Ravens' Zay Flowers had big problem with Giants HC John Harbaugh

It was recently suggested that one reason New York Giants defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II wants to be traded this offseason is that he doesn't want to be part of "the grueling program" that new Giants head coach John Harbaugh plans to run. 

Previously, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers only had Harbaugh as a head coach from the 2023 NFL Draft through this past January. During a recent appearance on the "4th and South" podcast, Flowers touched upon what Ravens contact practices were like when Harbaugh was running them. 

Zay Flowers seems happy he's not playing for John Harbaugh anymore

"Full pads all the time," Flowers explained, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "However many practices in pads you can get, every single one. We’re doing one-on-ones in Week 17. Week 17, we’re doing one-on-ones, everybody out there, we’re tired, we’re still going." 

Injury woes impacting the Ravens throughout seasons became somewhat of an annual tradition during the final years of Harbaugh's tenure. Meanwhile, it was suggested shortly after Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti relieved Harbaugh of his duties this past January that Bisciotti made that call because "Harbaugh lost the locker room" and "players just simply had doubts about whether or not they wanted to play for him as their head coach." 

"That’s why we had a lot of injuries," Flowers continued while speaking about Harbaugh's methods. "Because of how we practiced, how we went. The load was heavy." 

New Ravens HC Jesse Minter made promise to Ravens players

New Ravens head coach Jesse Minter served as an assistant on Harbaugh's staff from 2017 through the 2020 season. During the podcast, Flowers revealed that his first conversation with Minter was about making life a little easier for players during upcoming practices. 

"Yeah, I talked to the new coach," Flowers added. "He worked with Harbaugh in 2017, so he knows how it was, how we worked with Harbaugh. So he says, 'You’re going to get your work, but it’s going to be a little easier on your body. You’re going to be fresher for the game.' That was the first talk I had with him: How’s practice going to look?"

Whether or not Minter's tactics will help keep quarterback Lamar Jackson and other Baltimore players healthy for the bulk of the 2026 season shall be seen.