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P.J. Volker found himself in a very difficult position last week — having to choose between two of his best friends. Volker had to decide whether to join the staff of the Ravens, which are now led by a former college teammate and coaching colleague. Of course, the alternative was remaining as defensive coordinator at Navy under the man who has been the biggest influence on Volker’s coaching career. After much discussion with his wife Amanda and two daughters — Rosie and Ella — Volker elected to accept the position with the Ravens. He will join the staff of newly hired coach Jesse Minter, signing a contract on Monday to serve as safeties coach. “It was an incredibly difficult decision because of the affinity our family has for the Naval Academy and for Coach Newberry,” Volker said. “We sat down as a family and talked for a long time and really felt the stars aligned with this particular job at this particular time. We felt like this was something we really needed to do and go on a quest for a Super Bowl championship.” Two years ago, Volker turned down an opportunity to join Minter with the Los Angeles Chargers when Minter was hired as defensive coordinator by coach Jim Harbaugh. This opportunity was different because Volker’s family can remain in the Annapolis area and Volker’s two daughters — ages 10 and 9 — can stay at the same school. “I’ll have a longer commute, but we won’t have to uproot,” Volker said. Ultimately, Volker’s relationship with Minter was a critical factor. They first met as freshman football players at the Mount St. Joseph University, a Division III school in the Cincinnati suburbs. Minter was a wide receiver and Volker was an inside linebacker. They bonded over the course of four years and have been best friends ever since. As defensive coordinator at Indiana State, Minter hired Volker as linebackers coach. They both followed coach Trent Miles to Georgia State, ultimately coaching together for seven straight years. When Miles was fired and the entire staff was let go, Minter got hired as a defensive assistant with the Ravens, while Volker wound up working for Newberry when he was defensive coordinator at Kennesaw State. This is Minter’s first time as a head coach, and he called one of his best friends to help get the job done. However, saying yes to one friend meant saying goodbye to another. “It was really challenging because of the love and respect I have for both men,” Volker said. “It would be fair to say this is the only head coach I would leave Coach Newberry to join.” While reuniting with Minter was an important element, the fact it was the Baltimore Ravens was another. Volker followed the franchise closely during his seven-year tenure at Navy and was impressed by how well it has been run. “The Ravens are a premier organization in the NFL with an ultra-talented roster, great ownership and a wonderful fan base,” he said. “Obviously, now the team is being led by a spectacular head coach in Jesse Minter, for whom I have nothing but respect and admiration, confidence and trust.” Volker was out of work when he got hired by Newberry, with whom he had no prior relationship. He followed Newberry from Kennesaw State to Navy and was his top lieutenant. When Newberry got promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach, he elevated Volker as his replacement. Navy vs. Holy Cross FootballPaul W. Gillespie/Capital GazetteNavy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker, shown in 2023, had a successful stint with the Mids and was hesitant to leave for a new opportunity. His connection with Jesse Minter convinced him to leave Navy for a job with the Ravens. (Paul W. Gillespie/Staff) “I am forever grateful for what Coach Newberry has done for my career. All he’s ever done is believe in me, encourage me and support me since Day 1,” Volker said. “I’m forever indebted to Coach New, who has been a great friend and true mentor. He has put me in positions to succeed and grow and taught me so much.” Newberry called a team meeting on Monday afternoon during which he addressed the players then allowed Volker to do so as well. The fourth-year head coach acknowledged having mixed emotions about losing Volker, which he described as a “tough blow.” “I’m excited for P.J. and his family. This is a unique opportunity that P.J. felt like he could not pass up. I don’t think he would have taken just any NFL job,” Newberry said. “On a personal level, P.J. is one of my very best friends. We’ve been together for 10 years so this is tough for me in that regard. It’s going to be tough to not have him just down the hall and seeing him every day.” Navy football has seen minimal staff turnover over the past 24 years with previous coaches Paul Johnson (2002 to 2007) and Ken Niumatalolo (2008-2022) rarely having assistants depart. Volker is the first member of the staff to leave voluntarily since Newberry took over in 2023. “I think P.J. is elite at what he does, so obviously it hurts professionally. He’s irreplaceable in terms of what he brings to the table in a lot of different ways — not just calling plays, but his energy and what he pours into these players and coaches,” Newberry said. What’s next for Navy at defensive coordinator? Now Newberry must begin the process of identifying a new defensive coordinator or assistant. Newberry did not rule out calling the defensive plays himself, saying “that is something on the table for sure.” It is also possible Newberry could promote one of the current defensive assistants to coordinator, as he did with Volker. Jerrick Hall holds the title of defensive running game coordinator, while Eric Lewis is the defensive passing game coordinator. Outside linebackers coach Ricky Brown is the special teams coordinator. If Newberry chooses to go outside the program to find a defensive coordinator, he could consider coaches that previously worked for him at Kennesaw State or Navy. Kevin Downing, who was Newberry’s original defensive line coach, is currently the associate head coach at Virginia. “It’s premature to comment on what I want to do. I’m taking time to really think through this and there are a lot of moving parts,” Newberry said. “I don’t have a timeline. I’m not in any kind of hurry. There is no reason to rush into anything.” While the coordinator may be gone, the rest of the Navy defensive staff remains intact and Newberry is grateful to have such a strong group of coaches. “I know this — we have a tremendous defensive staff in place. All the guys in that room are outstanding and many have been in this system for a long time, being together a long time,” Newberry said. “They work really well together and I don’t want to disrupt that chemistry, which is really important to me.” Ultimately, the defensive system Newberry installed when he was hired as Navy defensive coordinator in 2019 will remain in place. While the staff is always tweaking and evolving it, the “system is the system,” he said. Related Articles Navy women’s basketball senior Maren Louridas excels as the captain of captains Navy men’s basketball beats Loyola Maryland, 87-71, to continue strong start Former Navy two-sport standout Xavier Arline signs pro lacrosse contract Navy men’s lacrosse cancels season opener because of extreme cold Navy football snipe Eli Heidenreich invited to NFL scouting combine “There are a lot of great football coaches out there and there is a ton of interest in this job. Ultimately, it’s got to be the right person and the right fit for the Naval Academy and this program,” Newberry said of the next hire. Meanwhile, the Ravens announced that Anthony Weaver had been hired as defensive coordinator on the same day the news broke that Volker would be joining the staff. Volker said Monday night that he had not yet spoken to Weaver, but was looking forward to doing so. Volker was 36 years old when he joined the Navy football staff. He really had no idea what a service academy was all about and has come to greatly appreciate the mission. Helping teach and mold future officers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps has been rewarding and humbling, he said. “It’s hard to articulate how much this Naval Academy experience has been for me and my family. It’s been an absolute honor and a blessing to coach here,” Volker said. “My guiding principles as coach were that I wanted to go somewhere that football was important and where I could make a difference in people’s lives. This place checked both boxes. I leave as a better man having been associated with all the great men and women of this institution.” Have a news tip? Contact Bill Wagner at bwagner@capgaznews.com, 443-534-0102 and x.com/@BWagner_CapGaz. View the full article

Episode 24 of the BMore Football Podcast with The Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston and Jerry Coleman presented by Rice Law is here. The hosts discuss the introductory news conference for new Ravens coach Jesse Minter and what’s next for Baltimore. Preston and Coleman were also joined by NFL agent Tony Agnone, who discusses the challenges of contract negotiations. You can watch the podcast weekly, posting every Tuesday during the NFL season on YouTube and The Baltimore Sun, and listen on Spotify, Apple, Amazon and iHeart. Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

On a makeshift set in Owings Mills, just a few years ago, the third coach in Ravens history unknowingly sat across from his eventual successor and interviewed him on the qualities that shape successful coaching. John Harbaugh occupied stage right, with a microphone fastened to his “Winning Football” T-shirt. At stage left was Jesse Minter in a Jordan Brand Michigan polo. Between them: a large insignia for The Harbaugh Coaching Academy. It was a prescient, 20-minute interview between two coaches who go back a long way. Minter, who coached in Baltimore from 2017-2020, was about 10 years old when his father, Rick, took the head coaching job at University of Cincinnati and retained Harbaugh on his staff as special teams coordinator. “I owe your dad my career for sure,” Harbaugh smiled. At one point, he called Rick “the foremost defensive coach in college football for a long time.” So one of his first questions for the younger Minter was how much of the football X’s and O’s did he learn while watching dad do it at a high level? “He’s the complete foundation of what I knew defensively,” Minter said. By junior high school, Minter was introduced to the intricacies of football and its accompanying rules. Back then, he couldn’t differentiate between Cover 2 and Cover 4 defenses. Then in high school and during his playing days at Mount St. Joseph University in Ohio, Minter took more of an interest in the sport’s schematic nuance. And he put it to practice. Although, maybe not in the obvious way. Minter would make note of a concept his dad was employing with the Bearcats then take it home and test out packages playing the Madden video game. “As crazy as it sounds, you start to say, ‘OK, I learned this from him, I’m gonna try this on the video game,’” said Minter, who will now call defensive plays for the Ravens. “Nowadays, [for] young people, that’s really an intro into the schematic side of football. Pick your coverages, pick your plays.” Minter and Harbaugh dug further into several topics, including the then-Michigan defensive coordinator’s career path and building a culture within a program. That last one, Minter said, “I think I learned [that] here as much as anywhere.” He waxed poetically about how sound football starts with coaches and players all being on the same page, be it through the language of the playbook or the flexibility of shared ideas. In the years since, he’s repeatedly credit those four years in Baltimore as being the equivalent of a football master’s program. In 2017, Minter joined a Ravens defensive staff led by Don “Wink” Martindale and he worked alongside Mike Macdonald, another rising star now in Seattle coaching for a Super Bowl. They rebuilt Baltimore’s defense by scrapping leftover language and building what proved to be a bruising group, at one point the best in football. Related Articles Josh Tolentino: Ravens turned coaching search into competitive edge | COMMENTARY Mike Preston: Ravens make best of shallow DC candidate pool | COMMENTARY Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as new defensive coordinator Ravens hiring Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker as safeties coach Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator: source Minter went and did something similar in Ann Arbor, winning a national championship in 2023. Then again flipping the Chargers from a bottom-third defense to a top-third group. “We talk about our language,” Minter said, “and it’s every detail of how we want our guys to play defense. We want to have a very, very specific encyclopedia of words.” With Harbaugh, he spelled out the four pillars: block destruction, ball disruption, effort and angles to the ball and communication. In every Minter defensive meeting at Michigan, he dedicated the first five minutes to showing what the quartet looks, feels and sounds like. Or, conversely, examples that could use some refining. He saw that as a more beneficial use of their time than a bland install of blitz packages because “good teams and bad teams have called the same defenses” and yielded opposite results. Culture was a prominent talking point in the interview. Harbaugh called it a “big word,” that’s easy to say and tough to make real. The way Minter explained it, which offers some perspective into how he’ll steer the ship in Baltimore, is that players drive the culture and coaches ensure it doesn’t go off the rails. Togetherness is a sticking point for Minter. He used the word 11 times at his introductory news conference. It’s an obvious point of emphasis as Minter inherits a Ravens team that, in 2025, spoke frequently about their shortcomings being a result of disjointed plans – not doing their “1 of 11,” as they called it. That’s something Minter can’t refine playing Madden. But relationship building and culture molding has been key to his success in prior stops. On a video posted by the team account, Minter called it his secret weapon. Harbaugh said in the coaching academy interview, “Guys loved you” in Baltimore. The former Ravens coach began their sit-down flashing a toothy smile, introducing his eventual replacement as a “former Raven.” But, he said, “once a Raven, always a Raven” — a more literal line all these years later. Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.x.com. Sam appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast . Ravens coach Jesse Minter, shown at his introductory news conference, used to play video games to test out defensive plays and schemes. (Kevin Richardson/Staff) View the full article

The Ravens interviewed 20 head coaching candidates this offseason. No other NFL team came close. The size of Baltimore’s search reflected owner Steve Bisciotti’s dynamic hiring approach: gather pertinent information first, then make one of the most important decisions in recent franchise history. The Ravens still possessed apparent urgency throughout, but they also understood the stakes. With a two-time NFL MVP quarterback still in his prime and a roster built to contend immediately, the Ravens treated the interview process as something to be studied and obsessed over. After all, Baltimore was widely viewed as the league’s top opening. General manager Eric DeCosta described the team’s process as his own two-week draft. Of the record-tying 10 teams with coaching openings, Baltimore conducted the league’s most expansive search, ultimately narrowing its focus to three finalists: Jesse Minter, new Bills coach Joe Brady and new Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. It opened the team’s brass to nearly two dozen respected football minds, each offering an external evaluation of the Ravens’ roster, schemes and blind spots that surfaced too often throughout a disappointing 2025 campaign. For a franchise coming off a season in which the defense strayed from its longtime standard, allowing too many chunk plays and struggling to close games, those conversations possess tremendous value moving forward. “[We had] the chance to talk to a lot of people and gather as much information as you can,” DeCosta said. “There is a great value to an organization to go through that process this way. It was time consuming. It [required work] from a lot of people. A lot of people that were very, very involved. We learned a lot, and we had a chance to canvas a wide net and talk to the very, very best people in the NFL.” Other NFL general managers might’ve preferred to concentrate solely on a new leader during an introductory news conference, but DeCosta acknowledged the value in the Ravens’ broader hiring practices. Before Buffalo tabbed Brady to replace Sean McDermott, the Ravens hosted the former offensive coordinator in Owings Mills. That gave Baltimore’s decision-makers a rare opportunity to receive a direct assessment from the opposing sideline on one of the most jarring games of the season. In Week 1, the Ravens witnessed a commanding fourth-quarter lead evaporate as Josh Allen and the Bills stormed back in an improbable comeback that left Baltimore stunned. Brady had coached against Baltimore’s defense through that epic collapse. His perspective was undoubtedly valuable. Other offensive coaches the Ravens interviewed included Mike McDaniel, Klint Kubiak, Kliff Kingsbury, Matt Nagy, Davis Webb and Nate Scheelhaase. Alongside Minter, the Ravens interviewed a deep bench of defensive gurus including Brian Flores, Vance Joseph, Jim Schwartz, Robert Saleh, Chris Shula, Anthony Campanile and Weaver. That depth helps explain how the Ravens were able to move quickly to secure Weaver as Minter’s next defensive coordinator on Monday afternoon. Weaver interviewed for five openings and emerged as a finalist with the Ravens, Steelers and Cardinals. By the end of the process, five of the 20 candidates Baltimore interviewed (Minter, Saleh, Kubiak, Brady and Kevin Stefanski) were hired or are expected to be hired across this cycle’s vacancies. Another three assistants were either promoted or received contract extensions. Baltimore’s dedicated approach followed the departure of John Harbaugh, the winningest coach in franchise history. Harbaugh delivered sustained success and stability over 18 seasons, but it became clear to owner Steve Bisciotti that change was necessary after two consecutive years of postseason regression, culminating in a 2025 season in which Baltimore missed the playoffs entirely despite a wide-open AFC field that did not include Patrick Mahomes. Across the AFC North, the Browns interviewed 10 candidates before settling on former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken, while the Steelers interviewed nine before hiring Mike McCarthy. Both are fine hires. But Baltimore interviewed double the number of candidates and as a direct result, walked away with twice the amount of firsthand insight. Related Articles Ravens’ Jesse Minter tested schemes on Madden. Now he’s an NFL head coach. Mike Preston: Ravens make best of shallow DC candidate pool | COMMENTARY Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as new defensive coordinator Ravens hiring Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker as safeties coach Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator: source Last offseason provided an even deeper reminder of how differently organizations approach these critical moments. The Cowboys interviewed just three external candidates after parting ways with McCarthy, then handed the job to Brian Schottenheimer. The Ravens spoke with nearly seven times that many coaches before making its decision. Quantity doesn’t always rule, but Bisciotti has great instincts and is the founder of Aerotek, the largest privately owned staffing and recruiting firm in the U.S. Bisciotti was not made publicly available during Minter’s introductory news conference last Thursday, instead sitting in the front row as the pomp and circumstance unfolded. But afterward, as former Baltimore Sun and ESPN reporter Jamison Hensley began a live standup outside the team’s headquarters, the Ravens’ owner briefly interjected, offering an unscripted glimpse into his thinking. When asked why he hired Minter, Bisciotti replied: “I didn’t. Eric did. I approved it. I can tell those two are going to work really well together. [Minter] stood out. We got some good candidates out there, but he stood out. So we’re really happy with him.” Said team president Sashi Brown: “We’re at an important time for our locker room. We know we have the talent to go out and pursue championships now. When we set out to find our new coach, we wanted to make sure that we were very serious about bringing a great leader, but also a great person to this organization, to our locker room, and we found that in Jesse Minter.” Now, Minter becomes the franchise’s fourth coach, empowered to establish his own leadership style while benefiting from the intel Baltimore gathered throughout the search. Of course, none of this guarantees success. But if Minter works as well as many inside the organization believe he’s capable of, the Ravens will have given themselves a familiar advantage inside the AFC North. While other franchises moved quickly or slowly with less direction to resolve their openings, Baltimore separated itself and invested in understanding the full landscape first. That’s easy to take for granted. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. Josh appears as a host on The Sun’s “Early Birds” podcast. View the full article

When new Ravens coach Jesse Minter declared last Thursday that he was going to call the defense, he unintentionally limited the type of talent that was available at defensive coordinator. The proven coaches like Cleveland’s Jim Schwartz were going to be unavailable because they wanted to put their signatures on the defense. The same can be said for former Ravens safety Jim Leonhard, who became the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator. Leonhard had previously served as the Denver Broncos assistant head coach/defensive pass game coordinator. So, basically, the Ravens were either going to hire a young assistant to absorb everything possible from Minter before potentially becoming a head coach, or select an older coach who no longer had head coaching ambitions. On Monday, the Ravens hired Anthony Weaver as their new defensive coordinator, who can be best described as a “tweener.” The 45-year-old assistant isn’t as young as Minter, 42, but isn’t quite as old as Joe Cullen, 58, the Kansas City Chiefs defensive line coach who was one of the favorites to take the job here. “So grateful to coach Minter, [Ravens general manager] Eric DeCosta and [owner] Mr. [Steve] Bisciotti for this incredible opportunity,” Weaver said. “Baltimore holds a special place in my heart. I can’t wait to get to work and give the Flock a reason to Rock.” It’s an intriguing matchup, this Minter and Weaver combination. Usually, coordinators are allowed to select one or two position coaches, and it’s not known if Weaver will have that opportunity, but he will be more than just a “yes man.” That’s not his style. Weaver is his own man, and he showed that during his four seasons playing with the Ravens as a second-round selection out of Notre Dame in 2002. When the Ravens lost, a lot of the media went to Weaver because he was logical and precise. More importantly, he understands the defensive work ethic here in Baltimore having played for the Ravens until he signed as a free agent with Houston in 2006. In those days, the Ravens also had one of the better run defenses in the NFL anchored by Weaver, nose guard Kelly Gregg, middle linebackers Ray Lewis, Bart Scott and outside linebackers such as Adalius Thomas, Peter Boulware, Cornell Brown and Jarret Johnson. With that group, everyone had to hold their own and be held accountable, a word that is missing in the Ravens’ locker room. It is interesting, though, that Weaver returns to Baltimore because he was passed over twice for defensive coordinator jobs. Former Ravens coach John Harbaugh had an opportunity to hire Weaver two years ago in Baltimore, but passed on him as well as current New York Giants defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. Both were interviewed for the Giants’ open position before Harbaugh selected Wilson. The Ravens eventually hired Zach Orr, and that didn’t work out well, especially in 2025. The Ravens were ranked No. 30 in pass defense, allowing 247.9 yards per game, and No. 24 in total defense, giving up 354.5 yards a contest. As for sack specialists, the Ravens didn’t have one. Defensive end Tavius Robinson had 4 1/2 sacks and rookie outside linebacker Mike Green had 3 1/2. The bunch was extremely ordinary. It will be interesting to see how the past connections flow. The Chargers have some ideal pass rushers available in free agency in Khalil Mack and former Ravens edge Odafe Oweh. Will Weaver have much say in those possible deals? Related Articles Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as new defensive coordinator Ravens hiring Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker as defensive assistant Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator: source READER POLL: What’s your confidence level in new Ravens coach Jesse Minter? Could Ravens be headed for an international game in 2026 season? The experience factor, though, should pay off well for the Ravens. Despite having worked for both Harbaugh brothers, younger brother Jim in Los Angeles and older brother John in Baltimore, Minter is a first-year head coach. Ravens new offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, 29, has never called plays in a game despite working for Ben Johnson in Chicago and Sean Payton in Denver. The Ravens needed experience. Besides playing for seven years, Weaver has had coaching stints with the New York Jets, Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns as well as serving as the Texans’ defensive coordinator in 2020. As for the last two seasons as the coordinator in Miami, no one can hold that against Weaver. Miami had been soft for years and its run defense was abysmal and finished ranked No. 27. The passing defense was No. 18, allowing 216.4 yards per game. Weaver, though, came up during some good times in Baltimore. He was first hired as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator in 2021, and later promoted to assistant head coach in 2022. So, he knows about the work ethic in Baltimore and was with current Seattle coach Mike Macdonald when he was the coordinator in Baltimore. Right now, after watching the past two seasons, that has a lot of meaning in town. He appears to be a good fit, and hopefully will get a head coaching job soon. Overall, not bad for a “tweener.” Have a news tip? Contact Mike Preston at epreston@baltsun.com, 410-332-6467 and x.com/MikePrestonSun. View the full article

The Ravens are hiring Anthony Weaver as their new defensive coordinator. Weaver will work alongside new coach Jesse Minter, who will call the defensive plays. Here’s what The Baltimore Sun sports staff has to say about the hiring of Weaver: Brian Wacker, reporter It seemed only a matter of time before Anthony Weaver landed back with the Ravens. A finalist for their head coaching job and a popular candidate this cycle, he brings a familiar and respected presence to fill in the gaps alongside first-year head coach and defensive play-caller Jesse Minter. Among Weaver’s responsibilities will be game planning, scouting and working with the defensive line. A former defensive end who is as charismatic as he is tough, he also knows how to command a room, so he should have no problem leading defensive meetings, something he has experience doing after two years as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator and one year in the same role with the Houston Texans. Though Weaver was passed over twice before under previous Ravens coach John Harbaugh, first for Mike Macdonald then for Zach Orr, Harbaugh, like everyone else in the building, had high praise for Weaver and viewed him as a potential head coach. Now, he’ll be the Yang to Minter’s Yin in trying to restore the identity and production of a once-proud and feared defense that had slipped significantly the past two seasons. Sam Cohn, reporter I’d be lying if I said my brain went to anything other than that one viral clip of Weaver when he was coaching in Miami, deadpanning, “All of our problems that we need to solve can be solved through violence.” Weaver was a popular name this coaching cycle who landed outside the final list of head coaching hires. He interviewed for multiple head jobs, including in Baltimore. After Minter took a swing on a 29-year-old first time play caller to manage the offense, this feels like a safe bet for the other coordinator role. Minter will call the plays defensively. So it makes sense he’d choose someone who he already had a connection to, who shares his vision and could articulate the Raven way. That’s Weaver. He overlapped with Minter in Baltimore during the late 2010s and at 45 years old, is older than both Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Baltimore’s defense lost its way in 2025. Perhaps Weaver can help fix that with football violence. Josh Tolentino, columnist Welcome back to Baltimore, Anthony Weaver. It’s a familiar phrase following last week’s greeting for Jesse Minter, and now Weaver rejoins the flock as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator. Weaver interviewed for five head coaching openings this cycle, and was one of three finalists in Baltimore. This is a clear floor-raising hire. Weaver brings deep familiarity with the organization and he will play a key role in helping a defense that needs straightening after the unit faltered in key moments over the past two seasons under former defensive play-caller Zach Orr. Weaver, 45, won’t call plays, a responsibility that belongs to first-year coach Jesse Minter, 42, but his influence will be felt in weekly game planning and maximizing the talent already on the roster with Baltimore devoting a healthy amount of resources toward the defense. The level of collaboration between Weaver and Minter looms especially large for a pass rush that slipped terribly this past season; Baltimore finished with just 30 sacks, third fewest in the NFL. Weaver was an in-house candidate to replace Mike Macdonald in 2024, but former coach John Harbaugh opted to promote Orr instead. With Harbaugh and Orr both gone and Weaver returning to the Castle, the Ravens appear hopeful that Weaver’s experience as a former Baltimore defensive end (2002-2005) and assistant coach (2021-2023) can help stabilize a group that lost its edge, while allowing Minter to set the vision and scheme from the top. Bennett Conlin, editor The move makes a ton of sense. Weaver is a longtime defensive assistant with a deep understand of Baltimore’s organization, and he’s likely going to be a head coach one day in the near future. He’ll immediately bring stability and experience to what’s looking like a star-studded defensive coaching staff. Related Articles Ravens hiring Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker as defensive assistant Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator: source READER POLL: What’s your confidence level in new Ravens coach Jesse Minter? Could Ravens be headed for an international game in 2026 season? Baltimore Sun to launch ‘Early Birds’ podcast Feb. 12 on Orioles, Ravens Minter didn’t need someone to call plays, but Weaver has the chops to do so if Minter ever wants to delegate that task. Weaver is an ideal hire to help design game plans and develop players throughout the course of a season. After the Ravens struggled to rush the passer in 2025, they’re bringing in a coordinator with playing and coaching experience along Baltimore’s defensive front. The move checks a bunch of boxes as Minter looks to fix a talented but inconsistent defense in 2026. I love Minter’s coordinator hires, and his biggest future concern might be losing Declan Doyle and Weaver to head coaching opportunities. Have a news tip? Contact Tim Schwartz at timschwartz@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/timschwartz13. View the full article

New Ravens coach Jesse Minter continues to fill out his staff and he didn’t have to go very far for his latest hire. Navy defensive coordinator and linebackers coach P.J. Volker is expected to join Baltimore as a defensive assistant, a source with direct knowledge of the move confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. The Athletic was first to report the news. That Volker, 36, is coming to the Ravens is also not surprising. The two were teammates at the College of Mount St. Joseph (Ohio), coached together at Indiana State and Georgia State and have been close friends for years, with each in the other’s wedding party. Volker also previously turned down an opportunity to join the Los Angeles Chargers and Minter in February 2024 and had put together a solid resume as the Midshipmen’s defensive coordinator over the past three seasons. That included in 2025 when Navy finished 11-2 and with a 35-13 win over Cincinnati in the Liberty Bowl to end the year ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. Along the way, Navy’s defense held its final three opponents under 300 yards of total offense, something it hadn’t done since 2020. Defensive tackle Landon Robinson was named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year after leading the conference with 6 1/2 sacks in 11 games. Volker, of course, also has plenty of familiarity with Minter’s defensive philosophy. “He would stand up on Friday nights before the game when we’re meeting with the defense and talk about how he saw the game unfolding,” Volker said after Minter was hired earlier this month. “More times than not, it was spot on. “There’s no doubt in my mind he was destined to be a head coach in the NFL. He’s ready for this opportunity. I think everybody that’s been around him knew this was gonna happen, it was just a matter of when.” Volker also called Minter a “great listener.” Now they’ll get to work together once more. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as new defensive coordinator Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator: source READER POLL: What’s your confidence level in new Ravens coach Jesse Minter? Could Ravens be headed for an international game in 2026 season? Baltimore Sun to launch ‘Early Birds’ podcast Feb. 12 on Orioles, Ravens View the full article

New Ravens coach Jesse Minter is hiring a familiar face to be his defensive coordinator. Ex-Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator and former Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver is coming back to Baltimore, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Weaver, 45, was a finalist for the Ravens’ head coaching job and returns to the city after two seasons running Miami’s defense. He was previously passed over twice for Baltimore’s defensive coordinator role under prior coach John Harbaugh, but brings plenty of experience and a voice that has long been respected on the field and in the building. Tough but charismatic, the former NFL defensive end spent four years with the Ravens as a player, three as an assistant and with Minter being a first-time head coach who will call the defensive plays Weaver’s traits should mesh well among a staff that has trended toward the younger side so far. Minter, who was a defensive assistant with the Ravens from 2017 through 2020, hasn’t previously worked directly with Weaver, their coaching careers in Baltimore missing each other by a year. Weaver replaces Zach Orr, whose two seasons in Baltimore were marked by inconsistencies and defensive lapses. This past season, the Ravens’ defense ranked 24th with 354.5 yards allowed per game. They also ranked 31st against the pass for the second straight year and only two teams had fewer sacks. Weaver’s defenses in Miami, meanwhile, were up and down. After finishing in the top 10 in yards and points allowed in 2024, the Dolphins ranked 22nd in total defense, allowing an average of 348.8 yards per game. That included a run defense that was 26th with 132.4 yards allowed per game. Still, those struggles were viewed at least in part because of larger symptomatic problems within a Dolphins team that struggled to a 7-10 mark. Weaver was also one of the more popular head coaching candidates this cycle, landing interviews with the Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons and had gotten second interviews with the Cardinals, Ravens and Steelers. Weaver became available after Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel was fired and replaced by Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley. Related Articles Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Anthony Weaver as new defensive coordinator Ravens hiring Navy defensive coordinator P.J. Volker as defensive assistant READER POLL: What’s your confidence level in new Ravens coach Jesse Minter? Could Ravens be headed for an international game in 2026 season? Baltimore Sun to launch ‘Early Birds’ podcast Feb. 12 on Orioles, Ravens A seven-year NFL veteran as a player, Weaver joined Baltimore’s coaching staff in 2021 as the run game coordinator and defensive line coach after serving as the Texans’ defensive coordinator in 2020. During his time in Baltimore, the defensive line was consistently among the league’s best, particularly against the run. A 2002 second-round draft pick by the Ravens out of Notre Dame, Weaver also played three seasons for the Texans before joining the coaching ranks in 2010 as a graduate assistant at Florida under coach Urban Meyer then as linebackers coach at North Texas in 2011. He then spent time as a defensive assistant with the New York Jets (2012), Buffalo Bills (2013) and Cleveland Browns (2014-15) before joining the Texans as their defensive line coach in 2016 and eventually being promoted to defensive coordinator. Though Minter, who was the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator the past two seasons, will call the plays for Baltimore, Weaver will be expected to help turn around a defense that often faltered and was one of the NFL’s worst this past season. He will also lead defensive meetings as well as assist with game planning and scouting, among other responsibilities. His hire is the latest as Minter continues to build his staff. Among the positions he has filled so far are Declan Doyle from the Chicago Bears to be his offensive coordinator, Dwayne Ledford from the Falcons as offensive line coach and Mike Mickens from Notre Dame as secondary coach/pass game coordinator. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

The Ravens got their guy in Jesse Minter. Baltimore’s new coach was introduced last week and has begun filling out his staff, hiring Declan Doyle as his offensive coordinator and Anthony Weaver as defensive coordinator. What is your confidence level in Minter? We want to hear from you. After you vote, leave a comment and we might use your take in The Baltimore Sun. The Baltimore Sun reader poll is an unscientific survey in which website users volunteer their opinions on the subject of the poll. To read the results of previous reader polls, click here. View the full article

The NFL announced on Monday its return to Spain with a multi-year agreement for regular-season games to be held at Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium – home to Real Madrid Football Club – beginning this year. It’s one of eight International Series games already slated for next season. Other locales include one game each in Melbourne, where the Los Angeles Rams will be a host team; Paris, where the New Orleans Saints will be a host team; Rio de Janeiro; and Munich, with three games scheduled for London. Whether the Ravens will be one of the teams to play an international game has still yet to be announced. But with nine road games, including one against the Atlanta Falcons, who have already been designated as a host team for an international game, there is at least a chance Baltimore could be tapped. The reasons range from quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson being one of the most popular players in the league to the fact that the Ravens last year were awarded international marketing rights to the United Kingdom as part of the league’s Global Markets Program. “We have talked to the league,” team President Sashi Brown said during last year’s owners meetings. “We also know there’s a large demand for the Ravens, generally, and Lamar and the growth internationally is something that we embrace fully.” The last time the Ravens played overseas was in 2023, when the Tennessee Titans were a host team at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Baltimore won, 24-16, on the strength of six Justin Tucker field goals. That marked just the second international game for the Ravens, who also played the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in 2017. The Jaguars won in a rout, 44-7. With Baltimore only playing eight games at newly renovated M&T Bank Stadium next season, it’s also unlikely they would lose one of those dates as a host team for an international game, meaning that one of its away opponents would almost certainly be a host team. Related Articles Baltimore Sun to launch ‘Early Birds’ podcast Feb. 12 on Orioles, Ravens Josh Tolentino: Ravens don’t play it safe with OC Declan Doyle. That’s admirable. | COMMENTARY Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike says ‘good news,’ but injury status still unclear Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Declan Doyle as new offensive coordinator Ravens hiring Bears’ Declan Doyle, 29, as offensive coordinator The Ravens’ road opponents for 2026 include the Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. They will also have their usual AFC North road games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, though it’s rare for the league to have division foes play outside the United States given the high-stakes (and high-revenue) nature of those contests. Baltimore’s U.K. marketing rights deal also doesn’t necessarily guarantee a trip to London for 2026. Although there’s a long-established established U.K. Ravens fan group, the team has similar ones all over, from Germany to Spain to Mexico to Australia, among other corners of the globe. NFL Network also averaged 6.2 million viewers, per Nielsen, across six international games this past season, representing a 32% jump from 2024 to the highest average to date. Put another way, the league will only continue to expand its global footprint. The NFL’s full schedule will be announced in May. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

To quote Orioles play-by-play voice Kevin Brown, quoting Samuel L. Jackson, “hold on to your butts” — The Baltimore Sun sports staff is starting a podcast. We’re calling it “Early Birds.” Because jokes are funnier when you explain them: It’s a play on The Sun and the Ravens and the Orioles and the fact that you (the listener) will wake up twice a week with a new episode at your fingertips. Orioles beat reporter Matt Weyrich will host the show alongside Ravens reporter Sam Cohn and columnist Josh Tolentino, with new episodes posting Mondays and Thursdays beginning Feb. 12 to kick off spring training. The trio will give Baltimore sports fans an insider perspective on their favorite teams with spirited commentary and an occasional joke at the Yankees’ expense. This is a busy time in Baltimore sports. The Orioles made a splash in free agency. The Ravens have a new head coach for the first time in nearly two decades. Both pro teams in town underperformed in 2025 and enter 2026 wearing rally caps. Let’s talk about it. “Early Birds” will offer exclusive access inside the clubhouse and locker room from reporters who are on the ground for every game, practice and press conference. Episodes will feature interviews with players and coaches, breakdowns of the biggest moments and reactions to breaking news in real time. The podcast will be available in video and audio formats on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow along @SunEarlyBirds on all social media platforms. This is a new venture. So, if you have feedback or if there’s something you want to hear us chat about, please reach out! Our email is earlybirdspod@baltsun.com. About the hosts Matt Weyrich has covered the Orioles and major sporting events in the region since January 2024. The Northern Virginia native previously covered the Washington Nationals and Capitals for NBC Sports Washington and Monumental Sports Network, respectively, after graduating from James Madison University in 2019. Sam Cohn covers the Ravens and Orioles while chasing distinctive feature stories around Maryland. Also reporting on the University of Maryland and the Olympics, he joined The Sun in 2023 as a Harford County High School sports reporter. If he’s not at a game, he’s probably at a coffee shop. Sam grew up in Massachusetts, graduated from Temple University and came to Baltimore from The Philadelphia Inquirer. Josh Tolentino is a sports columnist for The Baltimore Sun. Josh covered the Philadelphia Eagles for The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Dallas Cowboys for Advance Local. He previously covered the NFL and MLB for The Athletic, and also worked at The Kansas City Star and Chicago Sun-Times. View the full article

The Ravens could have played it safe. After hiring new coach Jesse Minter, Baltimore could have prioritized experience and proven play-calling at offensive coordinator. The Ravens could have dipped back into their coaching candidate pool and found their next offensive leader. They did not. Instead, they hired Declan Doyle, a first-time NFL play-caller the same age, 29, as quarterback Lamar Jackson, and placed the future of their offense and much of Jackson’s prime in Doyle’s hands. A source with direct knowledge confirmed Friday evening to The Baltimore Sun that the Ravens are hiring Doyle to join Minter’s staff as offensive coordinator. These consecutive hires reveal the franchise’s posture at a critical moment. With Doyle joining the flock, consider this a huge bet on a recent youth movement in Baltimore and that hyper-modern offensive thinking and projection can unlock more consistency from a unit that too often stalled despite its talent. The Ravens have proven to be an explosive bunch, but untimely mistakes have drowned Baltimore like a backpack full of bricks in the deep end. Doyle inherits an offense with no shortage of high-end options. Jackson remains the most important centerpiece, joined by running back Derrick Henry, tight end Mark Andrews and wide receiver Zay Flowers. Doyle also boasts an existing relationship with three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, a pending free agent, thanks to their Iowa roots. Doyle’s challenge is to turn that collection of offensive star power into a group that is more reliable, especially in moments that demand precision and timely execution. During Minter’s introductory news conference Thursday, he noted how he wants the Ravens to be at their best “late in the season,” a direct acknowledgement of his predecessor John Harbaugh’s failures from the past two years. The Ravens are hoping Doyle can bring some of that coaching juice he enjoyed in Chicago. The Bears, coming off a commendable run to the NFC divisional round, finished the 2025 season ranked ninth in points per game and sixth in total offense. Meanwhile, the playoff-less Ravens finished 16th in total offense. Although Doyle did not call plays, he worked extensively in game planning and quarterback development under coach Ben Johnson, including close collaboration with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Williams impressively topped 225 passing yards in 10 games this past season. Jackson reached that mark just twice. Yep. Just twice. That contrast in offensive consistency extends beyond yardage. Despite logging 441 more snaps across four additional starts than Jackson, Williams was sacked just 24 times. Jackson was taken down 36 times, marking the second-highest sack total of his eight-year career. For Doyle, reducing unnecessary exposure while preserving Jackson’s creativity will be one of the most delicate and important balances to strike. The differences were just as stark among the pass catchers. In Chicago, the Bears spread production evenly across the offense, with four players finishing with more than 650 receiving yards. Baltimore never came close to that balance. Flowers was the only Ravens pass catcher to eclipse 425 yards. Flowers and Andrews also were the only two Ravens to record more than 30 receptions all season, while the Bears had seven players reach that mark. Related Articles Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike says ‘good news,’ but injury status still unclear Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Declan Doyle as new offensive coordinator Ravens hiring Bears’ Declan Doyle, 29, as offensive coordinator Ex-Ravens QB Joe Flacco makes Pro Bowl for 1st time in his 18-year career How will Ravens QB Lamar Jackson mesh with new coach Jesse Minter? Expanding involvement and creating dependable options beyond just Flowers will be essential if the Ravens want to create a more diverse and sustainable passing attack. Nowhere is that need more urgent than in the red zone. Baltimore regressed sharply inside the 20 last season, finishing 27th in red zone touchdown percentage. As for ball security, the Ravens’ skill players had 20 fumbles compared with Chicago’s 13. Can Doyle right the offensive ship and get Jackson back to MVP form? Sure, he’s the NFL’s youngest offensive coordinator, but Doyle is at least arriving with reinforcements. Minter’s offensive staff is expected to include Dwayne Ledford, who is reportedly being hired away from Atlanta. Ledford, 49, is widely regarded as one of the league’s top offensive line coaches and run game coordinators. His presence should provide some balance and grounding for a young coordinator and first-time play-caller who inherits an imposing force in Henry. Additionally, the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles requested permission to interview Doyle for their previous offensive coordinator vacancy before he withdrew his name from consideration. It’s a nod to Doyle’s rise among the coaching ranks. Doyle also brings valuable seasoning from his time working under Sean Payton, first as an offensive assistant with the New Orleans Saints and later as the Denver Broncos’ tight ends coach. Doyle’s five combined seasons under Payton offered him exposure to quarterback-centric systems and Payton’s known ability to evolve his offense. Not a bad mentor to have in your back pocket as Doyle takes on the biggest challenge in his career. Pairing a first-time coach with a first-time play-caller is by no means a conservative path. It’s an admirable move with plenty of risk. And for an offense that’s struggled to stay afloat, the Ravens are counting on Doyle to provide the lift. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article

For the first time in months, Ravens injured defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike has spoken. “Good news,” he posted on X on Friday afternoon. What it means for the two-time Pro Bowl selection, however, is still not entirely clear. Madubuike suffered a season-ending neck injury in a Week 2 win over the Cleveland Browns. “A lot of that is things he needs to address with you guys in his time,” then-coach John Harbaugh said in late September when asked if he was worried it could be career threatening. “I really can’t speak for him, wouldn’t want to. Those are questions that would be best answered by him going forward.” Whether Madubuike’s post means he will be able to return for next season, or if it even pertains to the injury, is unknown. The sixth-year former third-round pick did not immediately respond to messages for comment, nor did his agent. General manager Eric DeCosta when asked earlier this month at the team’s season-ending news conference about the status of Maduibuike also did not shed further light on the situation. “I can’t really discuss that, obviously,” he said. “I will say, not having Nnamdi this year was a horrible situation for our team. I think it affected us in different ways — in many ways. He is a great player, a great person, a special person. “Still working through a lot of his different ideas and things [so] that we can hopefully get more and more information about his situation. But more than that, I think just — I couldn’t talk about the specifics of him and his situation.” Should Madubuike be able to return next season, that would be a big boost, both for a defense that struggled significantly this past season and for new coach Jesse Minter. Baltimore ranked 24th in yards per game (354.5), 28th in pass rush win rate (30%), per ESPN analytics and its 30 sacks tied for the third-fewest in the NFL. Having Madubuike back would surely help. In 2023, his 13 sacks led all interior defensive linemen. He followed that with 6 1/2 sacks in 2024 and had 2 through two games in 2025. His return would also add some much needed depth up front alongside the ascending Travis Jones and veteran John Jenkins, each of whom Baltimore signed to extensions during the season. Madubuike also signed a four-year, $98 million extension in 2024. But whether he will be still remains a mystery for now. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles Instant analysis: Ravens hiring Declan Doyle as new offensive coordinator Ravens hiring Bears’ Declan Doyle, 29, as offensive coordinator Ex-Ravens QB Joe Flacco makes Pro Bowl for 1st time in his 18-year career How will Ravens QB Lamar Jackson mesh with new coach Jesse Minter? 3 takeaways from new Ravens coach Jesse Minter, including chain of command View the full article

The Ravens are hiring Declan Doyle to be their next offensive coordinator. The 29-year-old spent the 2025 season as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator, but he wasn’t the team’s play-caller. He’ll join Baltimore and call plays for quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2026, taking over the job previously held by new Browns coach Todd Monken. Here’s what The Baltimore Sun’s sports staff has to say about the addition to Jesse Minter’s inaugural coaching staff: Brian Wacker, reporter The youth movement is on in Baltimore. First, it was 42-year-old Jesse Minter, who is a first-time head coach and checks in five years younger than what was the average age of NFL head coaches at the start of the 2025 season. Now, here comes 29-year-old Declan Doyle, the youngest offensive coordinator in the NFL. He had the same role with the Chicago Bears, but was never going to be calling plays as long as head coach Ben Johnson is there. Doyle is also the same age as Lamar Jackson, so the Ravens’ newest play-caller should have no problem connecting with the quarterback, something that Minter made a point to say is an important characteristic for his assistants as he puts together a staff. In addition to Doyle’s work with helping transform Chicago’s Caleb Williams into a nearly 4,000-yard passer with 27 touchdown passes and seven interceptions this season, he also worked under Sean Payton both in Denver and with the New Orleans Saints. That’s a pretty good tree to come from in terms of offense, particularly for the first-time play-caller who also has ties to the University of Iowa. Now it will be up to Doyle to help deliver on Minter’s goal of elevating Jackson to the “best version of himself” while also keeping him on schedule and taking some of the pressure to do everything off the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. Sam Cohn, reporter It’s a bit surprising that Minter’s offensive coordinator hire — the person responsible for maximizing Lamar Jackson and looking after what was once the most potent offense in football before backsliding in 2025 — would be someone who didn’t call plays at their previous stop. Doyle, 29, is the youngest OC in the league and has just seven years of NFL coaching experience. Ben Johnson called plays in Chicago, but that’s not a bad coach to learn from. For Minter, that clearly wasn’t disqualifying with this youth-movement hire. Doyle still played a major role in resurrecting the Bears’ offense from the bottom of the league to near the top. He helped Caleb Williams enjoy a breakout Year 2. And Minter made it clear that he was looking for both “schematic expertise” and a “relationship builder.” It’s just funny that the 29-year-old Doyle and Jackson are the same age. Josh Tolentino, columnist Jesse Minter hinted he was in the final stages of hiring his coordinators Thursday during his introductory news conference. Just over 24 hours later, Minter and the Ravens made a splash by bringing in 29-year-old offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. Doyle will be a first-time NFL play-caller, a reality the Ravens clearly embraced as they reshaped their staff around Minter. His age stands out as the youngest coordinator in the league; he’s the same age as franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson. After overseeing second-year quarterback Caleb Williams in Chicago, Doyle is now tasked with helping a two-time NFL MVP return to his dominant form. Doyle worked closely in game planning and player development under Bears coach Ben Johnson, and he also boasts five years of experience working underneath Sean Payton in New Orleans and Denver. During his time with the Saints, Doyle also overlapped with current Lions coach Dan Campbell. Notably, Baltimore wasn’t the only team after Doyle’s services. The reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles requested permission to interview him for their previous offensive coordinator vacancy before Doyle withdrew his name this week from consideration, signaling that he was selective, and that the Ravens were not alone in viewing him as a rising offensive mind. Doyle arrives in Baltimore already with the backing of three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, an important relationship that could play a significant role in Linderbaum signing a contract extension this offseason with the Ravens. Linderbaum, an Iowa native like Doyle, attended the University of Iowa, where Doyle’s father Chris was a longtime strength and conditioning coach. That type of support should help in a locker room that just said goodbye to 59-year-old Todd Monken. C.J. Doon, editor On the surface, this is an exciting hire for Baltimore given the unknown possibilities. At just 29 years old, Doyle has his whole career ahead of him and provides a little more juice than a retread coordinator such as Kliff Kingsbury. But that’s also what makes this move a little worrisome. All we have to learn from is Doyle’s experience in Chicago as the OC under Ben Johnson, who is widely regarded as one of the best offensive minds in the game. How much credit does Doyle deserve for his work with Caleb Williams in helping Chicago become an NFC contender this past season? The Iowa native is now stepping into a bright spotlight as the play-caller for Lamar Jackson. Fans will expect immediate results from an offense that has been near the top of league when Jackson is healthy. How will Doyle handle that kind of pressure? New coach Jesse Minter deserves credit for trusting in a young assistant for such a big role. We’ll see if it pays off. Related Articles Ravens’ Nnamdi Madubuike says ‘good news,’ but injury status still unclear Ravens hiring Bears’ Declan Doyle, 29, as offensive coordinator Ex-Ravens QB Joe Flacco makes Pro Bowl for 1st time in his 18-year career How will Ravens QB Lamar Jackson mesh with new coach Jesse Minter? 3 takeaways from new Ravens coach Jesse Minter, including chain of command Bennett Conlin, editor I like the Ravens’ thought process of hiring a rising star with experience working under Sean Payton and Ben Johnson. While he’s yet to call plays, Doyle is highly regarded by both Payton and Johnson, and he helped design game plans for a much-improved Chicago offense in 2025. There’s no doubting his schematic background, but my No. 1 concern is how he’ll lead a unit with so much star power. It’s one thing to call plays, but it’s another to command respect from Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews and Ronnie Stanley. If he can get the stars on board with his coaching philosophy, the sky is the limit for Baltimore’s offense in 2026 and beyond. But if there are any cracks in the relationship — like there seemed to be with Jackson and Monken in 2025 — it’ll handicap the Ravens’ ceiling. Doyle faces a lofty challenge in trying to take an offense from good to great, especially in postseason play. Coaches often view challenges as opportunities, though. For a young coach looking to make his name in the NFL, there are few better opportunities than leading the Ravens’ offense. Can Doyle help lead Baltimore and Jackson to a Super Bowl? That’s going to be the expectation from fans and ownership in the coming seasons. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article

New Ravens coach Jesse Minter is hiring Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to be Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, a source with direct knowledge of the situation confirmed to The Baltimore Sun. Doyle replaces Todd Monken, whom previous coach John Harbaugh had hired in 2023 and is now the coach of the Cleveland Browns. Next to Minter, the position is perhaps the most important — and scrutinized — on the coaching staff. Doyle will also have plenty of talent to work with, from quarterback and two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson to running back Derrick Henry and wide receiver Zay Flowers, both of whom were Pro Bowl selections in 2025, among others. Doyle, 29, is viewed as another rising young assistant in NFL circles. He’s the youngest offensive coordinator in the league. Though he was the Bears’ offensive coordinator this past season, he did not call the plays under first-year coach Ben Johnson. Doyle helped transform quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears into a potent offense after spending two years as the Denver Broncos’ tight end coach. Before that, he spent four years as an offensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints under Sean Payton. In replacing Monken, he’ll also look to revive an offense that was at times historically great. In 2024, the Ravens became the first team to pass for at least 4,000 yards and rush for 3,000 in the same season. Their 424.9 yards per game were tops in the league and their 30.5 points per game ranked third that year. But the offense took a step back in 2025 while Jackson missed four games because of injuries. Though Baltimore was second in the league in rushing, the Ravens ranked 15th in yards (332.2) and 10th in scoring (24.9). They also were one of the worst teams at scoring touchdowns from the red zone after leading the league in 2024. Now it will be up to Doyle to turn that around. This article will be updated. Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. Related Articles How will Ravens QB Lamar Jackson mesh with new coach Jesse Minter? 3 takeaways from new Ravens coach Jesse Minter, including chain of command Josh Tolentino: Ravens’ Jesse Minter will call the defense. What about the offense? | COMMENTARY Some Ravens players were ‘very helpful’ in choosing Jesse Minter as coach Mike Preston: Ravens’ defense needs fixing. Here comes Jesse Minter. | COMMENTARY View the full article