Ravens, G Kevin Zeitler Discussing Deal
Kevin Zeitler has continued to serve as a reliable interior offensive lineman. Now on team No. 4, Zeitler picked up his first Pro Bowl nod during a 12-year career. The Ravens guard also wants to play at least one more season.
Although Zeitler is one of the NFL’s oldest active O-linemen, set to turn 34 next month, the Ravens are interested in bringing him back. GM Eric DeCosta said he and Zeitler have discussed another deal, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes (subscription required). Zeitler played out his initial three-year Baltimore pact this season.
A late-career Steelers cameo from completing the AFC North sweep, Zeitler has been one of the Ravens’ most dependable cogs during the 2020s. Pro Football Focus has graded Zeitler as a top-15 guard in each of his three Baltimore seasons. In 2023, the advanced metrics website slotted him as the NFL’s second-best pass-protecting guard. Illustrating the inconsistencies in grading O-linemen, ESPN’s pass block win rate metric did not place Zeitler in the top 20. But the former Bengals, Browns and Giants blocker has been durable and a regular starter over the course of his 12-year career.
Zeitler scored big in free agency back in 2017, parlaying his fifth-year option Bengals season into a then-guard-record deal with the Browns (five years, $60MM). Changing GMs during Zeitler’s Cleveland tenure, the Browns included him as part of their Odell Beckham Jr. deal in 2019. The Giants used Zeitler as a two-season starter, and despite then-GM Dave Gettleman‘s push to bolster the team’s O-line, Big Blue released the trade pickup in 2021. Zeitler then signed a three-year, $22.5MM deal with the Ravens.
The former first-round pick expressed a desire for a Ravens extension last summer, but no new deal emerged. Zeitler started 15 more games with the Ravens, playing out the contract while missing only four contests in that three-season run. Zeitler has started 181 career games. Than number ranks in the top 20 all time; the Wisconsin alum is 29 starts ahead of Zack Martin among active guards.
With Ravens left guard John Simpson due for free agency as well, the Ravens face the prospect of losing both their guard starters. The team let contract-year breakout blocker Ben Powers depart last year, opting for Simpson at a lower cost. With Simpson playing out his deal and Tyler Linderbaum on a rookie pact that can be pushed to 2026 via the fifth-year option, Zeitler staying on a midlevel accord makes sense. He will be a more affordable free agent than Patrick Queen, who appears poised to test the market, and Justin Madubuike, who is likely to be franchise-tagged. Baltimore also has effective stopgap pass rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy out of contract.
This year’s guard market features some interesting first-time free agents. Jonah Jackson, Kevin Dotson, Robert Hunt, Damien Lewis, Jon Runyan Jr., and Ezra Cleveland are weeks away from hitting the market. Among guards to have held UFA status previously, Zeitler may lead the pack for value. Ex-Denver teammates Graham Glasgow and Dalton Risner are among the veteran options set to be available. The Ravens have until March 11 to keep Zeitler off the market.
Ravens To Let LB Patrick Queen Hit Open Market?
Two of the Ravens’ Pro Bowl defenders, defensive lineman Justin Madubuike and inside linebacker Patrick Queen, are due to hit free agency next month. As Baltimore appears likely to put the franchise tag on Madubuike, there may not be enough cap room to give Queen the type of contract he would command on the open market, and GM Eric DeCosta recently suggested that Queen would get the chance to see what the market has in store for him.
“Patrick had an amazing season,” DeCosta said at his end-of-season presser, via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic (subscription required). “I love Patrick. He’s one of my favorite guys on the team. He’s put himself in a great position, potentially, to hit the market and see what his value is. You never know.”
The Ravens selected Queen in the first round of the 2020 draft. While the LSU product flashed at times during his first several years in the league, he did not truly break out until Baltimore acquired fellow inside ‘backer Roquan Smith at the 2022 trade deadline. With the elite Smith as a running mate, Queen finally began living up to his draft status and excelled down the stretch of the 2022 campaign. Baltimore nonetheless declined the fifth-year option on Queen’s rookie deal, and extension talks between player and team failed to produce an agreement, which led to some frustration on Queen’s part and which turned 2023 into a platform year.
Although Queen was named a trade candidate in the run-up to last year’s draft and over the summer, the Ravens elected to let him finish out his rookie contract, to the benefit of both parties. In 17 games (all starts) in 2023, Queen set a career-high with 133 tackles and graded out as the 23rd-best linebacker in the league (eight spots behind Smith) per Pro Football Focus. In the process, he earned the first Pro Bowl bid of his career and set himself up nicely for a lucrative contract in his first foray into free agency.
Given that the Ravens committed a five-year, $100MM contract to Smith last January, it was always unlikely that they would authorize a contract for Queen commensurate with his market value (which Spotrac estimates is $18.5MM/year). That is especially true given the franchise’s penchant for drafting and developing quality ILB talent, and 2023 third-rounder Trenton Simpson is in line to take over Queen’s role should the latter find a new employer in 2024.
DeCosta obviously did not rule out a reunion with Queen, but unless his market does not develop as expected, the 24-year-old may have played his last snap for the Ravens.
Dolphins Hire Anthony Weaver As DC
It sounds like the Dolphins have found their replacement for Vic Fangio. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Dolphins are hiring Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver as their new defensive coordinator.
[RELATED: Anthony Weaver Emerging As Dolphins DC Favorite]
Weaver is well regarded in coaching circles, leading to him garnering a pair of head coaching interviews (Atlanta, Washington) this offseason. He didn’t land either of those gigs, but he’ll still earn a promotion to defensive coordinator in Miami. We heard yesterday that Weaver was the favorite to land the open defensive coordinator position previously held by Fangio, who recently left the Dolphins to return to the Eagles.
Weaver, a former Ravens second-round pick, earned his first NFL coaching job with the Jets in 2012. He was the defensive line coach in Buffalo, Cleveland, and Houston before he landed the Texans defensive coordinator gig in 2020. The Texans defense didn’t fare all that well that season, and with David Culley being brought in as head coach in 2021, Weaver wasn’t retained.
He was quickly scooped up by his former coach, John Harbaugh. Weaver joined the Ravens coaching staff as their defensive line coach/run game coordinator in 2021, and he earned a promotion to associate head coach in 2022. Schultz notes that the Ravens attempted to keep Weaver on their staff, but the Dolphins managed to lure him to Miami.
It’s not a huge surprise that Weaver decided to take his talents elsewhere, as he’s twice been passed over for Baltimore’s DC gig. The Ravens hired Mike Macdonald over promoting Weaver to DC in 2022, bringing the former back after a one-year stay at Michigan. They most recently elevated inside linebackers coach Zach Orr over Weaver to replace Macdonald. The Ravens defensive coaching staff has been decimated this offseason. Besides Weaver and Macdonald, the Ravens have also lost defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson, who was named the Titans new defensive coordinator.
The Dolphins should anticipate an improvement to their already-impressive pass rush corps. Miami finished third in the NFL this past year for sacks, behind only the Chiefs and Weavers’ Ravens. A Dolphins pass rush featuring Bradley Chubb (11.0 sacks in 2023), Zach Sieler (10.0), Christian Wilkins (9.0), and Jaelan Phillips (6.5 sacks in only eight games) could become that much more formidable with their new defensive coordinator at the helm.
After the Dolphins and Fangio decided to mutually part ways last month, the organization cast a relatively wide net for a replacement. Many of their targets earned DC jobs elsewhere or decided to stick with their current situations. Besides Weaver, the known remaining candidates included Dolphins inside linebackers coach Anthony Campanile, Texans linebackers coach Chris Kiffin, Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Slowik, and former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley.
New Ravens DC Zach Orr Chose Baltimore Over Green Bay?
The Ravens secured what they hope will be the next in a line of mostly outstanding defensive coordinators in their 28-year history when the team promoted inside linebackers coach Zach Orr yesterday. Orr staying in Baltimore, a city in which he’s spent nine years as both a player and coach, seems like a no-brainer, but according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, the team’s new coordinator had another offer: the Packers. 
This report comes with a bit of speculation as it stems from an unnamed “league source,” but the timeline holds up. The Packers’ hire of former Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley as their newest defensive coordinator came as a bit of a surprise with no reports of an interview taking place before his sudden appointment. There are perhaps two reasons for this.
The first would be that Hafley is a college football coach who must deal with the trials of the recruiting trail. If Hafley were reported to be interviewing for NFL jobs, any recruits the Eagles were hoping to land may think twice about committing to a coach who isn’t himself committed to the school. If news of an interview surfaced and Hafley returned to Boston College for the 2024 NCAA season, he would likely face innumerable questions concerning the plans for his future in Chestnut Hill.
The second reason pertains to his existing relationship with Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. The two are reportedly close friends. This could mean that, due to their friendly nature, the two had off-the-record conversations toying with the idea of a team-up. The theory would then become that Hafley was available as a backup option should LaFleur and company fail to land their preferred option, which was reportedly Orr.
Here’s where the other part of the timeline comes into play. Hafley was hired on January 31, the same day as Orr’s interview for the defensive coordinator job in Green Bay. In theory, Orr was offered the job on the spot, Green Bay having waited patiently for the Ravens to be eliminated from the playoffs. Orr, anticipating the likelihood of a promotion within his current organization, would’ve then turned the Packers down, prompting LaFleur to reach out and hire his good buddy later that day.
This theory makes sense when you consider Baltimore’s history of internal hires for defensive coordinator. After hiring Marvin Lewis in the Ravens’ inaugural season, Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan, Greg Mattison, Chuck Pagano, Dean Pees, and Don “Wink” Martindale were all promoted from internally to defensive coordinator. Mike Macdonald was technically the team’s first external hire for the position, coming from the University of Michigan, but that’s only if you discount the seven years he spent on-staff in Baltimore before his single year in Ann Arbor.
Orr had to have a good idea that he or Ravens associate head coach and defensive line coach Anthony Weaver stood the best chance of succeeding Macdonald as coordinator. If he felt particularly good about his prospects for the promotion, it makes sense that he would turn the Packers down just to be hired into the Ravens’ position the next day. In fact, Orr could’ve taken that Packers’ offer to leverage a similar advancement in Baltimore then informed Green Bay of his decision later that day.
If this report proves to be accurate, it paints an interesting picture for both teams. In Green Bay, it tells the story of a swing and a miss on one of the league’s up-and-coming, young coaches. In Baltimore, it shows how badly the Ravens wanted to hold on to Orr, who coached inside linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen to first- and second-team All-Pro honors, respectively, this season.
The Ravens knew that, in addition to losing Macdonald, they were likely to see whomever they didn’t promote between Orr and Weaver walk, as well. Head coach John Harbaugh and company claim that they’re really trying to hold onto to Weaver after passing him up for the coordinator position, but he seems destined for that promotion elsewhere as the current frontrunner for the Dolphins’ coordinator job. The 31-year-old Orr was the choice for Baltimore, though he was reportedly the choice in Green Bay first.
Anthony Weaver Emerging As Dolphins DC Favorite; Ravens Aiming To Retain DL Coach
Already losing their defensive coordinator to the head coaching ranks, the Ravens could soon see another key defensive staffer move up the ladder elsewhere. Although Anthony Weaver did not land the Commanders’ HC job, he has emerged as a name to watch on Miami’s radar as a coordinator.
Weaver’s Dolphins interview looks to have positioned him well to replace Vic Fangio. The Ravens’ D-line coach is viewed as the frontrunner for this job, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. He interviewed for the Atlanta and Washington HC jobs, joining Mike Macdonald in that regard. The latter landed a top job — in Seattle — while Weaver remains on the Ravens’ staff.
John Harbaugh confirmed earlier Friday that Weaver was still in the race to be the next Miami DC, but the longtime Baltimore leader said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) the team wants to keep him on staff. Weaver has been with the Ravens since 2021. A Dolphins DC hire would give Weaver a second chance in a coordinator role; he spent the 2020 season as the Texans’ DC.
The Ravens hired Macdonald over promoting Weaver to DC in 2022, bringing the former back after a one-year stay at Michigan. They have now since elevated inside linebackers coach Zach Orr over Weaver to replace Macdonald. These developments would seem to point to the veteran assistant exploring options elsewhere, though the former NFL D-lineman did begin his playing career in Baltimore in the 2000s.
If Miami pulls the trigger, and Weaver decides to make the move to South Beach, the Dolphins could expect to see an improvement to an already very impressive pass rush. Miami finished third in the NFL this year for sacks, behind only the Chiefs and Weavers’ Ravens. A Dolphins pass rush featuring Bradley Chubb (11.0 sacks in 2023), Zach Sieler (10.0), Christian Wilkins (9.0), and Jaelan Phillips (6.5 sacks in only eight games) could become that much more formidable.
Despite Weaver’s old ties to Charm City as a former second-round draft pick for the Ravens, his time coaching in Baltimore has been a short three years. The Ravens have shown their desire to keep him on staff, enticing him with add-on titles like run game coordinator and associate head coach during his time, but with Orr taking the reins as DC in 2024, it will be difficult to keep Weaver in place once again. Expect another Ravens staffer to coach their way out of Baltimore.
Buccaneers C Ryan Jensen To Retire
After missing most of the past two seasons due to the knee injury he suffered during training camp in 2022, Ryan Jensen will opt to retire. The veteran center announced on social media Friday he will leave the game after 11 years.
Jensen, 32, has been with the Bucs since 2018. The former sixth-round Ravens pick served as an integral piece on the Bucs’ Tom Brady-era O-lines, helping the team win Super Bowl LV. But Jensen sustained a severe knee injury two summers ago, one that altered his career.
Shortly after Brady backtracked on retirement No. 1 in March 2022, the Bucs reached an agreement to bring back Jensen. The Pro Bowl center signed a three-year, $39MM deal to stay in Tampa. Months later, however, Jensen suffered the injury that took him out of the mix. The Colorado State alum sustained full tears of his MCL and PCL and a partial tear of his ACL, along with meniscus damage.
Jensen did not undergo surgery and worked his way back to play every snap in the Bucs’ wild-card game against the Cowboys, but he was not at full strength that night. And the return for the playoff matchup did not precede Jensen being back to regular duty this past season. The Bucs placed Jensen on IR before the season, and it came out at that point his career was likely over. He is making that official today.
The Ravens plugged Jensen into their starting lineup on a part-time basis in 2015, but he broke through during his 2017 contract year. Jensen started all 16 games for the Ravens that season, becoming the team’s regular center. That attracted the attention of the Bucs, who signed him (four years, $42MM) to be the pivot in their then-Dirk Koetter-run offense. Bruce Arians did not rock the boat at the position, and Jensen displayed durability before that seminal 2022 day, starting every game as a Buccaneer from 2018-21.
While the presences of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin may have done the most to entice Brady during free agency in 2020, Tampa Bay presented the all-time great QB with a promising O-line setup. Jensen joined guards Ali Marpet and Alex Cappa, along with tackle Donovan Smith at that point. The Bucs then used their first-round pick to nab Tristan Wirfs, who quickly emerged as a right tackle anchor en route to eventual All-Pro acclaim. Jensen started all five Bucs playoff games from 2020-21, helping the team to its second championship and commanding a strong market that produced the subsequent $13MM-per-year accord.
Jensen’s injury played a major role in the Bucs’ offense unraveling in 2022, and while he expressed optimism that he could return to 100% before the 2023 season, his latest training camp did not feature much participation. The Bucs restructured Jensen’s contract last year, and he will count $16.57MM against the Bucs’ 2024 cap. While Brady’s $35.1MM void years-driven number from this past season dwarfs that figure, it still represents a decent chunk of dead cap.
During his nine regular seasons as an active NFLer, Jensen started 90 games. He will close his career having pocketed more than $72MM.
Titans Hire Ravens’ Dennard Wilson As DC
FEBRUARY 2: The deal has now been finalized, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. Wilson joins Nick Holz in becoming a first-time NFL coordinator as part of rookie head coach Brian Callahan‘s initial staff.
JANUARY 31: With former defensive coordinator Shane Bowen not returning under the staff of new Titans head coach Brian Callahan, a new hire became necessary. According to Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report, it will be Ravens defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson who will take over defensive play-calling duties in Tennessee in 2024.
Baltimore’s defensive staff has been popular in the interview circuit after the team led the league in points allowed, turnovers forced, and sacks. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was recently hired as Pete Carroll‘s replacement in Seattle, defensive line coach Anthony Weaver interviewed twice for the Falcons’ and Commanders’ head coaching positions, linebackers coach Zach Orr has interviewed for the Packers’ defensive coordinator job, and pass-game coordinator Chris Hewitt interviewed in Jacksonville for another defensive coordinator job.
Wilson has been an especially popular name, as well. Tennessee was one of five teams vying for Wilson’s services this offseason. The 41-year-old Maryland native had been scheduled interview a second time with the Giants, was requested to interview with the Packers and Rams, and was expected to be in consideration to replace Macdonald in Baltimore.
Wilson has widely been regarded as one of the league’s better defensive backs coaches, spending time with the Jets and Eagles before his role in Baltimore. In both previous locations, he even eventually added the role of passing game coordinator to his title. During his time with the Eagles, Wilson’s unit helped lead the league’s top pass defense and second-overall defense in total yards allowed. First-team All-Pro cornerback James Bradberry, Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay, and converted safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson all flourished in Wilson’s room, with Gardner-Johnson even leading the league in interceptions following the position change from slot cornerback.
For a time, it was thought that Wilson was the clear choice to take over at defensive coordinator for the Eagles whenever Jonathan Gannon moved on to a head coaching job. Unfortunately, the team ended up hiring Sean Desai instead, a decision that reflects poorly a year later. After getting passed up for the gig, Wilson found his way to Baltimore where he has helped yet another defensive unit reach elite status. This year Wilson guided the blossoming of second-year safety Kyle Hamilton, watched converted cornerback Brandon Stephens take over as a full-time starter after switching from safety, and coached backup safety Geno Stone as he went toe-to-toe with Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland for the interception title.
Now, Wilson will finally get that opportunity as a defensive coordinator that he got passed up for in Philadelphia. With Callahan set to call plays for the offense in Nashville, the Titans now have both play-callers set. All that remains is for the two coaches to fill out the rest of their staff, including a new offensive coordinator to work under Callahan, as well.
Ravens Promote Zach Orr To DC
A day after Mike Macdonald‘s departure for Seattle, the Ravens have a new defensive coordinator. Once again, Baltimore will give its defensive play-calling gig to a staffer who brings extensive experience with the franchise.
The Ravens announced Thursday they are elevating inside linebackers coach Zach Orr to replace Macdonald. A former Ravens linebacker, Orr has been on the team’s staff for all but one season since 2017. Multiple logical candidates appeared in place for the Ravens, but it will be Orr who takes over.
The Packers interviewed Orr on Wednesday but went with Boston College HC Jeff Hafley. At 31, Orr will become the NFL’s second-youngest defensive coordinator. Cardinals DC Nick Rallis is 30.
[RELATED: Offensive/Defensive Coordinator Search Tracker]
This promotion comes after Dennard Wilson agreed to leave for Tennessee. The Titans reached an agreement to hire Wilson, who spent this past season as the Ravens’ defensive backs coach, as their next DC. D-line coach Anthony Weaver also stood as a clear option, considering he booked two interviews for the Commanders’ HC job and has coordinator experience (2020 in Houston). But Orr loomed as the favorite over Weaver, The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec tweets.
The Seahawks also considered Orr an option to become their next DC, according to ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson. Orr worked under Macdonald over the past two seasons and coached alongside him in Baltimore from 2017-20. While this could open the door for Weaver in Seattle, it is a bit early to make predictions before the Seahawks start a search.
Orr has ascended fairly quickly in Baltimore. His playing career ended early due to a neck injury. A congenital neck condition stalled Orr’s ascent as a Ravens defender. He started 15 games for the Ravens in 2016, moving into the lineup that year and making 133 tackles. Despite the Ravens rostering C.J. Mosley at the time, Orr led the ’16 team in tackles and intercepted three passes. The neck problem interrupted Orr as a player, but he was part of the Ravens’ coaching staff soon after that retirement.
Learning the ropes as a defensive analyst from 2017-20, Orr received a chance to coach a position in Jacksonville in 2021. Unfortunately for Orr, that came under Urban Meyer. The Jaguars scrapped the Meyer operation, which included Orr as an outside linebackers coach, months after greenlighting it. The Ravens rehired Orr in 2022, and he has mentored one of the league’s best linebacking duos in that span. Baltimore saw both its inside ‘backers — Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen — earn Pro Bowl nods. After an iffy first two seasons, Queen has taken off with Smith and Orr in the fold. Queen is a candidate to leave in free agency, seeing as the Ravens have Smith tied to the NFL’s top ILB contract. But the Ravens will again ensure continuity on their defensive staff.
Baltimore hired Macdonald from Michigan, but he had been on John Harbaugh‘s staff from 2014-20. The continuity-based franchise has made familiarity a prerequisite for this job. The Ravens bumped Don Martindale up to DC in 2018, after he had spent the previous six seasons on staff. Dean Pees was a Ravens assistant before moving to DC in 2012, with Chuck Pagano taking the same path previously. Both Greg Mattison and Rex Ryan were position coaches in Baltimore prior to moving up, with Mike Nolan doing the same in 2002.
Marvin Lewis was hired from outside the organization, but seeing as that took place during the year the Browns morphed into the Ravens (1996), this Baltimore-based franchise has never looked beyond its facility for a DC option. Orr will continue the pipeline, being the first ex-Ravens player to take this job.
Seahawks Hire Mike Macdonald As HC
Scheduling two interviews with Mike Macdonald in a two-day period, the Seahawks effectively displayed their interest in the two-year Ravens defensive coordinator. That proved to be telling for the franchise’s future.
The Seahawks are hiring Macdonald as their next head coach, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The team will go from employing the league’s oldest active HC, in Pete Carroll, to the youngest. Macdonald is 36. Wednesday’s second meeting became themed around a hire, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who notes Macdonald has since agreed to the deal. After a report Tuesday pointed to Macdonald and Giants OC Mike Kafka being firmly in the mix, the Seahawks will go with a defense-based candidate.
Baltimore’s AFC championship game loss to Kansas City removed any restrictions Macdonald would have had regarding interview scheduling, but Rapoport adds the Seahawks were willing to wait on him if the Ravens held seed and qualified for Super Bowl LVIII. That did not prove necessary, and Macdonald can get to work on assembling a staff. As Macdonald-Seahawks conversations continue today, coordinator candidates are undoubtedly coming up. With the team in that phase, the Commanders are now the only club with a coaching vacancy remaining.
Being a year younger than Sean McVay and Jerod Mayo, Macdonald is 36 years younger than Carroll, who became only the fourth coach to lead an NFL team at age 72. Carroll had announced intentions to stay for a 15th season. Even as Carroll pushed to keep his job in the days following the season, the Seahawks moved on. GM John Schneider, who now wields full personnel control for the first time, will go with a candidate who was on many teams’ lists this year. Dan Quinn emerged as the first name in the mix to succeed Carroll, but the Dallas DC — and Seattle’s DC during both 2010s Super Bowl seasons — is down to the Commanders or staying with the Cowboys.
Macdonald will sign a six-year contract with the NFC West franchise, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports. While this is not a rebuilding situation, the Seahawks will still show a long-term commitment to their young HC. Four- and five-year deals are a bit more common in the NFL, though some six-year pacts have emerged in the recent past. Kyle Shanahan signed one as the 49ers were rebuilding. So did Dan Campbell in 2021. The Panthers just gave Dave Canales a six-year deal. Carroll did not leave the Seahawks in need of an overhaul, however, making this term length interesting.
The Seahawks’ investment comes after Macdonald displayed his value during his second Ravens stint. Baltimore’s defense ranked first this season, which came after a third-place finish in scoring defense in 2022. The Ravens ranked in the top 10 in yardage in each of Macdonald’s two seasons in charge. Baltimore’s defense has been one of the NFL’s most reliable units during the 21st century; Macdonald continued this run, one that helped the team secure the AFC’s No. 1 seed for the second time in franchise history. Don Martindale‘s DC successor interviewed for the Commanders, Chargers, Falcons, Panthers and Titans’ HC jobs.
Macdonald managed to coax a monster season from contract-year defensive lineman Justin Madubuike, who smashed career highs with 13 sacks and 33 QB hits. The Ravens also received steady production from edge rushers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, despite both veterans’ late arrivals. Clowney signed with Baltimore in August, while Van Noy did not arrive until late September. The two vets combined for 18.5 sacks this season, helping the Ravens lead the league with 60. Baltimore will not lose both coordinators, however, with OC Todd Monken not in contention for the Washington job.
Carroll’s final years brought a defensive regression in Seattle. The Seahawks ranked 30th in total defense this season and 26th in 2022; two-year DC Clint Hurtt left to become the Eagles’ defensive line coach. The Carroll-led defenses have trended down since the Legion of Boom-driven apex produced back-to-back Super Bowl berths. While the Seahawks became the first team since the 1950s Browns to lead the NFL in scoring defense in four straight seasons (2012-15), they have not ranked in the top 10 in this area since 2016.
A Ravens position coach before spending 2021 as Jim Harbaugh‘s DC at Michigan, Macdonald reviving the Seahawks’ defense would go a long way toward helping the team become a legitimate contender again. Although Geno Smith did not match his 2022 work, the journeyman passer did again display starter-caliber chops after re-signing last March. The Seahawks also have veteran wideouts Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf under contract, along with two young running backs and two 2022 draftees at tackle (Charles Cross, Abraham Lucas). Inconsistency plagued the Seahawks on offense this past season, but the team has Smith on a low-end — for a veteran QB — contract; that three-year, $75MM deal runs through the 2025 season.
Macdonald becomes the Seahawks’ third consecutive hire with a defensive background. Carroll replaced Jim Mora Jr. in 2010, guiding the franchise to its zenith. The Seahawks had plateaued during Carroll’s later years. As the Legion of Boom splintered, the team became a Russell Wilson-dependent operation. The second half of Wilson’s Seattle tenure featured steady growth as a passer and will go a long way toward his Hall of Fame case, but the Seahawks struggled to build a reliable roster around the since-traded QB. They appeared to fare better on this front after re-signing Smith last year, giving Dre’Mont Jones a $17MM-AAV deal and trading for rental piece Leonard Williams. The team also used a No. 5 overall pick — obtained in the Wilson swap — on Devon Witherspoon. The Illinois alum’s Pro Bowl season points to him being a key piece under Macdonald going forward.
After back-to-back 9-8 seasons, the Seahawks will now bet on their young HC investment elevating this operation. It will be interesting to see if the team makes an investment in a young quarterback this offseason or continues to build its roster around Smith. With Seattle not blocking its assistants from exploring other jobs, three-year OC Shane Waldron signed on to be Chicago’s play-caller. Macdonald will be tasked with bringing in a replacement soon.
Seahawks To Bring In Mike Macdonald For Second HC Interview
Mike Macdonald‘s itinerary will now include two Seahawks meetings in a two-day span. After waiting until Tuesday to meet with the popular candidate, the NFC West team will squeeze in a second meeting.
The second Macdonald-Seahawks summit will take place today, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Macdonald-to-Seattle buzz has intensified over the past 24 hours; news of a second meeting will further drive speculation about the two-year Ravens DC being a frontrunner for this job.
A report Tuesday indicated Macdonald and Giants OC Mike Kafka were candidates to watch for the Seattle job. The Seahawks skipped the virtual interview opportunity with the young defensive coordinator, but the team had him on its radar during the process. Tuesday’s meeting took place in Baltimore, per Pelissero. This one will occur in Seattle, per the Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta.
The Seahawks went through a second interview with Ben Johnson on Monday, but the two-year Lions OC informed both HC-needy clubs — Seattle and Washington — he no longer wishes to be considered. Hours after Johnson bowed out of a second HC carousel, Texans OC Bobby Slowik followed suit. Slowik, however, had not been connected to a second Seahawks interview. He had met with the Commanders twice.
Johnson removing himself from consideration keeps the door wide open for Macdonald to land one of the two remaining jobs. Though, the Commanders have not met with Macdonald a second time yet. His first interview with the NFC East team took place Monday. The Ravens’ AFC championship game loss clears Macdonald’s interview schedule.
Despite the Chiefs and 49ers advancing to Super Bowl LVIII, it is the Ravens and Lions’ coordinators who have drawn attention during this year’s hiring period. None of the three San Francisco or Kansas City coordinators (Steve Wilks, Matt Nagy, Steve Spagnuolo; the 49ers do not employ a traditional OC) are candidates for the Seattle or Washington positions. Here is how the Seahawks’ search looks as January winds down:
- Ejiro Evero, defensive coordinator (Panthers): Conducted second interview 1/27
- Patrick Graham, defensive coordinator (Raiders): Conducted second interview 1/23
- Ben Johnson, offensive coordinator (Lions): Conducted second interview 1/29
- Mike Kafka, offensive coordinator (Giants): Conducted second interview 1/24
- Mike Macdonald, defensive coordinator (Ravens): To conduct second interview 1/31
- Raheem Morris, defensive coordinator (Rams): To conduct second interview 1/26
- Dan Quinn, defensive coordinator (Cowboys): Conducted second interview 1/25
- Bobby Slowik, offensive coordinator (Texans): Interviewed 1/21
- Frank Smith, offensive coordinator (Dolphins): Interviewed 1/18
- Mike Vrabel, former head coach (Titans): Mentioned as candidate