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The Baltimore Ravens underperformed this season, missed the playoffs and fired longtime head coach John Harbaugh, and offensive coordinator Todd Monken was blamed for the results.
Monken, 59, said he didn’t have as good a relationship as he could have with star quarterback Lamar Jackson.
“I didn’t train Lamar well enough,” Monken said during a recent appearance on the “Ryan Ripken Show.” “I didn’t have as good a relationship as it 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.”
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Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens, right, talks with offensive coordinator Todd Monken before a game against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland on October 1, 2023. (Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images)
The Ravens finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs in heartbreaking fashion. One reason for their regression was that Monken’s unit had also regressed. The Ravens scored 30.1 points per game in 2024, third in the NFL, but averaged 24.9 points per game in 2025, ranking 11th in the NFL.
Although the offense still ranks atop the NFL, it was almost a touchdown less than last season. Jackson missed four games due to injuries due to hamstring, back, ankle and toe issues, and Monken lamented not being able to build on 2024 success.
“I really wish Lamar would have been healthy and seen what we continued to build on,” Monken said, “where we went from 23 to 24, and then we just never got it done. That’s what you have to live with.”
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Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken before the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on December 1, 2024. (Mitch Stringer/Imagn Images)
Following Harbaugh’s surprise firing, reports surfaced that Monken and Jackson had a strained relationship, which Monken disputed.
“Lamar and I had a good relationship,” Monken said. “Could it have been better? Of course. Lamar and I never had a problem.”
Monken said he never saw Harbaugh have a great relationship with his players.
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Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken stands on the field before a game against the Chicago Bears at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on October 26, 2025. (Tommy Gilligan/Imagn Images)
“I’ve never seen Lamar and Coach Harbaugh not have a good relationship. I’ve never seen that,” Monken said. “I’ve never seen Coach Harbaugh and any of our players have a good relationship. Ever. Not once.”
Monken said the longtime head coach hasn’t lost the locker room either, calling his former boss “the best at motivating and leading a team in a certain direction.”
With Harbaugh out of town, it’s unlikely Monken will still call plays for the Ravens next season.
