SI

Todd Monken Takes Ownership for Shortcomings of Lamar Jackson, Ravens

Monken, while admitting he could have coached Jackson better, denied there were reported issues between he and the star QB.

Tim Capurso

Monken coached Jackson for three seasons.
Monken coached Jackson for three seasons. / Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
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Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken on Thursday denied reports of an internal rift between he and Lamar Jackson—as well as between former coach John Harbaugh and other players—while taking accountability for Baltimore’s shortcomings in 2025.

“... You can't get all the credit when we do well, and just exonerate yourself from the blame when it doesn't go that way,” Monken said on the Ryan Ripken Show just days after Harbaugh’s firing. “That is so ridiculously out there, I can’t even live in that world. I can’t live in that world. I haven’t gotten to where I’m at living in that world. I haven’t. You know what? I didn’t coach Lamar well enough. I didn’t have as good a relationship as I could have.

“I didn’t do the things that we needed this year to win enough games to give ourselves a chance. And I believe that, I’m not just saying that because I’m on your show. And I'm gonna fight like hell to fix it. I’m gonna fight like hell for the next job I get, and I’m gonna root like hell for the Ravens.”

In the aftermath of Harbaugh’s firing, a report emerged from The Athletic that Monken had an “awkward dynamic” with Jackson, and that it was Harbaugh’s reluctance to part with Monken that played a role in the longtime Ravens coach’s dismissal. Plus, prior to Harbaugh’s dismissal, a column published in The Baltimore Sun depicted a disconnect between Jackson and Harbaugh.

“Lamar and I—to me—had a good relationship,” Monken said. “Could it have been better? Of course. I never—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.”

Monken isn’t a likely bet to return as Baltimore’s play-caller in 2026, with Harbaugh gone. He currently has an interview with the division-rival Browns for the team’s head coaching vacancy.

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Tim Capurso
TIM CAPURSO

Tim Capurso is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Prior to joining SI in November 2023, he wrote for RotoBaller and ClutchPoints, where he was the lead editor for MLB, college football and NFL coverage. A lifelong Yankees and Giants fan, Capurso grew up just outside New York City and now lives near Philadelphia. When he's not writing, he enjoys reading, exercising and spending time with his family, including his three-legged cat Willow, who, unfortunately, is an Eagles fan.

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