Coach of the Year Odds Put Jesse Minter Against John Harbaugh

Source: Kalshi, September 7, 2026 - $957,755 Volume - Settled After Outcome

Despite providing the Ravens with consistent winning seasons, John Harbaugh was ultimately let go following years of disappointing playoff results. 

Harbaugh did lead Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory during the 2012 season, but the Ravens repeatedly fell short of another championship despite making 11 additional playoff appearances under his leadership.

With generational quarterback Lamar Jackson still in his prime and Derrick Henry nearing the latter stages of his career, Baltimore has a limited window to capitalize on its current roster. Missing the playoffs entirely last season may have been the final push behind the organization’s decision to move on from Harbaugh.

Now with the Giants, Harbaugh enters this season with a compelling narrative. Any success in New York will inevitably be compared with how Baltimore performs under Jesse Minter, while another disappointing season could further justify the Ravens’ decision to make a change.

Last season’s 4–13 record is not an accurate reflection of the Giants’ overall talent. Injuries prevented New York from getting a consistent look at its young core, with Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo and Jaxson Dart all missing significant time. Some players, including Nabers, are still working their way back to full health, but the roster should be in much better shape early in the season. 

With Harbaugh bringing his years of coaching experience to New York, preseason expectations generally place the Giants around seven or eight wins. It is a clear improvement compared to last season, although some level of progress should already be expected given how heavily injuries affected the team in 2025. 

For Harbaugh to contend for Coach of the Year, simply improving on a 4–13 record will likely not be enough. He will need to push the Giants back into playoff contention and make them competitive within the NFC East. A 9–8 record, particularly if it results in a postseason appearance, could be enough to turn Harbaugh into a realistic candidate for the award in 2026.

The Ravens enter the season with significant turnover from the offseason, particularly on defense, while also losing offensive pieces such as Isaiah Likely to the Giants. However, the biggest individual departure was arguably Tyler Linderbaum, who left for the Raiders and will be replaced at center by first round pick Olaivavega Ioane.

The loss of defensive players places even more pressure on Jesse Minter as he transitions from defensive coordinator to first year head coach. With a lack of an established roster, Minter will need to determine which new pieces can be trusted and how Baltimore’s defense should be structured around them.

The uncertainty around the Raven's roster makes Baltimore one of the more interesting teams to watch following John Harbaugh’s departure. Minter will inevitably be compared with the success Harbaugh achieved over nearly two decades, while also being expected to keep a talented Ravens roster in playoff contention.

For Minter to seriously compete for Coach of the Year, Baltimore will likely need to remain relevant in the AFC playoff race throughout the season. Expectations surrounding the Ravens remain high, meaning anything short of a postseason appearance will significantly hurt his chances of winning the award.

Baltimore finished last season with an 8–9 record, and improvement will be necessary in a competitive AFC North. The Ravens have already shown they can produce offensively, but protecting leads became a recurring problem last season. Several second-half collapses turned winnable games into losses, making defensive consistency one of the biggest areas Minter will need to improve in his first year as head coach.