The 2025 NFL season has unfolded as a stark nightmare for the Baltimore Ravens, a team that began the campaign with genuine Super Bowl aspirations. Instead of a triumphant march to the playoffs, the Ravens find themselves mired in a deeply frustrating December, plagued by a cascade of injuries, disappointing losses, and increasingly uncomfortable questions about the franchise's direction.
A Season Unraveled: From Contenders to Crisis
With a record of 7 wins and 8 losses, Baltimore now occupies a distant second place in the AFC North. Their path to the postseason has narrowed to a mere sliver, and with the year slipping away, the focus has rapidly shifted from weekly game plans to the long-term future. When expectations are sky-high and the results fall painfully short, speculation becomes inevitable. Across the league, conversations are buzzing about the potential for major changes in Baltimore, with two central figures dominating the discourse: star quarterback Lamar Jackson and long-tenured head coach John Harbaugh.
The Financial Crossroads: Lamar Jackson's Massive Contract Dilemma
The debate reached a fever pitch following analysis from NFL expert Dan Graziano, who laid bare the complex financial reality facing the Ravens regarding their MVP quarterback. Speaking on ESPN's 'Get Up', Graziano pinpointed why the team is approaching a critical decision point.
"I'm gonna say no," Graziano stated, referring to the team's current stability. "The reason is that they are at an inflection point with Lamar Jackson's contract. There are two years left, no guaranteed money, and if they do nothing, the cap hit is almost $75 million. So they have to address it in some way."
He elaborated on the core dilemma: "Most teams would do it as an extension, and the Ravens very well may. No one's going to fault them for doing that. This is the best player in the league. But, you know, they haven't had success with him. If he misses this game Saturday due to injury, that's not the first game he's missed this year due to injury... If you are the Ravens… and you say to yourselves, 'Yeah, he's great. But if we pay him $60+ million a year, are we going to be able to build a Super Bowl team?'"
The 2025 season has arguably been the most challenging of Jackson's career. He has battled a brutal series of injuries affecting his hamstring, knee, ankle, toe, and now his back. These physical setbacks have forced him to miss three full games and exit two others early, including the devastating Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots that effectively extinguished Baltimore's fading playoff hopes.
Leadership Under Fire: John Harbaugh Addresses the Speculation
Parallel to the questions surrounding Jackson is the growing uncertainty about the future of head coach John Harbaugh. The veteran leader, who has been with the franchise for 18 seasons, confronted the rumours head-on after the loss to the Patriots.
"I try to do the job, not try to keep the job," Harbaugh said, deflecting the pressure. "My focus has been for the last 18 years here and the last 41 years in coaching is to try to do the best job I can today and fight as hard as I can so the guys have the best chance to be successful today. And anything after today, I'm not thinking about because it's not given for us to think about."
Despite this steadfast approach, the external noise is unlikely to quiet. The combination of a superstar quarterback at a financial crossroads and a respected coach facing a rare losing season creates a perfect storm of uncertainty for the Ravens organisation.
As the final whistle blows on a bitterly disappointing 2025, the Baltimore Ravens are poised for a pivotal offseason. The decisions made regarding Lamar Jackson's contract extension and the evaluation of John Harbaugh's leadership will define the franchise's trajectory for years to come. The quest for the Lombardi Trophy has been replaced by a more immediate and pressing question: what is the true foundation of this team's future?
