many had argued for years: Jackson’s limitations were never about ability. They were about structure.
2025 Has Reintroduced Old Problems: The Offensive Line
Yet even with Monken’s improvements, the 2025 season has exposed another major flaw: the Ravens’ unwillingness to decisively address offensive line issues.
Baltimore’s 2025 offensive line has struggled significantly — with protection breakdowns, communication errors, and inconsistent run blocking. Jackson has faced sustained pressure, forced check-downs, and unnecessary hits. These aren’t minor concerns for a quarterback who carries such a large portion of the offense’s burden.
Despite this, head coach John Harbaugh has been reluctant to make meaningful changes. His weekly press conferences have emphasized “sticking together,” even as the shortcomings remain glaring. In a league where adaptability is essential, stagnation is costly.
For a franchise quarterback, protection is not optional.
It is foundational.
Mismanaging Personnel: The Keaton Mitchell Example
Baltimore’s delayed usage of running back Keaton Mitchell early in the season is another illustration of Harbaugh’s resistance to timely adjustments. Mitchell’s explosiveness was evident from the moment he touched the field, yet it took weeks of offensive stagnation — and public pressure — before the coaching staff expanded his role.
This pattern is familiar: change comes late, only when forced. The result is missed opportunities for Jackson and the offense to capitalize on dynamic talent.
A Footnote With Consequences: Rookie Defensive Coordinator
While the offense is the centerpiece of Jackson’s challenges, it’s worth noting another costly decision: Harbaugh hired rookie defensive coordinator Zach Orr in 2024. Orr required developmental time — time the Ravens did not have if they intended to maximize their contention window.
Baltimore’s defense struggled through predictable growing pains in 2024 and 2025, resulting in miscommunication, late-game collapses, and lost seeding opportunities. Those shortcomings directly affected the team’s playoff positioning and placed additional pressure on Jackson to compensate.
A quarterback in his prime shouldn’t carry the weight of organizational learning curves.
Harbaugh’s Leadership Philosophy: Stability at the Expense of Evolution
Harbaugh has long prided himself on loyalty — loyalty to staff, loyalty to philosophy, loyalty to “Ravens football.” While admirable in some contexts, this approach has often come at the expense of adaptability.
Too often, systemic issues are met with patience rather than urgency.
Too often, loyalty overrides performance.
Too often, the solution arrives only when circumstances force it.
Great coaches evolve with their quarterbacks.
Harbaugh evolves only when external pressure demands it.
That disconnect is at the heart of Baltimore’s struggles to fully support Jackson.
Responsibility Extends Beyond Harbaugh
If the Ravens hope to truly maximize Lamar Jackson’s rare talent, accountability cannot stop with the head coach. General manager Eric DeCosta and owner Steve Bisciotti must be willing to challenge entrenched habits, reevaluate long-standing practices, and ensure that organizational decisions align with the goal of building around Jackson — not merely expecting Jackson to elevate everything around him.
The NFL’s best franchises understand that elite quarterbacks are the centerpiece of their identity. They are protected, supported, and surrounded with innovation. Baltimore must embrace that model fully — not partially, not reluctantly, and not reactively.
Conclusion: Lamar Jackson Has Carried the Franchise. It’s Time for the Franchise to Carry Him.
Lamar Jackson has given Baltimore MVP seasons, unforgettable moments, and a level of excitement and relevance few franchises ever experience. He has done so despite offensive limitations, staffing missteps, and an organizational philosophy that has too often forced him to compensate for predictable flaws.
If the Ravens want to ensure Jackson’s legacy — and their own — they must prioritize his development, his protection, and his offensive environment with the urgency and commitment he deserves.
Because the question is no longer whether Lamar Jackson can win a Super Bowl.
The question is whether the Ravens will finally give him the structure that allows him to do it.
By: Flock Nation Editorial Staff