Ravens Star WR Zay Flowers Blames Former Coach Harbaugh for Injuries

Flowers says Harbaugh's intense late-season practices led to a spike in injuries that doomed the Ravens' 2025 season.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:21am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, geometric scene of football players engaged in a practice drill, with sharp planes of deep purple, navy blue, and forest green colors conveying the physical demands and risks of the sport.A fragmented, cubist-inspired illustration captures the intensity and physical toll of an NFL practice, reflecting the Ravens' injury woes under the previous coaching regime.Baltimore Today

Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers has publicly accused former head coach John Harbaugh of causing a spike in late-season injuries due to his demanding practice regimen. Flowers said the team was still doing full-pad practices and one-on-one drills as late as Week 17, leaving players exhausted and prone to getting hurt. The Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021, leading to Harbaugh's dismissal after 18 seasons. Harbaugh has since been hired as the new head coach of the New York Giants.

Why it matters

Flowers' comments shed light on the potential pitfalls of an overly rigorous practice schedule, especially late in the grueling NFL season when players' bodies are already worn down. His criticism of Harbaugh's methods could influence how the new Ravens coaching staff approaches practices going forward to keep players healthier and fresher for games.

The details

In an interview, Flowers said the Ravens were still holding full-pad practices and one-on-one drills as late as Week 17 of the 2025 season under Harbaugh. He believes this heavy workload contributed to the team's rash of injuries that derailed their playoff hopes. The Ravens lost their final three home games and were eliminated in a close Week 18 loss to the Steelers.

  • In Week 17 of the 2025 NFL season, the Ravens were still holding full-pad practices and one-on-one drills.
  • The Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time since 2021, leading to Harbaugh's dismissal on January 6, 2026 after 18 seasons as head coach.
  • Harbaugh was hired as the new head coach of the New York Giants shortly after leaving the Ravens.

The players

Zay Flowers

A Pro Bowl wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens who publicly criticized former head coach John Harbaugh's late-season practice methods as a key reason for the team's injury problems in 2025.

John Harbaugh

The former head coach of the Baltimore Ravens who was fired after the 2025 season, and has since been hired as the new head coach of the New York Giants.

Jesse Minter

The new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, who previously worked with Harbaugh in 2017 and is expected to take a different approach to practices.

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What they’re saying

“Bro, we full pads. Bruh, we doing one-on-ones Week 17. Hey, I ain't gonna lie…Week 17, we're doing one-on-ones. Everybody out there, you tired, you still going.”

— Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver

“We don't. That was low-key. That's why we had a lot of injuries, 'cause how we practiced.”

— Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens Wide Receiver

What’s next

The new Ravens head coach, Jesse Minter, has indicated he will take a different approach to practices compared to Harbaugh's methods, with the goal of keeping players healthier and fresher for games.

The takeaway

Zay Flowers' criticism of former coach John Harbaugh's demanding late-season practice schedule highlights the delicate balance NFL teams must strike between preparing players and avoiding overworking them to the point of injury. The new Ravens coaching staff will need to find an approach that keeps the team competitive while prioritizing player health and recovery.