The Baltimore Ravens now have a whopping 15 candidates for their head coaching vacancy, and more are likely to come in the next few days. Baltimore Beatdown’s staff has an early favorite: Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. Here’s why:
The appeal of Klint Kubiak, to me, is obvious. Hiring a top offensive mind as head coach ensures that he cannot be poached by another team. He has experience under both Kyle Shanahan and Kevin Stefanski and has worked with Mike Macdonald in Seattle. That is quite
a trio of coaching connections, not to mention Kubiak’s last name.
Kubiak’s 2024 stint in New Orleans featured some early fireworks before the offense regressed closer to its actual talent level. He clearly upgraded the offense in Seattle, up to the level of a Super Bowl contender. He did that with Sam Darnold under center, a relatively unproven offensive line, and no clear No. 2 receiving weapon behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba. The results: Darnold maintained his top-10 production, the O-line saw massive improvements, and JSN emerged as one of the best receivers in the NFL. That middle part seems like it would be especially beneficial in Baltimore. – Nikhil Mehta
Of the current candidates the Ravens have requested, I think my favorite has to be Kubiak. Hiring from the Shanahan coaching tree has proven to be a pretty safe bet and an offensive guru like Kubiak could be exactly what Lamar Jackson needs. Most importantly, Kubiak emphasises a physical ground and pound/ play action philosophy which fits the Ravens ideology. Is he the next Sean McVay, Ben Johnson, or Kyle Shanahan? That’s the big question, but it’s certainly impressive what he’s pulled off with a pedestrian Seattle offensive roster. – Stephen Bopst
While I’m not super familiar with him as a person or leader, Klint Kubiak intrigues me the most out of the potential candidates. Having a strong offensive play caller as your head coach can be an absolute blessing. Look no further than the Sean McVay with the Los Angeles Rams, Kyle Shanahan with the San Francisco 49ers, and Ben Johnson with the Chicago Bears as the most recent example. An offensive guru to fully maximize and grow with Lamar Jackson could be the secret to finally getting over the hump. If they go the route of an offensive minded head coach, then I would prefer a proven, veteran defensive coordinator to complement him. – Dustin Cox
My favorite name from this group is probably Flores. He and Kubiak are my top two candidates in this whole cycle but I like what Flores brings to the table a little more. His fiery attitude and attention to detail is exactly what this organization needs after falling flat in the playoffs for so many years in row. I’d also argue that the defensive side of the ball needs more help than the offense. – Zach Canter
My choice from the current list of requested, scheduled, and completed interviews would be Klint Kubiak. I want a leader who can shape the offense around Lamar Jackson and who won’t be poached away if they are successful. Kubiak has led his quarterbacks to incredibly successful seasons in Minnesota, San Francisco, and now Seattle. He is the right blend of up-and-coming and well-established, having achieved success across multiple organizations. In just one year, Kubiak helped lead the Seahawks to the NFC’s top seed and oversaw an offense that saw Jaxon Smith-Njigba announce himself as one of, if not the best, wide receivers in the NFL. Should the Ravens pursue an offensive-minded coach, I would like to see an experienced defensive coordinator brought in. My dream would be Jim Schwartz for that position. – Mark Myers
