Lamar Jackson enters his ninth NFL season as one of the league’s most accomplished quarterbacks, but still with much to prove. The 2026 Baltimore Ravens, coming off a disappointing 8-9 season, hope the two-time MVP can play at that level again and get the team back into contention.
While the organization transitions into a new era after letting go of longtime head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens have their franchise QB to lean on as a building block. Baltimore is optimistic about returning to the upper echelon of the NFL, and that starts with Jackson staying healthy and playing at his best.
New Coaching Staff Committed To Maximizing The Team’s Potential
Baltimore hired Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter as the new head coach. He is focused on building an environment that allows Jackson and his teammates to be the best version of themselves.
The head coach prioritized building a relationship with Jackson through collaboration. He has expressed confidence in Jackson’s talent, calling him a “fourth-down weapon” who will make the team more aggressive about putting the ball in his hands when needed. The coaching staff has empowered star players like Zay Flowers to take on a leadership role and focus on earning trust by putting in daily work.
The environment runs throughout the new coaching staff, as Minter hired Declan Doyle to be offensive coordinator. He comes from Chicago, where he helped develop Ben Johnson’s scheme and game plans that took the Bears to another level. Only 30 years old, he will give the unit a fresh voice with new concepts to make them more explosive and dangerous.
The plan for the first-time play caller is to allow Jackson to play more freely. This includes more snaps under center, outside zone running, and plays designed with quick reads. Jackson appears to have bought into the new offense, and the coaching staff hopes to see an improvement from the 27th-ranked passing attack.
The organization has been among the best in the league at continually acquiring talent to stay competitive on a yearly basis. Last season was a step backward as key players struggled with inconsistency and injuries. The 2026 squad has the talent to compete with any team in the league after offseason moves to shore up weaknesses.
2026 Baltimore Ravens Big Free Agent Signing For Defense
Baltimore signed premier pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to help a D-line that could not get consistent pressure. The four-time Pro Bowler is coming off a major injury, but has had four seasons with 10 or more sacks. He is expected to make a major impact for a group that only had 30 team sacks in 2025 (near the bottom of the league).
If the defense can slow down passing attacks better, the rest of the personnel have the makings of a top unit. Nnamdi Madubuike is a Pro Bowl-level nose tackle who is back after only playing 2 games last season.
Roaquin Smith (130 tackles) is the defensive leader and is among the NFL’s best middle linebackers. Kyle Hamilton is one of the league’s most versatile players and excels in coverage (84.3 PFF coverage grade) and blitzing (91.5 PFF pass rush grade).
Retooling The Offensive Line
The team also invested in the offensive line, drafting Olaivavega Ioane and signing John Simpson and Ethan Pocic. Three new starters up front make the second-best rushing attack in the NFL more physical.
Derrick Henry is still in elite form (1,595 yards, 16 touchdowns) and shows no signs of slowing down at 31. Jackson is fully healthy as well, and can get back to running more often.
The new line and reinforced running game provide better protection to get more out of the passing game. Flowers (86 catches, 1,211 receiving yards) is back as the main pass-catcher. Baltimore hopes for three time pro bowler Mark Andrews (422 yards, 5 touchdowns) and Rashod Bateman (224 yards) to be more productive in the new scheme.
Lamar Jackson Needs To Elevate His Game In The Playoffs To Finally Lead Baltimore To A Super Bowl
The legacy of Jackson is already etched in NFL history for his MVP accomplishments and physical talent that has helped to evolve the QB position. Part of his legacy, unfortunately, is tied to his playoff performance and the fact that he struggles on the biggest stage.
Jackson has a 3-5 playoff record, failing to perform in the postseason the same way he does in the regular season. With new leadership committed to maximizing his skills and a strong roster to support him, the 2026 Ravens offer him the best chance to reach that elusive Super Bowl. Everything is in place for him to play at peak form for the postseason.
