Five John Harbaugh replacements for the Ravens: Why Brian Flores should be at the top of the list

When the Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh on Tuesday, two things became instantly clear.

The Ravens have the best opening of the seven teams currently looking for a head coach, and Harbaugh is without a doubt the best coach on the market.

While six other franchises should already have interviews lined up with Harbaugh, who will be next in Baltimore? It will be hard — likely impossible — to find a coach as successful as his predecessor, but here are some initial names the Ravens should consider in their search.

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores

With two-time MVP Lamar Jackson at his peak, the Ravens need a championship-level defense to get over the hump. Just look at Sunday's crushing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, when Jackson did everything possible to secure victory only for his defense to allow two late touchdowns and kicker Tyler Loop to miss a 44-yard field goal.

Flores has been deserving of a second head-coaching opportunity for some time now, and after another successful season leading the Vikings defense, the Ravens would be a perfect fit. The franchise is long known for playing tough, physical defense — something Flores would instill on Day 1. Establishing that identity could be the perfect complement to a Jackson-led offense and what the organization needs to add a third Lombardi Trophy.

Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak

Kubiak has raised his profile this season, coordinating a Seahawks offense that ranks in the top 10 passing and rushing. He'd potentially unlock another level to an explosive Ravens offense. Per Pro Football Reference, Seattle has the league's 10th-most play-action pass attempts (129) and third-most play-action passing yards (1,388).

Baltimore was ninth in play-action passing yards (1,019) despite ranking No. 23 in play-action attempts. The Ravens have one of the best rushing attacks, and taking advantage of that with more run-fakes could put defenses in a bind.

Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur

What about another brother of a current NFL head coach? Mike, whose older brother, Matt LaFleur, is in his seventh season with the Green Bay Packers, has been the offensive coordinator for the Rams the past three seasons working under Sean McVay, everyone's favorite coach manufacturer. Los Angeles ranked first in total and scoring offense during the regular season, making LaFleur a compelling option to explore. The Ravens would have no problem continuing to push the ball downfield, with Los Angeles tied for the second-highest average depth of target (8.7 yards) on pass attempts this season.

Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter

A former Ravens assistant from 2017-20, Minter is aware of the standard in Baltimore. He's also one of the rising coordinators in the NFL, with his defenses the past two seasons in Los Angeles ranking in the 88th percentile in points allowed. Working under a Harbaugh (either John or Jim) in eight of the past nine seasons, hiring Minter probably wouldn't be a total culture shock, either. Depending on how much change Baltimore's front office wants, that could be a good or bad thing.

Kevin Stefanski

Baltimore once stole the Browns from Cleveland, so why not take its former coach next? Stefanski was made the scapegoat for horrid front-office decisions Monday despite being named Associated Press Coach of the Year twice during his tenure. If the Ravens want someone with head-coaching experience to take over for Harbaugh, Stefanski might be the top option available.