Tag: Harbaugh

Oct 26, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Ravens ‘very confident’ Lamar Jackson will start Thursday

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After Lamar Jackson missed his third straight game over the weekend, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the team is planning for their star quarterback to return Thursday against the Miami Dolphins.

“I feel very confident,” Harbaugh told reporters Monday. “I feel very confident about it. We expect him to be out there Thursday night.”

Later Monday, Jackson was listed as a full participant on the Ravens’ estimated injury report.

The two-time NFL Most Valuable Player returned to the practice field last week and was officially deemed questionable to face the Chicago Bears in Week 8.

After noting Jackson was a full participant on Friday’s injury report, the Ravens changed the “full” designation to “limited” the next day when they downgraded him to out. Harbaugh explained that Jackson only ran the scout team on Friday, meaning he should have been listed as limited per NFL policy, which the coach termed “an honest mistake.”

“When it became apparent that I knew he wasn’t going to play for sure, we just declared him out,” Harbaugh said Monday. “We were hopeful. I probably would say it was an outside chance. I still had my fingers crossed.”

Jackson was not made available to reporters on Monday.

The Ravens lost a pair of games that Cooper Rush started under center. They pivoted to Tyler Huntley as their starter against the Bears and pulled out a 30-16 victory.

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens coordinator Todd Monken on the field before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Ravens OC Todd Monken responds to John Harbaugh’s critique of KC plan

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Only the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills have more points than the Baltimore Ravens this season, so head coach John Harbaugh’s critique of the approach and execution of play-caller Todd Monken at Kansas City raised a few eyebrows.

Monken said he wasn’t alarmed by anything Harbaugh said on the heels of the Ravens’ third loss in four games, 37-20 to the Chiefs. The Ravens had a season-low 20 points, went 3 of 10 on third downs and 1 of 4 on fourth down in a game that ended with quarterback Lamar Jackson on the sideline nursing a hamstring injury.

“There’s not one thing John said that we didn’t already talk about. Not one thing. So, there was nothing about it that I hadn’t already heard or that he didn’t already feel,” Monken said Friday. “One thing I’ve done throughout my career is that you’ve got to look at what you do. How do we scheme it? What was our plan?

“When it’s below the line (expected), you have to own it and fix it. That’s what you do. That’s what we do as human beings. That’s how I got to where I am now. You look at it, and you say, ‘OK, was that good enough?’ The expectation here is to be elite, and we’ve been elite. We’re going to continue to be elite, but I have to do it better. We’ve got to do it better.”

The Ravens are third in the NFL with 131 points — Detroit has 137, Buffalo 133 — but have given up 133. A taxed defense is dealing with its own stack of injuries.

At Kansas City, Harbaugh also said the Ravens didn’t follow through on a team-wide game plan to handle the Chiefs’ pass-rush pressure. Monken was working with a familiar call sheet, but Baltimore left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), center Tyler Linderbaum (calf) functioning at reduced capacity and Jackson reportedly playing more than two quarters with a strained hamstring before hitting the bench in favor of Cooper Rush.

“I already addressed it. We’ve already talked about it. We didn’t execute the way we planned,” Monken said.

The Ravens have allowed 15 sacks in four games and Jackson was sacked seven times the last time Baltimore played at home in Week 3, a 38-30 loss to the Detroit Lions.

Jackson did not practice again Friday and was idle most of the week during on-field portions of team workouts. He could miss his first game due to injury since 2022, when he suffered a sprained knee and sat out the final five games of the regular season and the playoff loss to the Bengals.

Rush, 4-4 last season as Dak Prescott’s injury replacement for the Cowboys, is 9-5 in his career as a starter. Monken said he and Rush have worked overtime to be ready for any instance when Jackson can’t take the field.

“As athletic as Coop is, some of those things are not going to look the same as Lamar,” Monken said. “But that doesn’t mean you can’t still be effective and efficient.”

Sunday is the first of three consecutive home games for Baltimore. The Ravens play at home again next week, facing the Los Angeles Rams (3-2), before a bye in Week 7.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) is tripped up by Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss (21) after a first down in the fourth quarter at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Chargers shift RB plans with Najee Harris hurt

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Chargers running back Najee Harris sustained an Achilles injury on Sunday is expected to be out for the rest of the season.

First-round pick Omarion Hampton will step into the starting role, but head coach Jim Harbaugh plans to add depth at the position.

Harris went down in the second quarter of the Week 3 win against Denver with a non-contact injury to his left leg. He exited the field on a cart and his status to return was announced as questionable before he was ruled out for the remainder of the game coming out of halftime.

Hampton had 19 carries and 129 yards from scrimmage with a touchdown in Sunday’s 23-20 victory over the Broncos.

Harbaugh said he wasn’t “surprised” but also wants to make it a priority to keep his rising top back fresh. Hassan Haskins played only six snaps on Sunday and didn’t have a carry.

“Running back is an incredibly tough position. The way he’s fought and picked up the offense, we’re asking a lot of him, especially as a rookie,” Harbaugh said.

Running backs Kimani Vidal and Amar Johnson are currently on the Chargers’ practice squad.

Harris had six carries for 28 yards in the game, with the 27-year-old gaining 61 yards on 15 carries in three games in his first season with the Chargers. He also has three receptions for 25 yards this season.

In five career seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2021-24) and Chargers, he has 4,373 yards on 1,112 carries with 28 touchdowns. He also has 183 receptions for 1,174 yards and six TDs.

Harris was a Pro Bowl selection in his rookie season of 2021 after he was a first-round draft pick by the Steelers out of Alabama.

The Chargers (3-0) go on the road Sunday to face the New York Giants (0-3).

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs the ball during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

John Harbaugh: No word from NFL about Lamar Jackson shoving fan

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Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the NFL hasn’t contacted the team about Lamar Jackson shoving a fan who slapped the top of his helmet and did the same to DeAndre Hopkins after they connected for a touchdown in a loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.

Jackson said postgame his emotions got the best of him when he followed Hopkins to the bench on a circuitous route celebrating their touchdown in the second half. A fan smacked Hopkins on the top of his helmet as he passed and tagged Jackson, too, before the two-time NFL MVP shoved the fan in the chest with two hands.

“I have not heard from the league,” Harbaugh said Monday afternoon, recounting the moment from what ended in a 41-40 loss at Buffalo.

Representatives from the league and the Bills confirmed to multiple outlets Monday that the fan was banned indefinitely not only from Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium, but from all NFL stadiums.

“Lamar is down there celebrating a TD with your teammates just like you’re supposed to do,” Harbaugh said. “You score a TD, you probably shouldn’t have a frozen water bottle thrown at you either.”

The score with 1:09 remaining in the third quarter but the Ravens ahead 33-19. Hopkins caught the pass one-handed as he slipped past double coverage by the Bills.

Live video and screenshots of Bills fans throwing water bottles in the vicinity of running back Derrick Henry when he crossed the goal line earlier in the game created buzz on social media during and after the incident.

“I let my emotions get the best of me,” Jackson said Sunday night. “I’ll learn from that.”

Reigning MVP and Bills quarterback Josh Allen threw four touchdown passes and led a stirring comeback with 16 unanswered points in the final four minutes to close out the comeback but took notice of fans hitting the exits.

“I think there’s people that left the stadium. That’s OK,” Allen said immediately after the game. “We’ll be fine. But have some faith next time.”

–Field Level Media

May 20, 2025; El Segundo, CA, USA; Los Angeles Chargers running back Najee Harris (22) catches the ball during offseason workouts at The Bolt. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Chargers RB Najee Harris (eye) cleared for contact, may play Week 1

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The Los Angeles Chargers have cleared running back Najee Harris for contact and “there’s a possibility” he will be available to play in Week 1 following a July 4 eye injury, coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday.

“He’s looked really good in practice,” Harbaugh said at a press conference. “Cleared for contact. Just take it one day at a time.”

The Chargers open the season Friday against the Kansas City Chiefs in Sao Paulo, Brazil. If Harris can’t play, then first-round draft pick Omarion Hampton is expected to tote the majority of carries.

Harris missed the start of training camp and didn’t begin participating in football drills until mid-August. He didn’t play in the preseason, but was activated from the non-football injury list last Tuesday.

The former Pittsburgh Steelers running back suffered what his agent described as a “superficial eye injury” during a July 4 fireworks mishap. The Chargers haven’t disclosed further details about the injury.

Harris topped 1,000 rushing yards in all four of his seasons with the Steelers and has 4,312 yards and 28 rushing touchdowns in 68 NFL games (all starts). The Steelers selected him 24th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft and Harris made the Pro Bowl and the NFL All-Rookie team after that season.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson directs his teammates before the snap during first half action at the Buffalo Bills divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 19, 2025.

Ravens plan to make Lamar Jackson NFL’s highest-paid player

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Lamar Jackson could be back at the front of the line as the NFL’s highest-paid player soon, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Monday.

Harbaugh said at the NFL annual spring meeting that Baltimore is in discussions with Jackson, who signed a five-year, $260 million contract in 2023. That fully guaranteed deal has salary-cap figures of $74.65 million in 2026 and 2027, and it’s possible the two sides are eyeing the deal Bills quarterback Josh Allen signed as a benchmark.

“The value is the top,” Harbaugh said. “When Lamar gets paid, he’s going to be the highest-paid player in football, just like he was last time. I think every contract he signs till he decides to hang up his cleats, he’s going to be that guy.”

Jackson, 28, is a two-time NFL MVP and finished second to Allen in the 2024 MVP voting by a margin of four first-place votes. It was the tightest MVP vote since 2003, when Peyton Manning and Steve McNair were named co-MVP.

Allen signed a $330 million deal with $250 million in guarantees. His annual average salary of $55 million is equal to Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Packers quarterback Jordan Love. Dak Prescott’s contract in Dallas averages $60 million per year.

At the moment, Jackson is ninth in the NFL in AAV at $52 million. Addressing his contract opens the Ravens to be able to do business with other soon-to-be free agents. Safety Kyle Hamilton and tight ends Isaiah Likely and Mark Andrews are high on that list.

“There’s been conversations about that internally, I know. How far along that is or whatever, I don’t know,” Harbaugh said of the potential timing of Jackson’s new contract. “That’s going to continue to have to be addressed, really with all those guys. You have to manage that dance, the salary-cap dance. Lamar is the main part of that because he’s the franchise player. That’s a possibility, I think. Sooner or later, definitely it’s going to have to happen.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 4, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) arrives before the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Ravens coming to terms with ‘serious’ allegations facing Justin Tucker

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INDIANAPOLIS — When the Baltimore Banner reached out to the Ravens to discuss the allegations coming to light against kicker Justin Tucker, head coach John Harbaugh was in disbelief.

Not knowing the full context of the allegations still coming to light, Harbaugh said he didn’t know the breadth of the situation until he read it himself.

Tucker is accused of inappropriate behavior by 16 victims who were massage therapists at eight different high-end spas between 2012 and 2016.

“It’s not what you want to wake up to and read,” Harbaugh said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine before echoing general manager Eric DeCosta’s assessment of a “serious situation, concerning.”

“There’s too many stories like that that make you feel sad, less than great.”

DeCosta said the Ravens are allowing the NFL investigation into the incidents to play out.

“It’s a tough deal,” Harbaugh said. “That is what we’re trying to do is reconcile it.”

Harbaugh called Tucker about two weeks later on a Sunday morning to check on him and talk “more from a family perspective.”

He made it clear that the circumstances impact the team this week.

“We’re looking at kickers,” Harbaugh said. “You look at every position. We would’ve been looking at kickers anyway. Justin’s our kicker but nobody can go forever.”

Tucker’s representatives told The Banner to refer to the kicker’s lengthy social media post on Jan. 30 in which he vehemently denied all allegations. Tucker called the allegations “unequivocally false” in that post.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier this month he was “surprised” when he got word of the alleged wrongdoing. He addressed the allegations against Tucker during his press conference ahead of Super Bowl LIX.

“They are obviously serious issues and he is taking that seriously as are we,” Goodell said at the time.

The Ravens said in their previous statement that they “take any allegations of this nature seriously and will continue to monitor the situation.”

Tucker, 35, moved to the Baltimore region in 2012 after the Ravens signed him as an undrafted free agent. In 13 seasons with the team, he is a five-time All-Pro selection, a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and the NFL’s all-time leader in field goal percentage at 89.1.

The Banner began investigating a tip received Jan. 9 regarding the allegations involving Tucker.

–Jeff Reynolds, Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric Decosta one the field before the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

GM: ‘Disappointed’ Ravens have hard questions to answer

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Baltimore Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta expressed disappointment with how the team’s season came to an end but added he’s already “moved on” in search of a solution for a better result in 2025.

DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh held their season-ending news conference Wednesday. The Ravens had a 12-5 regular-season mark and won the AFC North but lost 27-25 to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC divisional playoffs on Sunday.

“I’m very proud of the team this year. … Not gonna sit up here and say it was not a successful season. It was in just about every way of looking at it. But I’m disappointed, John’s disappointed. We’re all disappointed. Our team’s disappointed,” DeCosta told reporters. “We had higher aspirations and we didn’t achieve those aspirations and goals. I’ve already moved on. … I love being part of the solution and that’s what we’ll be.”

Integral to their loss but also to their future is three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews, who dropped a game-tying 2-point conversion try with 1:33 remaining that iced the game for the Bills. The All-Pro TE also lost a fumble. Andrews still hasn’t met with the media but Harbaugh did the talking for him.

“Mark is a huge part of our future and we love him,” Harbaugh said. “We’re there for him. If anybody can take a tough circumstance like that and handle it with class and grace and dignity and mental toughness, it’s most definitely Mark Andrews.”

DeCosta noted that Andrews and fellow TEs Isaiah Likely and Charlie Kolar are all entering the final year of their contracts in 2025 which could lead to some “tough decisions” ahead.

DeCosta also addressed the Pro Bowl season that running back Derrick Henry had and acknowledged the Ravens might try to rework his deal for a softer cap hit in 2025. Henry’s cap number is currently set at $12.895 million in 2025.

“I think he proved he had a lot left in the tank,” DeCosta said. “We’ll look at that, it’s a good question. I’m just so grateful Derrick chose us last year.”

DeCosta said he also expects kicker Justin Tucker, who uncharacteristically struggled this past season, to be the team’s kicker in 2025.

“I have every expectation that Justin’s going to be a great kicker for us next year and moving forward,” DeCosta said. “He finished strong this year toward the end, had a little adversity midway through the season, but I think Justin is a tremendous competitor, very, very talented. He works his butt off, and I would expect he will be the kicker for us next year.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 15, 2024; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Los Angeles Chargers head coach John Harbaugh during the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Latest Harbaugh matchup is key contest for Ravens, Chargers

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When Jim Harbaugh met brother John for the postgame handshake following Super Bowl XLVII, he figured he’d get a chance to avenge the setback someday.

Nearly 12 years later, the two Harbaughs will be back on the same field as NFL head coaches when the Baltimore Ravens visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.

Both teams are in the playoff mix with Baltimore holding a 7-4 record and the Chargers sitting at 7-3.

John Harbaugh has won both NFL matchups against his brother, including the Ravens’ 34-31 win over Jim’s San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl following the 2012 regular season.

The other meeting was on Thanksgiving Day in 2011 when host Baltimore won a 16-6 decision.

Now, the hype train is on overload as the siblings prepare to face one another again.

“It’s a tough matchup,” 62-year-old John Harbaugh said of the contest on Wednesday. “Winning football team. Extremely well-coached football team, no doubt about it. One of the best coaches of our generation. Even if he wasn’t my brother, I’d say that.”

Jim Harbaugh, 60, is back in the NFL after coaching Michigan for nine seasons and winning last season’s national championship. He previously spent four seasons leading the 49ers.

Being part of the college ranks made the wait longer for Jim to face John, who is in his 17th season as coach of the Ravens.

Those memories of being on the wrong side of the Super Bowl outcome took a while to dissipate.

“At the time, that was tough,” Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday. “After some time and reflection went by, it’s my brother, it’s my best friend. Really proud of him. Really happy for his success. It was earned.”

Ravens star safety Kyle Hamilton said being part of the brotherly rivalry is a unique deal.

“From his perspective, he’s done a good job managing emotions,” Hamilton said of John Harbaugh. “We still have a game to play, but I think everybody understands it’s kind of historic and it’s cool to be part of history.”

Both coaches made remarks suggesting they didn’t want their brotherly battle to overshadow the pivotal AFC contest.

The Ravens are in second place in the AFC North, one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers. Baltimore is 4-4 against AFC foes.

The Chargers are two games behind the first-place Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West. Los Angeles is a solid 5-2 against fellow AFC teams.

Baltimore lost 18-16 to the host Steelers last week after winning seven of its previous eight games. The Chargers have won four straight games after notching a 34-27 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Both teams employ quarterbacks having solid campaigns.

Two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson of Baltimore ranks second in the NFL in passing yardage (2,876) and touchdown passes (25). He has been intercepted just three times and has rushed for 584 yards and two scores.

Justin Herbert of the Chargers has been intercepted just once. He has thrown for 2,186 yards and 13 touchdowns.

“His talent, the effort that he puts in. Everything that you can say good about a quarterback and then some,” Jim Harbaugh said regarding what he likes about Herbert. “Talent and effort, and then intangibles that are off the charts. Any measurable you can have for a quarterback, tangible or intangible, he possesses at the elite, highest level.”

Ravens star middle linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) missed practice on Thursday. The NFL co-leader in tackles (110) was hurt against the Steelers.

Also sitting out practice for Baltimore were receiver Nelson Agholor (illness), cornerback Arthur Maulet (calf), safety Sanoussi Kane (ankle) and defensive lineman Travis Jones (ankle).

Chargers rookie receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder) sat out practice Thursday. He was injured against the Bengals.

Middle linebacker Denzel Perryman (groin), cornerback Cam Hart (concussion/ankle) and safety AJ Finley (ankle) also sat out practice.

The Ravens have won the teams’ past four regular-season meetings, but the host Chargers recorded a 23-17 wild-card victory over Baltimore following the 2018 regular season.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens place kicker Justin Tucker (9) reacts to a missed field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

Ravens back PK Justin Tucker after missed FGs in two-point loss

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Justin Tucker remains the only option for the Baltimore Ravens at kicker, and head coach John Harbaugh emphasized on Monday he plans to keep it that way.

Tucker missed two field goals Sunday in Baltimore’s 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defeat that pushes the Steelers into full control of the AFC North.

Tucker made a 54-yard field goal after missing from 47 and 50 yards to fall from the top of the all-time NFL accuracy rankings.

“The best option right now is to get Justin back on point because he is fully capable of doing it,” Harbaugh said. “We certainly haven’t lost any confidence in Justin Tucker.”

Carolina Panthers kicker Eddy Pineiro moved ahead of Tucker by percentage points. Pineiro is the NFL’s most accurate kicker ever at 89.4 percent (101 of 113) with Tucker standing at 89.3 entering Week 12. In 460 career tries, Tucker has made 411 field goals in 460 attempts.

The six total missed FGs this season (in 22 attempts) exceed his total number of misses last season (five in 37 attempts). He already has tied for the second-most misses in a season during his 13-year career.

“He’s definitely our best option and he’s going to make a lot of kicks,” Harbaugh said. “I really believe that going forward. But it’s up to him and the guys he works with every day, to make those balls go straight. He’s going to get it figured out. We have coaches. We have technique, we look at the tape, he’s practicing well. He’s got to kick it straight.”

It was only the sixth time in his career that Tucker missed two field goals in the same game. He has five missed field goals in the Ravens’ four losses.

Tucker’s field-goal percentage of 72.7 has never been lower 11 games into the regular season.

Harbaugh said there is no point or purpose in trying to find competition to push Tucker this week or going forward.

“You’d have to find that competition first if you’re going to be blunt about it,” the coach said. “Where is that competition?”

–Field Level Media