Rate how well you think the Ravens hired Zach Orr as their new defensive coordinator.
The Baltimore Ravens officially made Zach Orr defensive coordinator on Thursday. He was previously the inside linebackers coach.
Now, because Macdonald was young and good, the Ravens have replaced him with Orr, who is even younger and better.
The Ravens have a history of promoting the inside linebackers coach to defensive coordinator.
Before going to the University of Michigan, Mike Macdonald coached the linebackers, as did Don “Wink” Martindale and Dean Pees. Just like Greg Mattison did.
Assistant Head Coach and Defensive The line Coach Anthony Weaver, Pass Game Coordinator, and Secondary Coach Chris Hewitt, and possibly Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson were all in the running for the job for the Ravens.
Wilson, however, ended up signing with the Tennessee Titans on Wednesday as their new defensive coordinator.
Orr has quickly moved up the coaching ladder. He went from being an assistant coach for coaching and personnel to a guidance analyst for the Ravens’ defense and now to the inside linebackers coach for the last two seasons.
Later this week, Mike Macdonald quit to become the new coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The Ravens then hired Zach Orr to be their defensive coordinator.
The Ravens announced Orr’s promotion on Thursday. He is 31 years old. He played linebacker against the Ravens from 2014–16 and was their inside linebackers coach for the last two years.
“Zach is a true Raven from start to finish,” said coach John Harbaugh. “From the day he joined our team as a player in 2014, he has shown his energy, intellect, work ethic, and good communication skills.”
Because of a birth defect in his neck or spine, Orr had to quit playing football. He then worked for the Ravens as an assistant coach for personnel and then as a defensive teaching analyst.
After one season with the Ravens, he went back to work for the Jaguars as an outside linebackers coach in 2021.
Inside linebackers, like Roquan Smith alongside Patrick Queen, are one of Baltimore’s strengths, and he’s been their coach for the past two years.
“Zach has done great at all levels of football,” Harbaugh said. “He knows our athletes and our standards better than anyone else.”
There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s ready to be our next defensive coach and continue to help our players, as well as scheme, grow.
Though they had the worst record in the NFL, the Ravens were the best at stopping points and sacks. They made it to the AFC championship game, but Kansas City beat them last weekend.
Zachary Orr, who used to play star defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens, was promoted to defensive coordinator by the team on Thursday.
This was a first in NFL history. In the 28-year history of the Ravens, Orr is the youngest former player to have been named as a coordinator.
Orr quickly took over as defensive coordinator for the Ravens after Mike Macdonald was hired as head coach for the Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday.
He did this just seven years following being a second-team All-Pro within linebacker for Baltimore.
“Zach is a true Raven every single way,” said John Harbaugh, the coach of the Ravens. “From the day he joined our team as a player in 2014, he has shown his energy, intelligence, work ethic, and strong communication skills.”
Zach has done great in every step of his football career, from making our team as an unheralded rookie to eventually becoming the All-Pro linebacker and then becoming an assistant coach who helped coach several Pro Bowl defenders.
“He knows our players and our standards better than anyone else.” There’s no doubt in my mind that he’s ready to be our next defensive coach and continue to help our players and scheme grow.
Once upon a time, Orr was the inside linebackers coach for the Ravens. This past season, both Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen made the Pro Bowl.
The Ravens like how knowledgeable, passionate, communicative, and aware of their culture he is as a coach and a player.