ExtremeRavens Posted 6 hours ago Posted 6 hours ago 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. 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 Quote
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