Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken pointed the finger at himself as to why quarterback Lamar Jackson had a statistical decline this season, resulting inthe team missing out on the playoffsfor the first time since the 2021 season.
"I didn't coach Lamar well enough," Monken toldRyan Ripken this week. "I 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. ... I'm going to fight like hell for the next job I get and I'm going to root like hell for the Ravens."
The Ravens finished 8-9 in the AFC North and a big part of the down season was Jackson taking a step back as he dealt with injuries that limited him to 13 games. Jackson threw for 49.3 fewer yards per game (196.1) this season compared to 2024; threw 20 fewer touchdown passes; and completed fewer than 200 passes for the first time since his rookie season in 2018.
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"I really wish Lamar would have been healthy and seen what we kept building on," Monken said. "Where we went from '23 to '24, and then we just never got it going. That's what you have to live with."
The 29-year-old Jackson had his best passing season in 2024, throwing for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns, while also running for 915 yards and four touchdowns. The Ravens, whofinished first in overall offensewith 424.9 yards per game last season, won their second straight division title before falling in the AFC Divisional Round to the Buffalo Bills.
Withhead coach John Harbaugh nowgone,a report in The Athleticdetailed the relationship between Harbaugh, Monken and Jackson as having "grown awkward" and Harbaugh having to serve as a "buffer" between Monken and Jackson, two personalities that didn't "mesh."
Monken didn't see it that way.
"Lamar and I, to me, had a good relationship," Monken said. "Could it have been better? Of course. Lamar and I never had an issue. I don't know where that comes from. I never saw Lamar and Coach Harbaugh not have a great relationship. I never saw that.
"I never saw Coach Harbaugh and any of our players not have a great relationship. Never. Not one time. So, any of that would be news to me, but I don't know how people feel."
As of Friday, Monken remains the Ravens' offensive coordinator, but he's likely to move on following Harbaugh's departure. TheCleveland Browns have reportedly requested to interview himfor their open head coaching job.
