BREAKING: Ravens’ John Harbaugh explains controversial decision to bench $70 million defender!!!

John Harbaugh explains why the Ravens benched this $70 million defender.

Ravens' John Harbaugh explains controversial decision to bench $70 million defender! - 24/7 News America

While there’s plenty to discuss about the Baltimore Ravens’ Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, some of it good, most of it bad, one of the more eye-opening decisions of the contest came before the game, when Ar’Darius Washington earned the starting nod at free safety over $70 million man, Marcus Williams.Now, for fans of the Ravens, this wasn’t too surprising, as Williams, despite his pedigree, has been pretty bad for the Ravens in 2024, but actually pulling the trigger? Playing an undersized fourth-year UDFA over a massive free agent signee? That decision takes guts, even if it didn’t ultimately result in a win.

Discussing the decision to make the move on the Monday after his loss to Pittsburgh, John Harbaugh explained the rationale, which was apparently planned in advance.

“Yes, that was the plan going in. [Ar’Darius Washington & Kyle Hamilton] – we were trying to attack some issues that we had in the back end, as everybody knows, and I thought they played well back there. Those guys did a good job,” Harbaugh told reporters. “Ar’Darius [Washington] had earned that opportunity, and he had earned that chance by the way he practiced and by also by the way he played when he was in there during the course of the season. We put Kyle [Hamilton] back there as well; I thought he played very well back there. He did a great job communicating – they both did, and they played well. That would definitely be a formula going forward, and then still the guys that are here with us, are still going to be working to do whatever they can to help us win.”

Will Washington and Hamilton remain the tandem in Week 12 and beyond? It’s hard to say, but when one considers that Washington was on the field for all 78 of the Ravens’ defensive snaps, Hamilton came in with one fewer snap at 77, and Williams played just one, it sure looks like that might be the way things look moving forward.

Ravens' John Harbaugh explains controversial decision to bench $70 million defender! - 24/7 News America
Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Marcus Williams was resilient the last time the Ravens benched him

While it was noticeable that Williams wasn’t on the field in Week 11, it wasn’t the first time he’s been held out of action due to his on-field play, as, in Week 8, he experienced a similar fate. Fortunately, when asked about the decision, Williams took the high road, telling the Ravens website that he’s focused on the future, not the past.

“We’re not worried about what happened last week,” Williams said. “It’s all about moving forward to this week, getting prepared, staying prepared. When I’m ready to get in, when it’s my time, I’ll go in and do what I’ve got to do to make plays.

“I’ve faced adversity all my life. Adversity, it makes you or breaks you. It’s how you react. Act like a pro, do all you’ve got to do to move on to the next week. … I’m going to stay prepared no matter what. If my name’s called, I’m going to go out there and do what I’ve got to do.”

Are Williams and the Ravens approaching an impasse? Is his time in the starting lineup approaching its end?

Maybe yes, maybe no, but when you consider that Washington is currently the 12th-ranked safety according to PFF in 2024, and Williams is (almost) dead last at 88 of 89, it’s clear the Ravens were justified to make a move.

Related Posts

🚨 LEAGUE SHOCKWAVE: Juѕtіn Tucker’ѕ 10-Game NFL Suѕрenѕіon Offіcіally Lіfted aѕ Former Baltіmore Ravenѕ Kіcker Becomeѕ Elіgіble to Sіgn wіth Any Team, Drawіng Immedіate Intereѕt from Multірle Franchіѕeѕ Deѕріte a Tumultuouѕ 2024 Seaѕon and Off-Fіeld Controverѕy, Whіle Fanѕ and Analyѕtѕ Sрeculate on Where the NFL’ѕ All-Tіme Accurate Kіcker Wіll Land Next and Whether He Can Reclaіm Hіѕ Record-Settіng Form and Cement Hіѕ Legacy іn a League That Haѕ Already Wіtneѕѕed a New Longeѕt Fіeld Goal

Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker’s 10-game suspension has been officially lifted, making him eligible to sign with any NFL team.

🦅BREAKING NEWS: Eagleѕ CB Jaіre Alexander Announceѕ Retіrement at 28 After Juѕt One Game wіth the Team, Revealѕ Heartfelt Reaѕon That Leaveѕ Fanѕ Emotіonal 👇

The рhіladelрhіa eagleѕ have announced that veteran cornerback Jaіre Alexander wіll be ѕteрріng away from football іndefіnіtely to рrіorіtіze hіѕ mental and рhyѕіcal well-beіng. The 31-year-old joіned the eagleѕ…

💥 SHOCKED NFL: Multірle ѕourceѕ revealed that the Mіamі Dolрhіnѕ ѕecretly met wіth the coach who waѕ fіred by the Gіantѕ juѕt hourѕ after the offіcіal announcement. A ѕource іn New Jerѕey confіrmed that the coach left the hotel wіth two men wearіng Dolрhіnѕ veѕtѕ overnіght — juѕt mіnuteѕ before Steрhen M. Roѕѕ’ѕ рrіvate рlane took off back to Florіda. Accordіng to an іnѕіder, “Steрhen M. Roѕѕ had thіѕ рlanned for weekѕ — thіѕ іѕ no coіncіdence.” ESPN ѕaіd a confіdentіal doѕѕіer called “Oрeratіon Southwave” іѕ cіrculatіng wіthіn the NFL, contaіnіng detaіlѕ that have left the entіre league ѕtunned…

The NFL world is in upheaval following reports that the Miami Dolphins conducted a clandestine meeting with a recently dismissed Giants head coach just hours

‼BREAKING: Seahawkѕ Icon Ruѕѕell Wіlѕon Exрoѕeѕ “Fraudulent” Referee Decіѕіonѕ іn 49erѕ’ Loѕѕ to the Ramѕ — “The NFL Muѕt Addreѕѕ Thіѕ Immedіately”👇

ѕanta Clara, Calіfornіa — The NFL world іѕ once agaіn engulfed іn controverѕy, and thіѕ tіme іt comeѕ from a voіce few exрected to ѕtand uр for ѕan…

💔 “I’m Keeping Our Baby” — Marshawn Kneeland’s Girlfriend Defies Her Parents’ Wishes After His Tragic Passing She lost the love of her life… but not the life they created together. 💫 Despite her parents’ protests, Marshawn Kneeland’s girlfriend has made a heartbreaking yet powerful decision — to keep their baby and honor his memory forever. 🕊️

Dallas, Texas — The football world stood still on November 6, 2025, when Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, age 24, tragically died of an

BREAKING: Chіefѕ’ Patrіck Mahomeѕ Delіverѕ Blunt 4-Word Meѕѕage to Bіllѕ Cornerback 😤🔥

The Kanѕaѕ Cіty Chіefѕ face what may be theіr moѕt іmрortant regular ѕeaѕon game ѕіnce рatrіck Mahomeѕ took over aѕ full-tіme ѕtartіng quarterback іn 2017. ѕіnce then,…