Tag: John Harbaugh

Super Bowl LIX: Ravens-Eagles coaching connections run deep

There is a fair of amount of commonality between the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles coaching staffs. 

The Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles are not considered rivals, as the cross-conference opponents do not often meet. Philly might be the better option for Ravens fans looking to find a rooting interest in Super Bowl LIX.

After all, the two coaching staff members have a fair amount of commonality.

Let’s take a closer look at the Baltimore-Philadelphia coaching connections.

John Harbaugh 

When we entered the December 1 meeting between these two sides, which the Eagles won 24-19, we were constantly reminded of one Harbaugh “fun fact.”

So we’ll remind you again: Harbaugh’s last gig before taking the Ravens’ head coaching job in 2008 was with the Eagles. He was Philly’s defensive backs coach in 2007 and their Special Teams Coordinator from 1998 to 2006.

Vic Fangio

The Eagles defensive coordinator was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens from 2006 to 2009, where he served in two distinct roles. He was the Special Assistant to the Head Coach and Defensive Assistant from 2006 to 2008.

In ’09, he was the Linebackers Coach and, thus, the leader of a position group that included the franchise’s most legendary player, Ray Lewis.

Greg Lewis 

The current Ravens wide receivers coach, who could soon find himself running for open OC jobs, served in the same role in Philly during the 2016 season. More importantly, the Eagles gave Lewis his first big break in professional football.

Lewis, a native of Richton Park, IL (a far south Chicago suburb), went from walk-on to the second WR option on a Big Ten champion team at the University of Illinois.

However, he went undrafted in 2003, and thus, the Eagles scooped him up as a free agent. He had six productive seasons in the city of brotherly love, including 2006, where he started every game.

Super Bowl LIV: Eagles’ Vic Fangio previously coached with Ravens

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in the early 2000s when hall-of-fame legend Ray Lewis was on staff.

Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens in the early 2000s when hall-of-fame legend Ray Lewis was the star middle linebacker. Perhaps Vangio’s defensive genius will finally help the Eagles prevail against the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV.

Fangio’s Eagles allow just 18.3 points per game in the postseason, but they were nearly upset by the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Divisional Round. The win over the Rams is worth mentioning, given that quarterback Matthew Stafford, like Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, is a Super Bowl Champion.

Fangio must account for the dynamic speed of Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy and decide where he wants to pick his poison versus the loaded opposing offense.

Will Fangio cover Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins with Darius Slay? Will Fangio blitz Mahomes and double tight-end Travis Kelce? Indeed, a legend with Fangio’s experience will be needed to slow down the multifaceted attack of Chiefs head coach Andy Reid. Fortunately enough for the Eagles, Fangio has competent experience as a professional in the NFL, including work with a franchise known for defensive prowess – the Ravens.

Colts hire former Ravens assistant Chris Hewitt as secondary coach

Baltimore Ravens part ways with assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt

The Ravens have made sweeping changes to their coaching staff. Hours after hiring Chuck Pagano as the Senior Secondary coach, the team parted ways with longtime assistant coach Chris Hewitt.

Hewitt had been on staff since 2012 and interviewed for the defensive coordinator position that went to Zach Orr last off-season.  Hewitt wasn’t unemployed long and landed with the Indianapolis Colts in a similar role.

Tom Pelissero reports that the Colts hired Hewitt as their passing game coordinator and secondary coach.

The Colts hired Lou Anarumo as their defensive coordinator after he was fired by the Bengals. They have also agreed to hire linebackers coach James Bettcher.

Hewitt just completed his 10th season leading Baltimore’s secondary, adding the assistant head coach title in 2024. He joined the Ravens as an assistant special teams coach in 2012, a post he held for two years before earning a promotion to assistant secondary coach in 2014. Hewitt has led Baltimore’s secondary since the 2015 campaign, helping the team consistently earn standout defensive rankings before this year.

The Ravens allowed 4,150 yards passing in 2024, the second time in their history that they had allowed more than 4,000 yards passing in a single season.

The Ravens’ secondary allowed 58 completions of 20 yards or more, the third-most in the NFL and the second-most by the Ravens since 2000.

Pagano will oversee a talented Ravens secondary that includes two Pro Bowl players, safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins, a 2024 first-round pick. The only starter who is an unrestricted free agent is cornerback Brandon Stephens.

Ravens part ways with assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt

Baltimore Ravens part ways with assistant head coach/pass game coordinator Chris Hewitt

The Ravens are making sweeping changes to their coaching staff. Hours after hiring Chuck Pagano as the Senior Secondary coach, the team is parting ways with longtime assistant coach Chris Hewitt.

Hewitt had been on staff since 2012 and interviewed for the defensive coordinator position that went to Zach Orr last off-season.

Hewitt just completed his 10th season leading Baltimore’s secondary, adding the assistant head coach title in 2024. He joined the Ravens as an assistant special teams coach in 2012, a post he held for two years before earning a promotion to assistant secondary coach in 2014. Hewitt has led Baltimore’s secondary since the 2015 campaign, helping the team consistently earn standout defensive rankings before this year.

The Ravens allowed 4,150 yards passing in 2024, the second time in their history that they had allowed more than 4,000 yards passing in a single season.

The Ravens’ secondary allowed 58 completions of 20 yards or more, the third-most in the NFL and the second-most by the Ravens since 2000.

Pagano will oversee a talented Ravens secondary that includes two Pro Bowl players, safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins, a 2024 first-round pick. The only starter who is an unrestricted free agent is cornerback Brandon Stephens.

Saints coaching search: John Harbaugh on ‘absolute star’ Anthony Weaver

The Saints coaching search is heating up, and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh isn’t surprised to see an ‘absolute star’ like Anthony Weaver in the thick of it:

The New Orleans Saints are going to get a second look at Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who interviewed virtually with the team just over a week ago. He’s a highly coveted defensive mind with several key interviews lined up.

Weaver’s name rings a lot of bells but not just from his time in Miami. The Weaver name started to grow louder during his tenure with the Baltimore Ravens where he spent three seasons mostly working with the defensive line.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spoke highly of Weaver during last years coaching cycle stating that teams will have “missed their chance” on Weaver if not hired and that next time around someone won’t miss that chance. He added that Weaver would be a “great head coach” if given the opportunity in the near future.

“Anthony is just an absolute star,” Harbaugh said at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine. “You see him, I mean, he lights up a room. He fills up room too. Fills up a room and lights up a room, right? And then the way you reacts, treats people, the way he responds to problems, the way he coaches the guys, the way he presents, his understanding of defense generally is really good. I mean, high level but also his leadership ability, the way he manages players, he coaches and works with the people. I just think he’s a great leader and he’ll do a great job, whatever he does.”

That’s quite an endorsement, but the feeling is mutual. Weaver has expressed nothing but gratitude for his learning experience on Harbaugh’s staff in Baltimore: “I think the last three years I spent with Coach Harbaugh was a masterclass in just how to operate, move throughout the building and push your players in the right direction without being demeaning or demonstrative, but yet, still being demanding.”

It’s quite possible that Weaver’s opportunity could come this cycle with only two out of the seven head coach openings filled so far (Mike Vrabel to the New England Patriots, Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears). Weaver, like a few of the Saints’ top candidates, has experience as a player as well spending time as a defensive end with the Ravens and the Houston Texans. Two teams in which he coached extensively. This experience as a player to go along with his coaching resume makes him a very intriguing option. We’re seeing now especially on the defensive side of the ball former players getting their shot as head coaches in this league.

And it wouldn’t be surprising to see Weaver be the next one in line.

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Ravens QB Lamar Jackson knows how to “Make America Hate Again”

Another playoff loss for Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson means ammunition for every opposing scorner within the United States of America.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson led a dynamic NFL campaign from a meltdown in the AFC Championship last season. Yet, with an opportunity to change the narrative against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, Jackson made huge mistakes that will only delight his critics this upcoming week in the media.

Sure, tight-end Mark Andrews dropped a game-tying two-point conversion, but that play doesn’t omit the heinous fumble Jackson yielded in the second quarter when the Ravens were building a potential lead-yield offensive drive. Nor does it explain the blasphemous net loss of five on a sack allowed that Jackson gifted the Bills when the Ravens had 2nd and Goal from the opponent’s three-yard line.

Three of the Ravens’ four first-half offensive drives ended in an interception, fumble, and field goal when they possibly should have been touchdowns. As Jackson trotted pompously to the locker room, trailing 21-10 at half-time, Ravens’ fans could feel the anguish. Again, Jackson was in the biggest game of his career, making more mistakes. Nobody loves to see him lose more than his haters.

Contrarily, Bills quarterback Josh Allen yielded three first-half touchdowns, no turnovers, and didn’t even need to render a single touchdown in the second half to defeat the real MVP.

Jackson continues to leave his fans vexed, subjecting them to the painful scorn of being his devotee. Jackson will get a 2nd term, but in year eight, he must be prepared to finish stronger in the AFC Playoffs.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh doesn’t have it better than anybody

Baltimore Ravens HC John Harbaugh must have bad luck because his star players left him hanging vs. the Buffalo Bills in AFC Divisional round

It’s unfair. Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave his heart and soul to his team this season. After watching men leave, Harbaugh built an impeccable coaching staff, acquired running back Derrick Henry, and began fostering unity within the team locker room. However, thanks to pure bad luck, his star players let him down in the pivotal moments of the AFC Divisional Round.



Fumbles, dropped passes, an interception, and failed red-zone attempts all featured as ingredients to the team’s debacle yesterday. Harbaugh’s annoyance could be easily detected in his sideline interview with CBS before the third quarter. The Ravens didn’t just fail on one two-point conversion, but they also failed sequentially.

 




Tight-end Mark Andrews straight-up dropped the game-tying two-point conversion try, and it’s beyond confusing as to how. How does Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott shake Harbaugh’s hand knowing that the Ravens basically handed him the game?

Ultimately, Harbaugh’s heavenly faith will help him persevere through the misfortune and remain optimistic. Still, these catastrophic unfavorable happenings continue to prevent the auspicious fate that would yield the Ravens another chance at a Super Bowl title.

Saints schedule second interview with highly-regarded defensive coordinator

Miami Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver has a second interview with the Saints, this time in person. Don’t overlook him in their head coach search:

This is interesting. Mike Kafka isn’t the only candidate visiting the New Orleans Saints for a second head coach interview early this week — NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will be in the city Wednesday for a sit-down with team brass.

Weaver has a strong resume. Before joining the Dolphins for 2024, he worked closely with John Harbaugh on the Baltimore Ravens from 2021 to 2023; his titles included defensive line coach, run game coordinator, and assistant head coach. And before that he coached under Bill O’Brien on the Houston Texans for several years and worked as a position coach on Doug Marrone’s Buffalo Bills staff. He got his start in the NFL as an assistant for Rex Ryan on the New York Jets.

So he’s someone with a couple of notable ties to the Saints; his very first coaching job was working for Urban Meyer at Florida as a graduate assistant back in 2010. But Weaver has done really well when given the opportunity to call plays for himself. His Dolphins finished 10th-best in yards allowed per play (5.3, half a yard better than the Saints). They were 9th in rushing yards allowed per game (103.7, a full 37.7 yards better than the Saints). They were also one of the best defenses on third downs and in the red zone, both areas the Saints struggled at times.

If nothing else we know Weaver can call a defense. It’s impressive that Weaver previously received callbacks in interviews for head coach openings with the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders. The high praise his former bosses like Harbaugh have for him speaks volumes. We’ll have to wait and see how this second interview goes, but Weaver clearly shouldn’t be overlooked in the Saints head coach search.

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Lamar Jackson bluntly lamented what could’ve been after the Ravens’ latest playoff failure

Lamar Jackson is so tired of coming up short like this.

If he inexplicably retired today, Lamar Jackson would be remembered as the greatest dual-threat quarterback of all time. No one else has ever had his elite combination of electric running and precision passing (with the latter arguably being even better). He’s a generational talent of the highest order who will always have his Baltimore Ravens positioned comfortably as Super Bowl contenders.

But after the Ravens’ crushing playoff loss on Sunday — punctuated by Mark Andrews’ nightmare fourth quarter and a passionate defense from John Harbaugh — Jackson sure seems like he’s in line for a third career MVP and not even a single Super Bowl appearance.

This is clearly a fact that weighs on the superstar quarterback, as evidenced by his postgame comments. When asked to sum up the Ravens’ latest playoff heartbreak, Jackson pulled no punches.

He’s tired of coming up short. He’s tired of stellar Baltimore regular seasons ultimately meaning nothing once the calendar turns to January and February. He’s ready for his Ravens team breakthrough, and he unfortunately has to wait another full year to try and get there:

Here’s a video snippet of Jackson’s frustrated rant.

(Warning: NSFW language below.)

At the age of 28, Jackson has nothing left to prove as an individual player. He has accomplished everything and is unquestionably a top-three player in the NFL. But right now, he feels like one of those tremendous NBA superstars who, for whatever reason, can’t get over the hump in the crucible of the playoffs.

For an all-time talent like Jackson, we have to hope his glorious Super Bowl moment for the Ravens comes someday very soon. He has to keep plugging away and hope for a little luck in the process. In the end, that’s all Jackson can really do. Lead, play well, and maintain a positive attitude for his teammates.

If there’s any solace in such a mindset for Jackson, great athletes like him are usually rewarded for their persistence.

Mark Andrews costs Ravens again, just like 2021 loss to Steelers

The Ravens and Steelers now share the same playoff fate—thanks to Mark Andrews, who cost Baltimore a crucial game just like he did in 2021.

Sorry, Baltimore, the Pittsburgh Steelers saved the Ravens a plane seat next to them on the flight to Cabo.

The two AFC North rivals now share a similar fate on the couch, as the Buffalo Bills play the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship—all thanks to Ravens TE Mark Andrews.

Andrews fumbled in the fourth quarter of game with a little over eight minutes remaining. However, the biggest blunder came on a critical two-point conversion to tie the game with less than two minutes remaining, Andrews dropped a wide-open pass from QB Lamar Jackson that would have tied the game 28-28, but the Ravens ultimately had to settle for a 28-26 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional playoff game.

Andrews had also cost his team the game—and his team’s playoff aspirations—on a similar two-point conversion attempt back in 2021’s Week 13 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On December 5, 2021, Jackson had led an impressive drive that resulted in a TD pass to Sammy Watkins that would have seemingly tied the game 20-20, pending a successful PAT.

Instead, Ravens HC John Harbaugh made the call to try and win the game with a two-point conversion attempt—one that would have worked if not for Andrews’ inability to catch critical two-yard passes.

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