NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings
Aug 22, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks on after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2026 NFL season with major changes surrounding Lamar Jackson. Jesse Minter, 43, replaces John Harbaugh as head coach, while 30-year-old Declan Doyle takes over as offensive coordinator.
That coaching reset has raised questions about Baltimore’s ability to support its star quarterback. Speaking on the “Gridiron” podcast, Skip Bayless called Minter a “baby head coach” and questioned the experience around Jackson.
“I love Lamar,” Bayless said. “Lamar needs to do something significant this year for his resume’s sake or he’s really going to be on the hot seat.”
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Bayless also questioned whether Jackson will fully trust a young offensive coordinator who is younger than him.
“If Jesse Minter were the new defensive coordinator in Baltimore, I’d be with you,” Bayless said. “But he’s the new head coach. So you have a baby head coach trying to figure out how to run the whole show as well as the defense. And you have not just a baby offensive coordinator. He’s like an infant offensive coordinator, younger than Lamar, it feels.”
The concern comes after Jackson endured an injury-hit 2025 season. He played 13 games, producing 2,549 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
His 349 rushing yards also marked a career low, while Baltimore finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs. The Ravens responded by moving on from Harbaugh and reshaping the roster around their new coaching structure.
“I mean, just in sort of experience, [Doyle] he’s younger,” Bayless said. “Lamar’s going to look down on him and not trust him.”
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Lake Forest, IL, USA; Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle answers questions. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
Aqib Talib offered a different view of Baltimore’s youth movement. He pointed to Seattle’s recent success under a young coaching setup as evidence that age alone should not decide a team’s outlook.
“You don’t need a 70-year-old head coach,” Talib said. “Let’s get new guys, young guys with great confidence. Let’s give them the energy.”
Talib also cited Sean McVay, who became a head coach at 30 and then established himself among the NFL’s best. His argument highlights that for Baltimore, leadership matters more than age.
“It worked with Sean McVay. He was also a baby at one point, and now he’s the top dog. Like it’s a new regime, Skip,” Talib said.
Doyle has also embraced his age as an advantage. “It actually is a little bit easier for me to connect with guys because we are the same age,” he said in February this year.
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Still, Jackson’s relationship with the new staff will matter immediately. Baltimore needs its revamped offense to restore his mobility and explosiveness.
Minter’s defensive background could strengthen the team overall, especially after Baltimore struggled against the pass last season. However, Jackson remains the central piece, and his response to the new structure could define the Ravens’ 2026 campaign.
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