Has the Ravens Longtime Voice Run Its Course in Baltimore?
The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2025 season with expectations of taking the next step as contenders in the AFC, but their 1-3 start has raised familiar and uncomfortable questions about leadership from the top down. Sunday’s sloppy loss to the Kansas City Chiefs once again exposed glaring weaknesses, both schematically and physically, as the team’s injury bug continues to spiral out of control. The Ravens were battered by Kansas City’s execution, and worse, they watched multiple key starters sidelined by injury, including Roquan Smith, Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Ronnie Stanley, and most critically, Lamar Jackson, who appeared to be limping noticeably after the defeat. In a season that was supposed to be fueled by momentum from last year’s late defensive resurgence, Baltimore instead finds itself staring at renewed doubts about whether the coaching staff has plateaued in its ability to lead this roster through adversity.
The defense, in particular, has been at the center of Baltimore’s disappointing start. Last year, under then-first-year coordinator Zach Orr, the unit made significant strides in the latter half of the regular season, finishing among the league’s best in the final 10 weeks after languishing near the bottom in the season’s early stretch. Optimism carried into 2025 that Orr could replicate that growth and establish Baltimore as a top-tier defense right out of the gate. Instead, the opposite has happened. Through four weeks, the Ravens have been gashed repeatedly, unable to make necessary in-game adjustments, and incapable of dictating plays against elite offenses. The regression is as startling as it is concerning, and it has left fans and analysts wondering if Orr is already in over his head in his second full season as coordinator.
The head coach cannot escape scrutiny either, as John Harbaugh’s seat has only grown hotter in the wake of this rough start. Harbaugh has been the steady, longest-tenured presence in the organization, but patience is beginning to erode as the same issues recur against the league’s biggest competitors. The Ravens are now 1-6 against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in the Lamar Jackson era, a reality that underscores Baltimore’s continued inability to get over the hump. Some Ravens fans and local media have questioned whether the team still has the hunger or “heart” needed to compete at a championship level, piling added pressure on Harbaugh and his staff. Mismanagement of rotations, questionable play calling, and a seeming lack of adjustments week in and week out have only added fuel to the growing frustration.
The short-term outlook offers little relief, as the Ravens enter a critical two-game home stretch ahead of their early bye week. Matchups with the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams are opportunities to stabilize, but given the uncertainty surrounding Lamar Jackson’s health and the decimated condition of the roster, nothing comes easy at this point. Baltimore must find a way to claw back to .500 if it has any chance of restoring hope for a turnaround this season. However, the outcome may hinge entirely on whether Jackson can stay on the field. Without him, the Ravens’ offense has little chance of keeping pace with high-powered teams like the Bills and Chiefs.
The most pressing question now is whether ownership will step in if the season continues to unravel. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti has rarely been quick to hit the panic button, but the combination of mounting injuries, questionable coaching decisions, and diminished performance has brought the situation to a breaking point. If Orr were to be dismissed midseason, Baltimore could lean on secondary coach and former Colts head coach Chuck Pagano to step in as defensive coordinator, offering both experience and familiarity with the team’s culture. On the other hand, if Harbaugh’s tenure were to meet its end, offensive coordinator Todd Monken could serve as the interim head coach, allowing the organization to test whether new leadership could galvanize the roster. Such moves would represent a seismic shift for a franchise that has prided itself on continuity, but in a year where everything is spiraling, Bisciotti may have no choice but to consider it.
