By most standards, Lamar Jackson had a good year when he played. By his standards, it was a bit of a letdown. Even when healthy, Jackson wasn’t quite as electric, dynamic, or successful this year. Last year, he arguably should’ve won the MVP, and he was nowhere close to that level in 2025. The culprit? Apparently, Todd Monken.
Todd Monken accepts blame for Lamar Jackson letdown
Lamar Jackson was not the same MVP-level player when on the field this year. He had turnovers and just wasn’t able to be quite as successful. Year-to-year variance is very common in the NFL for a variety of reasons, but Todd Monken took full blame.
“Didn’t coach Lamar well enough,” Monken said Thursday via ESPN. “Didn’t have as good of a relationship as I could have. I didn’t do the things we needed to do this year to win enough games to give ourselves a chance. I believe that.”
The Ravens’ offensive coordinator also said he regretted Jackson’s lack of health. That could’ve played a big role in why the offense struggled. “I really wish Lamar would have been healthy and seen what we kept building on,” he added. “Where we went from ’23 to ’24, and then we just never got it going. That’s what you have to live with.”
He said he didn’t think there were any issues between Jackson and himself. Their relationship could’ve been better, he did admit, but the two of them never had an issue.
Ravens OC pushes back on John Harbaugh narrative
Todd Monken regrets how last year went with Lamar Jackson. In all likelihood, it will be his final year with the QB. He is not expected to return as the Ravens overhaul the coaching staff in the wake of firing John Harbaugh.
Monken doesn’t believe the head coach had “lost the locker room” as so many speculated. He said that Harbaugh was “the best at motivating and directing in keeping a team moving in a certain direction.” Interestingly enough, Harbaugh may have been fired for his refusal to consider moving on from Monken.
“I never saw Lamar and Coach Harbaugh not have a great relationship. I never saw that,” Monken added about the QB-coach dynamic. “Never saw Coach Harbaugh and any of our players not have a great relationship. Never. Not one time.” There were also reports that Jackson was fed up with Harbaugh.
Monken also noted that his biggest regret during his tenure was not relying on the running game more in a one-score loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game two years ago. The Chiefs went on to win the Super Bowl. Baltimore ran just 10 designed runs, which was the second-fewest in the Harbaugh era, against a defense that was 18th in the NFL against the run.
“I will always remember the Chiefs game, and that will be one that I will have to live with forever because you only get so many opportunities,” Monken lamented. “Don’t let it haunt (me). I just won’t ever forget it.” For the Ravens, that appears to have been the peak of the mountaintop for now.
The Ravens are in flux now, and Monken appears to know it. He is reflecting back on several aspects of his tenure, indicating that he probably recognizes that he’s going to be looking elsewhere for work in the next few weeks.
Either the Ravens will bring in an offensive head coach and not need Monken, or they’ll bring in a defensive coach but will still want an offensive change for Jackson. Either way, Monken is likely on his way out with Harbaugh.
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