HEAD COACH JOHN HARBAUGH
On what his three-year contract extension means: "It means God is amazing, and the Ravens organization is amazing. I was talking to my agent, and he had said something to me, and it really was just a telling thing. He said, 'You're 5-for-5 in your head coaching career,' and I kind of looked at him like you guys are all looking at me right now. He said, 'You're 5-for-5. You've had the two best team presidents in the NFL, you've had the two best general managers in the NFL, and you've got the best owner in the National Football League, 5-for-5.' So that's the blessing, and that's why where we're at where we're at right now with that. So, I'm very grateful for that."
On if he's thought about how much longer he wants to continue coaching: "I'm happy to be alive. I hope that continues for a while. I say to my dad, 'You'll say happy birthday,' or you're feeling older or whatever, and it's like, 'Hey, it's better than the alternative,' so let's keep rolling. Really what you think about, honestly, what you think about is, how are we going to get better today? How can we get better? What do we need to do? Your players, coaches, schemes."
On if he's thinking about the big picture: "Not really. I mean, everybody thinks about it, but it's not really [at] the forefront of my mind. I just hope I make it there to make a decision at some point in time. That would be nice. I'll still be breathing." (laughter)
On if he's ever had conversations with his dad about when he would potentially retire from coaching: "Well, my dad has the best advice. I think my brother shared this recently. He said, 'Hey, you coach, until you just can't take it anymore.' Until it's just too much, and there's no way you want to do it, and you don't even want to come to work anymore. 'When you get to that point, you coach for two more years, and then you move on.' So, that's dad's advice." (laughter)
On what he likes about the current roster: "The best way to describe it, I love the fact that we could line up and play right now. I've heard it said before, and it's a good philosophy, 'We don't play any games until September.' So, when you have issues or holes – if you want to call it that – you do have time to get better, but we could play a game right now with our roster. We have a really good roster right now. I love our players. I love our depth even – not that we can't get better. So, our mission right now is to try to improve and try to take it to the next level. The way the roster is set up, it gives us an opportunity to really go after the best player we can get – whatever the position might be to improve our team and make the hole better. So, I'm looking forward to the draft. We still have some options in free agency, and [we'll] keep improving."
On what WR DeAndre Hopkins will bring to the wide receiver room: "Oh yes, 'D-Hop' [DeAndre Hopkins]. I was in a parking lot in Tampa getting ready to go see my daughter play a lacrosse game, and we got on the phone, and I had a chance to talk to him about what his vision was for his future and what he wanted to accomplish. And amazingly enough, it aligned perfectly with the Ravens' vision; it was right in line with what we're trying to do. And he's a guy that I've always felt like should be a Raven. That was always something I always kind of [thought when I] watched him play when we were playing against him. I felt the same way about Derrick Henry and Lamar [Jackson] when we saw him in college. But to see him now with us, in our building, working out already with the guys, it's pretty cool."
On how he feels about the offensive line: "I feel good about the O-line right now, today. Like I said, we could play with five starters. We have competition even there, but we can use a couple more guys, too. And we'll be looking to bolster the depth but also bolster the competition in the O-line. But bringing Ronnie [Stanley] back was a huge part of that. We couldn't say that if Ronnie wasn't coming back. If Ronnie had decided to go elsewhere, we would've had to have addressed that in a big way, and I expect Ronnie to even continue to ascend – not just back to where he was pre-injury, but past that now. And I just love his mindset, his maturity, his work ethic, his determination to be a legacy-type player. I think that's really what he wants to accomplish right now, and that's really important for our team."
On why in 2024 the NFL really valued the running back position as important again: 'Yes, it has swung back [because] probably people realize that's football. I've heard it said, football or the NFL is a passing league – which it is – and the rules are kind of skewed that way a little bit. It's tough to defend the great quarterbacks, but a two-headed monster is better than one. And the ability to run the ball, it just adds a layer that is fundamental to the game. It's a physical game. If you can run the ball, you can control the ball. If you can stop the run, you can put the offense in tougher passing situations. So, we've just always felt like it starts with stopping the run and running the ball."
On if having a quarterback like QB Lamar Jackson influences how he feels about the "Tush-Push" play: "Well, we don't do it with Lamar [Jackson]; it's not something that we do. I feel like it's a football play. If it's determined that it's an injury-risk play – which I think the doctors are concerned about right now – then that's something that we have to address. If we don't think it's an injury-risk play, then it's just a play in football. So, I'm looking forward to the discussion. We really haven't decided our position on that yet. I kind of want to hear some more of the conversation."
On if the league should go back to eliminate players being able to push their teammates from behind: "Well, yes. If you want to be consistent, just take all those kinds of pushing situations out of the game, right? Downfield or wherever they are, I mean, [if] we can't push the quarterback, maybe we shouldn't be able to push the guards either. If we can't push the defensive linemen on a field goal rush, [then] why are we pushing the guards? If you want to make that a rule, it might make sense to make it comprehensive, but right now it's pretty narrowly written. So, we'll have to see what happens."
On RB Keaton Mitchell's outlook for the upcoming season: "Well, that's a great question. I do think [Keaton Mitchell] has been on schedule; he's been on track. That was a really tough injury. So, the fact that he got back when he did was, to me, almost miraculous that he was out there playing at all. I'm almost certain, as much as you can be sure, he's going to be [on] a whole other level coming back in the spring and then again into training camp, because he is going to be a year and a half out of that deal. So, this will be his second year. Most knee injuries, it's your second year, this one, I think that's especially true about it."
On how ILB Trenton Simpson developed last season and his thoughts about the linebacker room: "Yes, I feel great about the linebacker position. I think we do need some guys. I mean, we lost a bunch of guys, so we've got to replace those guys. I think we've got some good young guys coming up. William Kwenkeu, nobody knows about him, but he played two games last year. I'm kind of excited [about] him as a special teams guy and a growing, developing linebacker, but Trenton Simpson, I expect him to be the starting early-down WILL [linebacker]. We do a lot on passing downs with dime [packages] and different kind of personnel groups in the field. He can continue to grow into that, but I think he's going to take a big step this year. I remember Patrick Queen took a big step his third year, as well, so that would be probably our expectation. He's working hard. He's already in the building every single day, he's watching film on his own, he's in phenomenal shape. I'm sure he could play a game right now. So, he cares, and that's where it starts."
On CB Brandon Stephens' departure and the current status of the secondary: "Well, yes. Brandon [Stephens], look what he accomplished. He didn't play defensive back until like his junior and senior year in college. He came in kind of raw in that sense and became one of the better corners in the league [for the] last two years. And, for him to get that kind of a contract and a deal – I've gotten to know his family really well and his mom. They went through a situation with his brother as you remember, and for this to happen for him is a blessing, so we're happy for him. It leaves us needing a corner, but we got 'Chido' [Chidobe Awuzie], and that was a huge signing for us. He's been one of the highest-ranked corners when he's been healthy. So, our goal is to get him back out there, get him healthy, really work with all the soft tissue stuff, and try to do the best we can to bring him back to where he [get to] his high level of play, so he should help us. Then we have T.J. Tampa [Jr.] in the mix. I think T.J. is going to take a big step. Health is big for him, too. And then, Jalyn Armour-Davis is another guy with the health. So, Jalyn has always been talented, and he's always played well when he has been out there. So, those are all guys in the conversation. And then Ar'Darius [Washington] can drop down into the nickel spot. So, we've gotten answers. We could definitely add a guy in the draft, too."
On if he likes CB Marlon Humphrey playing inside or on the outside: "I love Marlon [Humphrey] anywhere. I like him on the field, but I do like him inside. He's a game changer in there. Nobody plays like Marlon. There's no nickel who plays the way Marlon plays in the slot. He can play outside with the best of them, but I don't think there's anybody like Marlon in the slot."
On integral pass rush coach Chuck Smith is to helping the team's pass rush: "[Pass rush coach] Chuck Smith is a unique guy. We call him the guru. He would probably blush if he heard me say that, but he's passionate about pass rush, and he brings that to the table with our guys. And we just figured if you have a skill that's really important, then it needs to be trained and taught every single day, and he does that. He does the other things, too. He coaches the position and the assignments, he coaches the position, but he focuses on all the guys – the defensive linemen, the edge rushers, the defensive backs, the linebackers on their pass rush techniques. So, he does a great job. I'm really proud of Chuck."
On what Sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano's role will be in the secondary: "Yes. I think we have a good mix back there. Of course, [defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr] as a coordinator is involved in every part of it, and then [Sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach] Chuck [Pagano] and then [defensive backs coach] Donald [D'Alesio]. Those three, those three guys will be focusing on the back end, but Chuck brings that experience, and then Donald's a young guy. He's been in the league for three years now. He's really proven himself as one of the up-and-coming coaches in this league. So, it was just a good chemistry between these two guys, I felt like, [with] Chuck bringing the experience and the style. You guys know Chuck. He's just got a great way with those guys. He's unique. He's been there and done all that. He's seen about everything you can see in football. And so, I think that experience is going to be really good for us, and I think they're going to like his style. I think Donald is like cutting edge right now.
What they've done in Kansas City with Steve Spagnuolo – we have to ties to Steve as you know, our systems are very similar – and for Donald to take a step with more responsibility with us is good, too. I'm very fired up about that situation."
On the process of bringing aboard Sr. defensive assistant/secondary coach Chuck Pagano: "You think about it, and I'm just kind of like, 'Hey I know this great secondary coach. I wonder if [Chuck Pagano] be interested in coming back?' And I didn't know, because he is pretty happy out there [in Idaho]. He's got the grandbabies, but I think his answer was, 'When do we start? Let's get back to it.' That's Chuck.'"
On if the team expects to draft a kicker this year: "That's a great question. I think there's a lot of good kickers in the Draft, from what I'm told. [Senior special teams coach] Randy Brown is out there. He's been putting up the frequent flyer miles all over the country, and he texted me. It's like tracking Santa on Christmas Eve. We're tracking Randy on the evaluation of kickers right now. He's doing a great job with that, so he'll have his list. We'll look at those guys next week when we get back. Obviously, there are a lot of layers to that whole conversation, but it's something we would have to do no matter what. At this point in time, you have to look. You always have to do your due diligence, so we will be prepared to do that on Draft day if we feel like we need to and if the right guy is there."
On if the way the defense came together at the end of last year is a starting point for next season: "That's how exactly how it made me feel. That's where we begin. I was surprised in the midst of it that we were struggling the way we were, because I just felt like you didn't see some of those problems cropping up. You couldn't anticipate those coverage problems cropping up the way they did. But looking back on it, [I'm] not so surprised. [It was] just kind of what we went through, what we were dealing with, the quarterbacks that we played [and] all those kind of things, but the fact that we were able to get it turned around collaboratively ...We got together, we worked on it and got it fixed in a real big way. I was really proud of that."
On how important it is to add another safety and allow S Kyle Hamilton or S Ar'Darius Washington to move around and add more versatility: "I think another safety in the mix playing would definitely do that. I think we have the two young guys from last year who did a good job on special teams. I expect those guys in that conversation or anybody that we might add in the Draft, or free agency still, but we do. We like the moving parts. We like that. That would help us."
On what changed for S Marcus Williams that led to him being benched: "That's a good question. I wish I had that answer, because it's probably a lot to it that's hard to understand, but by no means do I think that, that [Marcus Williams is] not going play really good football going forward. I've even said that before; I thought it would happen even last year at one point, so, he's a talented guy. He is a very conscientious person. I was really just impressed with the way he handled that. I thought he handled it like a pro and like the good person that he is. He was a good teammate, and he'll do really well going forward, I'm sure, somewhere."
On if he fully expects TE Mark Andrews to be on the team in 2025 and if he's talked to him through the offseason: "Yes, we've been in contact, back and forth. It's not like guys want to hear from me every day, any of them. 'Coach, you're calling me again?' But, Mark [Andrews] is in a good place. He's working really hard. I do fully expect him to be playing for us next year. He's just too good a player. Obviously, with any player, there's always that – probably any player – it's just coaches [and] players ... It's the National Football League. That's part of the deal, with things happening, so I never could say anybody ... but Mark would be one of the few guys I would expect to be here, so we'll see what happens. My plans are that we've got Mark, we've got Isaiah [Likely], we've got Charlie [Kolar, and] we've got Pat Ricard all in place doing all those jobs."
On his thoughts about the tush push: "Well, like we said here a minute ago, it just has to do with safety, so if doctors have some concerns, I think we just want to hear more about how the doctors feel about it in terms of, there's not a lot of those plays so far, so if there's potential for a wrong kind of injury, then that we'll have to think about that. If they feel like it's safe, or it can be made safer or whatever, then fine. But if it's safe, then it's a football play, so we have no problem with it. If there's a problem with it, safety-wise, then we need to consider what they're talking about. That's where we're at with it."
On if he thinks that is the general sentiment: "I don't know. That's a great question. I haven't really polled [others]. I haven't done a poll on it, but if they have it still in the game, we'll still be doing it with Mark [Andrews], and if they take it out of the game, then we won't. That's pretty much where we're at with it, football-wise."
On the importance of the NFL's and Ravens' Flag Football initiatives: "[It's] hugely important. [I'm a] big fan of the Flag Football initiative, [for] men and women, probably because I have a daughter and a wife who both tell me that they're just disappointed they didn't get a chance to play. I think Alison would've been a heck of a lefty quarterback, and Ingrid would've been a heck of a quarterback or a wide receiver or a wingback or something. She's a pit bull. She might've been a corner out there playing man coverage. That's the sentiment I hear from both of them and from Alison's friends. It's like, 'Man, I wish they'd have had that when I was coming up, I would've loved to have played.' So, that's just a great opportunity. It's a great game. Flag Football is fun, man, and we all ... did you play in gym class coming up, right? You spin away and take the flag away. I just think it's awesome."
On the possibility of Flag Football being in the Olympics and NFL players participating in July instead of attending training camp: "I didn't hear about that, no. I'm afraid I have a quarterback that'd probably be pretty good at it, so no, I'm not that excited about that in all honesty. I believe in America. I want gold medals, but ..." (Reporter: "There's a limit.") "That's right." (laughter)
On if the team has talked to QB Lamar Jackson about his contract or an extension: "There has been conversations about that internally, I know. How far along that is or whatever, I don't know, but I definitely think it's an obvious point that you're making. That's going to continue to have to be addressed, really with all those guys. You just have to kind of manage that dance – the salary cap dance – and Lamar [Jackson] is the main part of that, because he's the franchise player. That's a possibility. Sooner or later, that's definitely going to have to happen."
On if it's hard to put a value on QB Lamar Jackson: "Yes, the value is the top. When Lamar [Jackson] gets paid, he's going be the highest paid player in football, just like he was last time. I think every contract he signs, probably until he decides to hang up his cleats, he's going to be that guy."
On if he's looking forward to seeing QB Lamar Jackson's acting debut: "I am looking forward to it. That facial expression that is in that clip – I've seen that look before. [Lamar Jackson has] looked at me that way a couple times. It's a tough look right there, so yes. He's got the face of an actor, man. We just don't need to get too excited about the acting too early. Let's finish the football first, but I know he feels that way."
On the challenges of figuring out how to take the next step in the playoffs and reach the goal of winning the Super Bowl: "It's both. It's as simple as that, and then chasing that is always nuanced. That's a theme that we've had here for 17 years, is get out of our own way [and] be on the same page. We really want to be as in sync as we possibly can in everything we do. We try to chase every detail. In terms of things that are important, winning football we call it. The winning football intangibles, the impacts, the importance to winning, those are the things you want to be great at, and you're not going to necessarily be perfect at all those things in every game, but you want to chase perfection in every area. So, you get into a game and things don't go your way. You get unlucky. The ball doesn't bounce your way. You make mistakes, but the calls don't go your way, whatever it might be. You're still so good in all the other areas that you're able to overcome those things and find a way to win the game irregardless. We've been able to do that a lot, because we've won a lot of games, and every one of these games is really important and impactful. In the playoffs, we haven't been able to put it together for three or four games to win the Super Bowl championship, and that's the hard thing. That's why only one team does it, so we understand that. That's the way it's set up, but we want to be that team, and we're good enough to do it, so we want to find a way to do it. The challenge there – the not simple part of it – is setting everything up in a way that makes those things intent, so that we're intentional about those things every single day. So, when those moments happen in the biggest moments, it's something that we've been doing all along, and it's normal for us. Then, we have the best chance to have it go our way in those games, and that's what we're really talking about right now as a coaching staff, is the best way to intentionalize all those things so that in those big moments, we can follow through and get to the end."
On if he's talked to K Justin Tucker recently and where his mind is at right now: "I haven't talked to [Justin Tucker] for a few weeks. I do need to give him a call, because he's on my list, on my rotation, but I haven't tried to make it anything more than the normal conversations we would have. There's nothing else I can talk to him about, besides we've had that one, one conversation about it. It's just kind of in that mode right now."
On NT Michael Pierce's retirement and if that changes the offseason and Draft approach: "Well, yes, because we have to make sure we have a good solid defensive line. The good news is the Draft is really deep there, and there's also some options. We can bring some guys back. I like our guys, too, that we can bring back. I'm very confident we're going to have a good [defensive] front, but I'm happy for Mike [Pierce]. What a great career [he had]. Look where he came from [and] what he accomplished in football. [He's] one of the best people, the best dudes [or] guys that you'll ever be around. I love that guy. And when he got that interception – what a way to go out."
On the allegations against former coach Matt Weiss: "It's just really shocking [and] surprising. I didn't see that one coming. I found out about it the same time everybody else did. I don't know what to make of it. I just feel really bad for the people involved that were affected by it, especially his family and then the people that were the victims of that. I love Melissa and the kids. It's really just a disturbing situation."
On if the team finds mock drafts a valuable tool: "We do. [Executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta] uses those to a great degree – the mock drafts – because it gives you a consensus basically on how the players are viewed, and it gives you an idea of where the players are going to basically be taken, so we look at those pretty thoroughly."
On if that's something the team developed internally and looking for public consensus: "We're looking at all the different things that are published. I'm sure there's a lot of phone calls made, too, especially by [executive vice president and general manager] Eric [DeCosta]. I don't really do that. I'm sure he does some polls himself. There's so much information out there. It kind of gives you a pretty good view of how the Draft is viewed."
On if he feels like the Ravens' offense still hasn't reached its ceiling: "I'm definitely banking on that. We're really looking to take the next step, the next iteration – 3.0 as we call it – to get this to the point where we're doing more things better. We want to do more, and we want to do it fundamentally better. Those are two conflicting principles or goals sometimes, but you have to chase conflicting principles. You have to chase things that are seemingly at odds with one another to be highly successful, so we're trying to figure out ways to do that with the system, the way we're building the system, and I'm kind of excited about where we're going with that. I'm very excited, and the continuity is a big part of that."
On how QB Lamar Jackson is growing every year: "Well, [Lamar Jackson is] supposed to [grow]. He works hard, and he's got a growth mindset, and he wants to be better. That's the thing. That's what I love about Lamar Jackson. He just wants to improve all the time. He's never satisfied, and he talks about winning the Super Bowl, and when he wins a Super Bowl – not if, but when he wins a Super Bowl – he's still not going to be satisfied. He's going to want to get another one, and that's just the way he's built."
On what specific things has quarterbacks coach Tee Martin added to QB Lamar Jackson's game: "[Quarterbacks coach] Tee [Martin] is day to day with Lamar [Jackson]. Tee is a great coach, and he's a great person, and they have a great relationship. Tee has coached quarterbacks, he's coordinated offenses, [and] he's played quarterback at a high level. All those things really factor in, but he's also really just highly organized. He has a great system for teaching the quarterback, so I think he does a great job, and [he's a] big, big, big part of it."
On why the team re-signed G Ben Cleveland: "Resigning Ben Cleveland was just a good, smart football move for us. He's done everything we've asked him to do. When he comes into games, he plays solid football. He's versatile. He can play both guard spots, he can play center, and you can even put him out there at tackle, and he hangs in there. He's not built to be a tackle, but he hangs in there. He goes in as the extra O-lineman sometimes [or] at tight end and blocks, and he wanted to be here. He wanted to be with the Ravens. He appreciates his role. He's on field goal protection [unit]. He's probably the best field protection guy in the league. Nobody talks about it, but he's great at that, so he's a good guy. As far as the situation he had, that's to be determined what the punishment will be for that. He understands that. We understand that, as well, but that was a good, solid football move for our team."
On being the second-longest-tenured head coach and what it takes to continue to have the passion and excitement for coaching: "How could you not? I just think we have the greatest job ever. You guys love what you do. You're here, [and] you're having fun, right? It's a great environment. I just love it. I just love every part of this job, even the things that are hard, even the disappointing moments [and] all the great moments we had this year. We had disappointing moments, too, especially the one at the end, but I didn't feel ... I felt disappointed, but I didn't feel bad, because I was proud of our team. I was proud of the way they fought. I was proud of what they accomplished and what they achieved. I just felt connected to the guys. I think as long as you feel that connection with the guys, and you feel like ... I also feel like there's a lot more to do. I feel like I have a lot more to prove. Our team has a lot more to prove, and I feel like I have a lot of good ideas, and our group has a lot of good ideas. We're still growing, big time. I just feel like there's no stopping us, and I can't wait to try this stuff out next year. As long as I feel that way, I think I'm going to keep coaching."
On how he feels about QB Lamar Jackson not winning MVP last year: "Well, [Lamar Jackson is] my MVP. I can tell you that. Lamar Jackson, to me, is my MVP, but he has been every year. He had a great season. He's a team player. That's what he cares about the most, and that's what's most important to Lamar and to all of us, but I'm always proud of Lamar."
On if extending RB Derrick Henry is a priority: "It's definitely in the conversation. I know that's been talked about, and yes, I'd love to see that get done as well."
