John Harbaugh Fired by Ravens, Who Are Top Candidates to Replace HC?

After 18 seasons as the head coach, John Harbaugh's tenure with the Baltimore Ravens is over.

The team announced the move on Tuesday:

ESPN's Adam Schefter previously reported Tuesday that the veteran coach was "out" in Baltimore after the team failed to make the playoffs thanks to Sunday's last-second loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers that ended with a missed field goal.

James Palmer and Dianna Russini of The Athletic, as well as NFL insider Jordan Schultz, added context to the situation:

At first glance, this is a shocking move.

After all, Harbaugh went 180-113 during his time in Baltimore and made the playoffs 12 times. He also won the Super Bowl during the 2012 season and was generally considered one of the best and most consistent head coaches in the league.

Yet the Ravens have advanced past the Divisional Round just once since that Lombardi Trophy and have not returned to the Super Bowl. As excellent as quarterback Lamar Jackson is as a two-time MVP, he is just 3-5 in eight playoff starts.

The failure to fully capitalize on the Jackson era to this point, at least in terms of postseason success, was reportedly an issue for owner Steve Bisciotti, and the Ravens will now need to find a new head coach.

Here are some potential candidates with a focus on offense since the team will surely want to maximize Jackson's talent:

• Todd Monken, Ravens OC
• Klint Kubiak, Seahawks OC
• Mike LaFleur, Rams OC
• Kliff Kingsbury, Commanders OC

Whoever Baltimore hires will have major shoes to fill. 

Harbaugh was an institution for the Ravens and made the playoffs twice as many times as he didn't. That type of sustained success is not easy to come by in the NFL, although there was plenty of discussion about his job status at times this season.

"I try to do the job, not try to keep the job," Harbaugh told reporters last month. "My focus has been for the last 18 years here and the last 41 years in coaching is to try to do the best job I can today and fight as hard as I can so the guys have the best chance to be successful today. And anything after today, I'm not thinking about because it's not given for us to think about."

For his part, Jackson wasn't ready to address any speculation about his head coach in the immediate aftermath of Sunday's loss to the Steelers:

Replacing Harbaugh will now be the first priority for the Ravens, though, as they look to challenge for a Super Bowl with Jackson under center.