ExtremeRavens Posted 8 hours ago Posted 8 hours ago 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. 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 Quote
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