Ravens Insider Says Harbaugh's Firing Is 'No Coincidence' Amid Lamar Contract Rumors

There are conflicting reports about Lamar Jackson's influence on the Baltimore Ravens' decision to fire John Harbaugh.

ESPN's Jamison Hensley and Jeremy Fowler cited one person with the Ravens who said it was "no coincidence" Harbaugh was fired as the team prepares to engage Jackson in contract talks this offseason.

Per The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec and Dianna Russini, multiple Ravens players dismissed the idea of a power struggle between Harbaugh and Jackson.

"He catered to him to a degree, so yeah, I don't even know how that could happen," one veteran player on the Ravens said.

The Ravens announced Harbaugh's firing on Tuesday after 18 seasons together. There had been rumors about a rift in the relationship between Harbaugh and Jackson that developed over the course of this season.

In a Dec. 23 story by Mike Preston of The Baltimore Sun, it was said that Jackson fell asleep in team meetings and his dynamic with Harbaugh grew strained.

Jackson disputed the report, even joking that it would be impossible for him to fall asleep in meetings because he sits at the front of the room.

"Do you think Harbaugh would let me fall asleep in his meeting? That's crazy. I'm right in the front," Jackson said. "I heard that I [was] playing a game at like one or two in the morning. I don't even do that during the summer, so I don't know where that comes from either."

Baltimore missed the playoffs this season after a 26-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired.

The Ravens still have Jackson under contract for two more seasons, but his 2026 cap hit is currently the third-highest in the NFL at $74.5 million. Even with that figure on the books, they still project to have $36.8 million in cap space.

Fowler reported on Jan. 3 that the Ravens "know life is better with Lamar Jackson than it is without," but added that the two-time NFL MVP's contract situation is perhaps the "most under-played story" in the league right now.

It would seem unfathomable that the Ravens would look to move on from Jackson, who is only 29 years old. Even in an injury-plagued 2025 season, he still finished with 2,549 passing yards, 349 rushing yards and 21 passing touchdowns in 13 games.

The first big question for the Ravens to answer before thinking about Jackson's contract is who they will bring in to replace Harbaugh and how that coach wants to utilize the multi-dimensional quarterback.