Seattle Seahawks celebrated a Super Bowl LX championship over New England Patriots on February 8, capping a 14-3 season that restored the Seahawks to the top of the NFL hierarchy.
Baltimore Ravens went through the opposite trajectory. They had an 8-9 finish that ended their four-year playoff streak and cost John Harbaugh his job after 18 seasons. However, both organizations now face critical offseason decisions as they reshape their staffs for 2026.
The Ravens hired Jesse Minter as their fourth head coach in franchise history, tasking the 42-year-old defensive expert with reviving a roster that underperformed defensively and struggled with injuries.
Harbaugh landed Giants’ head coaching job, while offensive coordinator Todd Monken joined Cleveland as the Browns’ new signal-caller. Now, due to Seahawks, Ravens have seen another change in their coaching tree again.
Daniel Stern Turns Down Browns Gig, Reunites with Mike Macdonald in Seahawks
Ravens director of football strategy and assistant quarterbacks coach Daniel Stern is leaving Baltimore to join the Seahawks, possibly as their pass-game strategist,according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Feb 2, 2026; San Jose, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike MacDonald during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX at San Jose Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Stern spent 10 seasons with the Ravens, working alongside two-time MVP Lamar Jackson and serving as Harbaugh’s right-hand man for game management, situational football, and officiating decisions.
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“Sources: Ravens director of football strategy/assistant quarterbacks coach Daniel Stern is leaving Baltimore to accept a job with the Seattle Seahawks, possibly as their pass-game strategist,” Schefter reported Friday. “But he is off to Seattle.”
Sources: Ravens director of football strategy/assistant quarterbacks coach Daniel Stern is leaving Baltimore to accept a job with the Seattle Seahawks, possibly as their pass-game strategist. But he is off to Seattle.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 13, 2026
Stern, a Yale graduate, handled playbook design, call sheets, opponent analysis, self-scouting, and scripted situational practice periods. Seahawks analyst Brian Nemhauser called the hire “sneaky big,” noting Stern’s skill set aligns perfectly with Seattle’s offensive retooling after coordinator Klint Kubiak left to become the Raiders’ head coach.
Macdonald and Stern spent seven seasons together on Harbaugh’s staff from 2016-20 and 2022-23 before Macdonald departed for Seattle in 2024. The Seahawks coach has continued to hire from Baltimore’s staff, adding Stern to a group that already includes passing game coordinator Jake Peetz. Stern is not expected to replace Peetz but to support the offense with planning and decision-making.
Losing Daniel Stern is a significant blow for Baltimore. While he worked behind the scenes and rarely made headlines, his strategy was central to the Ravens’ game planning. Both Cleveland and New York tried to hire him, but he ultimately chose Seattle.
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To fill the gap, the Ravens hired Marcus Brady as pass game coordinator and Israel Woolfork as quarterbacks coach. Both are capable, but they lack the decade of internal experience Stern provided.
Minter now has the task of managing Lamar Jackson and restoring the locker room after a rough 2025 season. Losing a key strategist to the Super Bowl champion Seahawks only makes that rebuilding job harder.