Scoop City: Inside The NFL
Episode: Ravens Fire Harbaugh: Franchise Turning Point for Lamar Jackson
Date: January 7, 2026
Host(s): James Palmer (JP), Dianna Russini (DR), with guests Jeff Zrebiec (JZ) and Dan Duggan (DD)
Episode Overview
This special edition dives deep into the stunning firing of John Harbaugh after 18 seasons as Ravens head coach—a true franchise turning point, especially for star QB Lamar Jackson. Through exclusive reporting, behind-the-scenes insights, and expert analysis from The Athletic’s insiders, the episode examines what led to the move, how Harbaugh’s departure reshapes the coaching market, what it means for Lamar Jackson, and why both the Ravens and Giants jobs have become the NFL’s hottest openings.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. How John Harbaugh’s Firing Went Down
- Not a Mutual Split: Both the Ravens’ and Harbaugh’s statements made it clear—this was 100% ownership’s decision.
- [04:42] JP: “This was that the owner, Steve Bisciotti, has decided to move on from John Harbaugh after 18 seasons ... This was not a mutual parting.”
- Secrecy and Surprise: Most of the Ravens building was blindsided. Coaches believed everyone (including Harbaugh) would return until the last minute.
- [05:25] DR: “People in the building did not know because they were told by John Harbaugh that they were going to be okay ... everyone felt really good about where things were at.”
- Ownership made discreet calls throughout, gathering wide-ranging input before acting.
- Quick, Decisive Move:
- Meeting between Bisciotti and Harbaugh was not a drawn-out negotiation but a swift, clear decision.
- News broke to outsiders before much of the Ravens’ own staff.
Notable Quote:
“Ownership was making calls ... to just try to get an idea of what's been going on ... When Steve Bisciotti sat down with John Harbaugh ... it was a pretty understood decision made by Bisciotti that he wants to go in a different direction, that he felt it was time.”
— Dianna Russini [05:25]
2. Why Now? Key Factors Behind the Move
- Lamar Jackson’s Central Role: The team’s future is being designed around Lamar, and friction/balance between him, OC Todd Monken, and Harbaugh factored in.
- Locker Room and Organizational Dynamics:
- Players love Lamar and value his connectivity.
- [09:56] DR: “Lamar is a little bit more interactive with guys ... he hangs out, he talks ... he's really involved with his teammates and likes them and they like him.”
- Ownership sought wide perspectives before deciding.
- Players love Lamar and value his connectivity.
- Need for Change: A mix of on-field offensive struggles, some frayed internal dynamics, and the sense that an organizational reset was needed.
Notable Quote:
“Some people there just felt like change was needed. So I almost think it's a bit of a storm of a lot of different factors ... you have perspectives from players, you have perspectives from the coaches, you have perspective from John and from ownership here.”
— Dianna Russini [05:25]
3. Immediate Ramifications: The NFL Coaching Market Shifts
- Harbaugh’s Stock Skyrockets: Suddenly the hottest name; multiple teams scramble to retool candidate lists.
- [13:00] DR: “John Harbaugh's name is in this cycle just absolutely knocked down the dominoes in multiple markets ... teams were zeroing in and then John hops in ... now, what are we going to do to make sure that this is the place he wants to be?”
- Giants Connection:
- Giants (and others) jump to secure Harbaugh interviews—even before some have formally parted with current staff.
- Perception Game:
- Several teams, even those with head coaches, signal (quietly or publicly) interest to preserve appearances or gauge interest.
- [20:35] DR: “I did have someone with a team ... being very delicate with their interest in Harbaugh because ... they're not even sure if they're going to fire their coach or not. Because if you can’t get him ... you can’t take that risk.”
Notable Quote:
“Only in sports is the person dumped ... it almost is better for your image when you get fired than if you do it any other way.”
— Dianna Russini [18:49]
4. What Makes the Ravens (and Giants) Jobs Special?
- Ravens:
- “Best run organization in professional sports” ([12:32] A: “He said this is the best run organization in all of professional sports.”)
- Stability in ownership/front office, star QB, strong roster, and internal trust make this opening exceedingly rare and coveted.
- Ability to “go outside the box” in hiring due to strong internal structure ([22:29] JP).
- Need for a coach who can relate to and maximize Lamar Jackson as he matures.
- Giants:
- Desperate for leadership, organizational gravitas; Harbaugh instantly becomes top target.
- Existing GM Joe Schoen may face diminished power if Harbaugh comes, but job security likely depends on new coach's preferences ([54:29] DD).
5. Inside Insight: Relationships, Locker Room, and Strategy
- Ravens Locker Room Culture:
- Lamar is deeply respected and influential, though different from “grinders” like Tom Brady or Kirk Cousins.
- Organizational Style:
- Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is lauded for quietly gathering input and making independent, reasoned decisions ([10:51] JP).
- Coaching Trends:
- NFL player sentiment favors coaches with real playing experience (Dan Campbell, Mike Vrabel) over old-school teacher archetypes.
- But proven “CEO” types (Harbaugh, Tomlin) maintain lasting respect and command.
Notable Quote:
“I think people interpret that ... there was ... push/pull in the relationship with Lamar and different people trying to reach him and, you know, trying to make sure he was good with everything ... But I think the whole coaching dynamic and what Jon was willing to do ... it sounded to me, James, that Jon thought they would be fine with a little bit of a reset, some tweaks on the coaching staff, and the higher ups believe they needed massive change.”
— Jeff Zrebiec [35:53]
6. The Future: What’s Next for Harbaugh, the Ravens, and Lamar
- Harbaugh:
- Will interview widely and will have his pick. Giants likely at the front of the line ([52:50] DD).
- His legacy and leadership style instantly change the perception and attractiveness of any opening.
- Ravens:
- Will move quickly but thoroughly; open to “outside the box” hires (eg. Jesse Minter, Anthony Weaver, Clint Kubiak, Cliff Kingsbury).
- Expect heavy emphasis on candidates’ fit with (and vision for) Lamar Jackson ([23:12] DR).
- Lamar Jackson:
- Contract situation will be front and center this offseason.
- Organization is “absolutely” building around him; any coach must be able to work with and for Lamar ([44:28] JZ).
- Health, practice habits, and evolving play style will be themes—organization unlikely to force a play style shift now.
Notable Quotes:
“The next focus ... has to be on Lamar Jackson's contract. It's going to be hard for them to operate ... without, I mean his cap hit’s almost $75 million. That's untenable.”
— Jeff Zrebiec [44:28]
“What you’re selling to these head coach prospects is a chance to come in and coach Lamar Jackson ... that’s one of the reasons they got Todd Monken—because he wanted to work with Lamar Jackson.”
— Jeff Zrebiec [44:50]
7. Coaching Search Insights: Giants Angle
- Dan Duggan breaks down the Giants’ perspective following Harbaugh’s entry into the market:
- Stefanski was the early favorite, but Harbaugh leapfrogs to #1.
- Giants are searching for the type of leadership and culture change Harbaugh brings.
- Any structural shakeups (e.g., GM) will take a back seat to landing Harbaugh.
- Harbaugh’s fit and control would likely outweigh existing organizational structures ([54:29] DD).
- QB situation (for Giants: Jackson Dart) would be relevant but not a dealbreaker for Harbaugh or top candidates ([57:57] DD).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
On the Suddenness and Impact of Harbaugh’s Firing:
- “The decision makers at the top of Baltimore obviously knew immediately, but the rest of the staff was not informed until later.” — DR [07:28]
On Coaching Market Aftershocks:
- “...John Harbaugh's name is in this cycle just absolutely knocked down the dominoes in multiple markets..." — DR [13:00]
On Baltimore's “Unicorn” QB Situation:
- “That player does not come along very often. That is a unicorn type player. That is a two-time MVP. That is a big part of why this job is very, very appealing.” — JP [12:32]
On Locker Room and Leadership Trends:
- “I do think players like that better. I think it's quicker to establish yourself when the leader standing up in front is someone that has been close to the game and understands it.” — DR [15:19]
On Both Jobs’ Rarity:
- “I can't recall in recent years ... any opportunity as good as this ... this isn't a rebuild situation, the coaches who just comes in here is gonna expect to win.” — JZ [38:17]
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------| | 04:42 | JP/DR begin deep dive into Harbaugh firing | | 05:25 | DR details how the firing surprised Ravens staff | | 09:56 | DR on Lamar Jackson’s role and locker room presence | | 13:00 | DR on coaching market “domino effects” | | 22:27 | JP/DR on Ravens’ “outside the box” coaching capability | | 33:38 | JZ joins for Ravens insider perspective | | 35:53 | JZ explains Monken/Harbaugh/Lamar dynamic | | 44:28 | JZ on Lamar Jackson’s contract stakes | | 52:50 | DD on Giants’ immediate shift to targeting Harbaugh | | 54:29 | DD on potential Harbaugh–GM Joe Schoen dynamic | | 57:57 | DD analyzes Giants’ QB (Jackson Dart) and hire process |
Conclusion & Takeaways
This episode unpacks one of the NFL’s truly seismic moments: the end of John Harbaugh’s era in Baltimore. The Athletic’s insiders bring unmatched, real-time context—illuminating the stealthy, surprising process of Harbaugh’s firing, the ripple effect on the league’s coaching market, and the franchise-defining question of Lamar Jackson’s future. Both the Ravens and Giants jobs are now “unicorn” opportunities, and whoever seizes them will inherit both enormous expectations and extraordinary resources.
Stay tuned for further developments, as coaching searches intensify and teams try to position themselves for the Lamar Jackson era and beyond.