Pittsburgh Steelers legend discussing a Baltimore Ravens team he has competed against throughout his career. Ben Roethlisberger’s comments about the Ravens on his “Footbahlin” podcast this week weren’t entirely disconnected from the actual numbers.
“I think they’re falling apart,” Roethlisberger said. “I really don’t think they’re the same team. They just feel different. They feel like their window closed. To me, losing Harbaugh, King Henry’s a year older, his body’s taking a beating, what was going on with Lamar last year? He just didn’t seem like the Lamar that we’ve been used to seeing.”
Baltimore finished 8-9 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 season, losing their playoff spot on the final day when Ravens kicker Tyler Loop missed a field goal that would have sent Baltimore to the postseason.
Dec 7, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks on during warmups before the game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-Imagn Images
Lamar Jackson, the two-time MVP who has redefined the quarterback position, threw for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2025, numbers well below his usual production. His rushing total dropped to 349 yards, a fraction of the 915 yards he managed in 2024.
The combination of injury disruptions and a new offensive structure around a coaching staff in transition contributed to the regression.
What Roethlisberger’s argument gets right and where it oversimplifies
Derrick Henry’s 2025 numbers still looked like 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns. What Roethlisberger is pointing toward is the trajectory. Henry turned 31 in January, is entering his 11th season, and carries far more physical wear than most players his age because of how he runs. Historically, running backs at his age and usage level decline sharply.
Uh Oh: The legendary Ben Roethlisberger believes the Ravens’ Super Bowl window has closed and they need to rebuild.
“I think they’re falling apart. I don’t think they’re the same team…They just feel different. They feel like their window closed…To me, losing Harbaugh, King… pic.twitter.com/7kyNYSqt4K
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) June 15, 2026
The Harbaugh departure is also real. He was fired after 18 seasons, replaced by Jesse Minter, who is entering his first year as a head coach. The defensive coordinator who helped build the Ravens’ best defenses under Harbaugh left alongside him. The new-look staff is young and unproven at the top level.
Former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith pushed back on social media.
“Ben is just making s— up,” Smith wrote on X. “Ain’t no way he truly believes Pittsburgh is ahead of Baltimore or Cincy. Won the division thanks to a horrible (and confirmed) no int and missed Isaiah Likely TD. The Ravens had an injury report that looked like a CVS receipt. They were just ok,”
As long as Lamar Jackson is healthy and motivated, the Ravens’ championship window remains open. He is 29 years old.
Roethlisberger’s take is colored by division loyalty. But he’s not the only voice saying some version of what he said. The Ravens have work to do in 2026 to prove the 2025 season was the exception and not the new baseline.