OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Greg Roman decided to step down as offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday amid fan outrage and player frustration.
Roman had one year left on his deal, which he thought was a collective option.
After the visit with the coach [John] “Harbaugh and after being reunited with my family, I have decided that now is the right time to move on from the Ravens so that I can explore new challenges and opportunities,” Roman said in a statement. … I will really miss Baltimore, but at the same time I’m excited to attack my next opportunity with focus and passion.”
Roman’s most impressive feat was devising an attack outside the box around the quarterback Lamar Jacksonwhich produced the NFL’s most prolific offense in 2019. But Roman never came close to replicating that unpredictable, dominant offense.
The Ravens’ scoring in each of Roman’s four seasons as a Baltimore starter has fallen from 33.2 points per game in the NFL in 2019 to 20.6 points per game in 2022 (19th in the league). Roman’s downfall was the inability to put together a passing game to supplement a record-setting running game and his questionable call to play in the red zone.
The Ravens’ scoring in each of Roman’s four seasons as a Baltimore starter has fallen from 33.2 points per game in the NFL in 2019 to 20.6 points per game in 2022 (19th in the league). Roman’s downfall was his inability to put together a pass game to complete a record-setting game and his questionable calls into the red zone.
“Greg created and led our offense to no fewer than 26 NFL and franchise historic accomplishments. He established an identity for our offense. We are grateful for Greg’s work and incredible abilities, and wish him and his wonderful family the very best moving forward,” Harbaugh said in a statement.
After the Ravens lost 24-17 in the playoff game at the Bengals on Sunday, it’s back to back JK Dobbins He complained about not getting any touches in the red zone in the second half, specifically on the drive where quarterback Tyler Huntley’s fumble was returned on a sneak 98 yards for a touchdown. Baltimore finished 30th in the red this season and was 1 of 4 inside their own 20-yard line on Sunday.
Roman faced increased scrutiny at the end of the season, when Baltimore struggled without an injured Jackson. The Ravens failed to score more than 17 points at any point in Jackson’s six-game absence (including the postseason).
It was just last month when someone left handwritten makeshift fliers reading “Fire Greg Roman” scattered outside the entrance to the Ravens’ facility. A few weeks earlier, someone had posted a video to Twitter of fans shouting obscenities at Roman as he walked from the stadium to his car after a match. “Get out of here, Greg,” one fan yelled.
Baltimore finished the season ranked 16th overall (338.8) — worst in six seasons — and 28th in passing offense (178.8) in an injury-plagued season. There wasn’t once this season that Roman was his #1 running back (Dobbins), #1 wide receiver (Rashod Pitman) and All-Pro left tackle (Ronnie Stanley) is available in the same game.
Under Roman’s innovative running game strategies, the Ravens became the only team in NFL history to produce over 3,000 rushing yards in a single season. Baltimore has done this in back-to-back seasons, which was also just two full seasons for Jackson (2019 and 2020). Roman compiled the best rushing offense in the NFL in 2019, when the Ravens ran for 3,296 yards, the most in a 16-game season in league history.
But Jackson and his passing game didn’t get any headway. Over the past two seasons, Jackson has thrown 33 touchdown passes and 20 interceptions. The Ravens ranked third in yardage (194.1) the past three seasons.
Entering his 16th season in the NFL, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh will be looking for his seventh Offensive Coordinator. His predecessors were Cam Cameron, Jim Caldwell, Gary Kubik, Marc Triestman, Marty Morning and Roman.
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