Looking at Potential External Candidates for Next Defensive Coordinator

With Mike Macdonald being employed as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, the search for his substitute at defensive coordinator begins.

The Ravens’ inside candidates embody Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach Anthony Weaver, Inside Linebackers Coach Zachary Orr, and Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Secondary Coach Chris Hewitt. Defensive Backs Coach Dennard Wilson additionally was a candidate, however he’s reportedly anticipated to grow to be the Tennessee Titans’ defensive coordinator.

Here’s a glance at a number of exterior candidates from lists compiled by The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec and The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer:

Mike Caldwell, former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator

“Caldwell, [52], was one of many finalists for Baltimore’s defensive coordinator job when it employed Macdonald, and he is now wanting for work once more. He was let go by the Jaguars in early January after two seasons operating their protection. He’s nonetheless properly considered across the league and lately interviewed for the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive coordinator place. Head Coach John Harbaugh has already carried out sufficient work on Caldwell, who performed a season in Baltimore in 1996, the place he’d know what he is getting.” — Zrebiec

Joe Cullen, Kansas City Chiefs defensive position coach

“[A] former Ravens assistant with an excellent relationship with Harbaugh, Cullen deserves one other alternative to run a protection. He obtained caught within the wash of the Urban Meyer mess in Jacksonville in his solely season as an NFL defensive coordinator. Cullen has carried out a top quality job in all places he is been, and that features the 5 seasons he spent because the Ravens’ defensive position coach. The 56-year-old nonetheless has sturdy relationships within the Ravens’ constructing, and he is an upbeat persona who relates properly to gamers.” — Zrebiec

Ejiro Evero, Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator

“Evero is probably not accessible. The Panthers, in accordance with colleague Joe Person, haven’t allowed Evero out of his contract to discover different alternatives — even after hiring new head coach Dave Canales. If he turned accessible, Evero would don’t have any downside discovering work. The 43-year-old is considered as a rising star and future head coach. He was the defensive coordinator of the Denver Broncos in 2022.” — Zrebiec

Leslie Frazier, former Minnesota Vikings head coach and Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator

“Frazier served because the Bills’ coordinator from 2017 to 2022, overseeing a unit that completed first and second, respectively, in DVOA in his remaining two seasons. Before that, he labored below Harbaugh because the Ravens’ secondary coach in 2016. Frazier, 64, stepped away from teaching this season after Buffalo introduced he wouldn’t be returning as defensive coordinator. He has head teaching expertise — he went 18-29-1 from 2011 to 2013 with the Minnesota Vikings.” — Shaffer

D’Anton Lynn, USC defensive coordinator

“Lynn, the son of former Chargers Head Coach Anthony Lynn, wasn’t on the Ravens’ employees lengthy. He was employed in January 2021 as their defensive backs coach and served two seasons earlier than he was named UCLA’s defensive coordinator in February 2023. USC pried Lynn, 34, away from its crosstown rival in December after he oversaw a dramatic turnaround. In their first season below Lynn, the Bruins improved from 79th in defensive effectivity to sixth, in accordance with ESPN’s Football Power Index.” — Shaffer

Jesse Minter, Michigan defensive coordinator

“With the Chargers hiring Jim Harbaugh, Minter is reportedly set to observe him as his defensive coordinator. But Minter does have a historical past with John Harbaugh, too. Before spending three years as a school defensive coordinator, first at Vanderbilt after which at Michigan, he labored for 4 years on the Ravens’ employees, rising from defensive assistant to defensive backs coach. Minter’s emergence comes two years after Macdonald’s personal in Ann Arbor. The Wolverines completed No. 1 in defensive effectivity final season, in accordance with ESPN’s FPI, as they rolled to a College Football Playoff nationwide title. Minter, 40, was praised for his inventive play calling, together with his simulated pressures.” — Shaffer

Joe Whitt Jr., Dallas Cowboys secondary coach and go recreation coordinator

“Whitt additionally interviewed for the job two years in the past. Over the previous two seasons, the Cowboys have ranked sixth and seventh in go protection effectivity, in accordance with FTN. Cornerback Trevon Diggs developed right into a two-time Pro Bowl choice, and cornerback DaRon Bland, a fifth-round decide in 2022, led the NFL in interceptions this season. Whitt, 45, has expertise in defenses primarily based out of various fronts, having labored below former Green Bay Packers Coordinator Dom Capers and present Cowboys Coordinator Dan Quinn.” — Shaffer

Chiefs tight finish Travis Kelce gave his aspect of the story relating to his interplay with Justin Tucker throughout pregame warmups at Sunday’s AFC Championship.

The incident noticed Kelce toss apart Tucker’s helmet, follow footballs, and kicking tripod from an space on the sphere the place Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes was warming up.

“If you are attempting to go onto the opposite staff’s designated space, you form of keep out of their means. You do not intrude with what they’ve occurring,” Kelce stated on his “New Heights” podcast.

Tucker stated on Monday that he thought the interplay was “all in good enjoyable,” however Kelce stated he and Mahomes weren’t in a jovial temper.

“I imply, he was form of winking at me, being a d— about it, attempting to get below the pores and skin,” Kelce stated. “I get it. But me and Pat? We’ve been having the identical mentality for this recreation all week lengthy, man. And it was a, ‘you have to go in there and have the proper thoughts set,’ and we simply weren’t in a joking temper.