The Baltimore Ravens are certainly going through some significant changes this offseason.
John Harbaugh is out as head coach; the other is offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Those are two key positions that need to be filled, and both must be done with an eye on Lamar Jackson.
Much has been made of the reports of Lamar and Harbaugh's relationship, so the incoming head coach and coordinator will have to have a good relationship with No. 8.
And for The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec, the chances of Baltimore having success in 2026 are all on Lamar's shoulders.
"Jackson was rarely healthy in 2025," Zrebiec wrote. "The extra time off should do him some good. A reworked or extended contract for Jackson — his $74.5 million cap hit would make it nearly impossible for general manager Eric DeCosta to build a playoff-caliber roster around him — would do the Ravens some good.
"When Jackson has been healthy and engaged, the Ravens have been one of the league’s best teams. Baltimore’s path back to contention starts with making sure its star quarterback is in peak form physically and mentally."
More: Ravens urged to sign Super Bowl champion WR to 'invigorate' Lamar Jackson
Ravens need total Lamar buy-in
Lamar getting healthy is job No. 1 in the offseason, plus the franchise can't have him missing a day each week of practice.
The second is having him buy in mentally.
A new coach will certainly provide a sugar hit in that department, but once that hit wears off, Jackson will need to be dialed in on what the coach wants.
When rolling, there's no denying the Ravens are one of the best teams in football...until they get to the playoffs, but in order for that to happen in 2026, Lamar has to be a better version of himself.
And with the right head coach and offensive coordinator, MVP Lamar might be making a return in 2026.
More Ravens news:
- Did John Harbaugh's firing boil down to one play? A simple reason Ravens moved on from longtime coach
- Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh era over as Ravens swing axe
- Ravens' Isaiah Likely makes free agency plans perfectly clear
- Lamar Jackson perfectly sums up Ravens loss to Steelers with 1 word