Adam Schefter: Ravens Facing Reality Check in Head Coach Search After Missing Out on Top Candidates
Adam Schefter drops a spot-on comparison: The Ravens are treating their head coach search just like their famous draft strategy—sitting back patiently, letting other teams make moves first (Atlanta with Kevin Stefanski, Tennessee with Robert Saleh, Miami hires), then pouncing on the best talent left, à la drafting Lamar Jackson at 32 or Kyle Hamilton later. But with the Bills and Steelers now in the mix for top candidates, is patience still the play?
In this Ryan Ripken Show clip, Ryan, Cordell, and Zach break down Schefter’s take on ESPN, debating if the Ravens should stick to their “best available” philosophy or get more aggressive to avoid losing prime fits to Buffalo (elite QB appeal) or Pittsburgh (organizational stability). They highlight why Baltimore remains a top destination—Elite roster, Lamar Jackson as a franchise QB who thrives in any system, proven success with past hires (Billick and Harbaugh Super Bowls)—but stress the need for a defensive-minded coach to fix recent issues, plus offensive creativity for red-zone woes.
Special focus on Jesse Minter as a slight favorite (Ravens roots, X’s and O’s guru, potential to raise the floor), Anthony Weaver’s second interview buzz, and why going “outside the box” could bring fresh energy without abandoning the Ravens’ winning formula.
Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro & Schefter’s Draft Analogy Clip
0:46 – Ravens’ Patient Approach Like Lamar Pick
2:00 – Why Patience Has Worked (Billick/Harbaugh Success)
3:30 – Competition Heating Up: Bills, Steelers in the Hunt
5:00 – Should Ravens Go Aggressive? “Outside the Box” Debate
8:00 – Lamar’s Fit & Defensive Needs
11:00 – Jesse Minter Buzz & Candidate Breakdown
14:00 – Final Thoughts on the Search
Ravens Nation: Is waiting smart, or time to strike? Drop your take below!
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💬 Comment: Minter, Weaver, or someone else for HC?
32 comments
This is such a weird take. The only top candidate was McDaniel for the OC job. Hard to ask him to wait while they are still picking their guy for HC. None of the other candidates would be their picks
It will be between Kubiak, Webb, Weaver or Minter
After missing out on top candidates??? What are you talking about? If the Ravens wanted any of the 4 coaches that have been hired, we would have gotten them. This title is very misleading.
An offense side of the ball HC has the most upside. Lamar is the key to winning for this team and having long term stability on offense via an HC provides that. Having a great OC that leaves after 2 or 3 years does not.
Who wants anyone else besides Kubiak?
Kubiak, Flores and McDaniel. Flores may not be willing to be a DC but if he is he should choose the Ravens. Lamar over McCarthy and the Vikings have one NFL championship (before the merger) with no Superbowl wins. Next year will be 50 years since their last Superbowl appearance.
Sean McDermott would be great. Otherwise, I hope they get a defensive minded coach and pay for a quality OC. The whole culture of play like a Raven seems gone. I get the game changes. Playing truely like a Raven will put you in yellow flag hell. However, there is clearly a lack of edge across the whole team.
Who is this Ripken guy?
Exactly. Ravens didn’t want any of those guys who’s been hired.
Cordell!!!!
Shefter is a weasel with no credibility
If Jessie Minter is the top candidate to be hired for the ravens HC job this MEANS sabatoge for lamar. Lamar should only sign a 1 year extension and move on from the RAVENS.
That may work with players, but coaches is a whole different animal. They better not wait too long because everybody is not a John Harbaugh, he was just a hit or miss. There's no guarantee that will happen again. Tighten up Steve and EDC
IT'S OBVIOUS THE RAVENS ARE WANTING A COORDINATOR IN THE FINAL 4
THEY'VE ALREADY CHOSEN THE HEAD COACH, WE JUST DONT KNOW IT
Ravens have both other team have one or the other
Nobody wants Jesse
Its barely 2 weeks
Everyone is obsessed with Kubiak, but he's only been good for this year. He was middle of the pack everywhere else
Mike Tomlin? Coax him outta retirement.
What about Cignetti?!
Are the Ravens really that good(8-9)? Did u see that d-fence this year. They need a overhaul on that side of the ball.
The Ravens need to hire Brian Flores they need a complete culture change in Baltimore
John Harbaugh wasn’t a “top pick”. People make too much noise about retread failures in other places. Find the coach you want. It’s probably not the shinny toy everyone wants. Who cares where those other coaches went, Steve will find his guy. He’s a top notch owner.
they'll go thru 2-3 more coaches in the next 7 years.
9:30 but what you guys aren’t saying is, not every candidate is going to fit and serve every team‘s purpose and vice versa
Time to start over. Trade Jackson to the raiders for no. One pick. And begin the process of rebuilding. Jackson is not taking you to a super bowl.
Ozzy needs to step in, Daniels as offensive coordinator for Jackson would be great
Im not a big fan of Schefter but I agree with him on this
When your team consistently makes the playoffs it makes no sense to draft best player available bc you’re missing a specific piece. If you fall short bc of a TE you don’t draft a safety bc he’s the best available player😆😆😆
Waiting for the playoffs to come to an end before they start digging. Hire a winner…makes sense.
Waiting game is kind of weird to me! We need to secure an HC! Coach Harbs is a great Christian man, which I aspire to be, but no longer great leader of men, in Baltimore at least. I would take McDermot in a HEARTBEAT! And YO! I’ve been saying it for the past 48 to 72 hours to anyone who will listen, I have an EERIE feeling🤦🏿♂️FML!👿 I can see EDC dropping the ball with this whole coaching staff selection thing🙆🏿♂️ GO RAVENS FLOCK! And one love super agent mama Felicia Jones. She raised that man RIGHT! 💪🏿🙏🏿