Jan 28, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor (15) runs with the ball against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens sign WR Nelson Agholor to 1-year extension

Wide receiver Nelson Agholor signed a one-year contract extension with the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

Agholor’s contract would have voided on Monday, making him a free agent, if the Ravens did not re-sign him. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Agholor, 30, joined the Ravens last offseason and caught 35 passes for 381 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games (three starts) in his first season in Baltimore. He added his first career playoff touchdown in Baltimore’s 34-10 divisional round win over the Houston Texans.

The 2015 first-round draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles is primed to enter his 10th season in the NFL. After spending five years in Philadelphia, he has had stints with the Las Vegas Raiders (2020), New England Patriots (2021-22) and Ravens.

In 135 career games (98 starts), Agholor has amassed 375 receptions, 4,627 yards and 35 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Broncos interim head coach Jerry Rosburg during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Empower Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens hiring former Broncos interim HC Jerry Rosburg

The Baltimore Ravens are set to hire Jerry Rosburg, their former special teams coordinator and an interim head coach in Denver, to a game management role on their staff, NFL Network reported Monday.

Rosburg, 68, served as Baltimore’s ST coordinator from 2008-18 before retiring.

Rosburg was hired by the Broncos during the 2022 season to help then-head coach Nathaniel Hackett with clock management strategy after Hackett’s in-game blunders. The Broncos fired Hackett before his first season ended and promoted Rosburg to interim head coach, and he went 1-1.

The Broncos parted ways with Rosburg in January 2023 before eventually hiring Sean Payton.

Rosburg was not with any team during the past season.

–Field Level Media

Dec 24, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) celebrates with defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (94) and linebacker David Long Jr. (51) after a play against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Dolphins to tab Anthony Weaver as DC

The Miami Dolphins are hiring Baltimore Ravens associate head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver to be their next defensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported on Saturday.

Weaver would be Miami’s third defensive coordinator in three seasons under head coach Mike McDaniel. The Dolphins fired Josh Boyer at the end of the 2022 season and parted ways with Vic Fangio last month.

Miami’s defense, banged-up all season, finished the 2023 campaign 10th in yards allowed and 22nd in scoring under Fangio.

Weaver, who turns 44 in August, has been with Baltimore since 2021, when he was the defensive line coach and run game coordinator.

Before his time with the Ravens, Weaver spent five seasons with the Houston Texans (2016-20) as their defensive line coach, adding the title of defensive coordinator for the 2020 campaign. He was the Cleveland Browns’ D-line coach from 2014-15.

Weaver has also made pit stops with the New York Jets (2012) and Buffalo Bills (2013). He worked at Florida and North Texas before moving up to the NFL.

–Field Level Media

Nov 7, 2022; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA;  General view of the Baltimore Ravens helmet during the warm ups before the game against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Ravens tab Zach Orr as defensive coordinator

The Baltimore Ravens hired Zach Orr as their new defensive coordinator on Thursday, one day after Mike Macdonald left that position to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.

Orr, 31, spent the past two seasons as the Ravens’ inside linebackers coach.

He played three seasons as a linebacker with the Ravens (2014-16) before he announced his retirement due to a congenital neck/spine condition. He joined Baltimore as a coach and personnel assistant and was promoted to coaching analyst for two seasons before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars to coach outside linebackers in 2021.

“Zach is a homegrown Raven in every way,” Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said. “His energy, intelligence, work ethic and strong communication skills have been on display since the day he joined our organization as a player in 2014.

“From making our team as an undrafted rookie, to becoming an All-Pro linebacker, then later transitioning to an assistant coach who helped mentor multiple Pro Bowl defenders, Zach has excelled at every level of his football journey. He knows our players and understands our standard as well as anyone. I’m confident that he is prepared to take on the challenge of continuing to develop our players and scheme as our next defensive coordinator.”

Macdonald helped the Ravens earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC in 2023, with his defense finishing first in scoring defense (16.5 points per game) and sixth in the NFL in total defense (301.4 yards per game).

Baltimore’s season ended on Sunday with a 17-10 home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

Orr totaled 163 tackles, three interceptions, one sack, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 46 games (15 starts) with the Ravens.

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2023; Nashville, TN, USA; View of helmets on the field as Tennessee Titans players finish training camp practice. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Titans set to hire Dennard Wilson as DC

Dennard Wilson, the secondary coach of the Baltimore Ravens’ highly regarded defense this season, is set to join the Tennessee Titans as defensive coordinator, multiple media outlets reported Wednesday night.

Brian Callahan recently took over as Tennessee’s head coach, replacing Mike Vrabel. He reportedly will replace Shane Bowen, who had been the Titans’ defensive coordinator since 2021.

Wilson, 41, spent just one season in Baltimore, and the Ravens fielded one of the NFL’s stingiest defenses. They ranked first in points allowed (16.5 per game), sixth in total yards allowed (301.4 per game) and sixth in passing yardage allowed (191.9 per game).

Wilson’s secondary tied for the second-fewest passing touchdowns allowed (18) while grabbing 18 interceptions, which tied for third in the league.

The Ravens, who posted an NFL-best 13-4 record, had their season end Sunday with a 17-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game.

A University of Maryland alumnus, Wilson never got into an NFL regular-season game.

He began his coaching career with the then-St. Louis Rams in 2012, remaining with the franchise when it moved to Los Angeles while working as the defensive backs coach in 2015-16. He subsequently filled essentially the same role for the New York Jets (2017-20) and the Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) before joining the Ravens.

The Titans will hope to upgrade a defense that ranked 16th in opponents’ scoring (21.6 points per game) and 18th in total yards allowed (335.1 per game).

Tennessee finished 6-11, in last place in the AFC South.

–Field Level Media

Aug 12, 2023; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers helmets on the bench at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Chargers set to hire Joe Hortiz as GM

Baltimore Ravens personnel director Joe Hortiz is set to become the Los Angeles Chargers general manager, multiple media outlets reported Monday.

Hortiz and the Chargers, who last week hired Jim Harbaugh as their head coach, reportedly were finalizing a contract.

Hortiz, 48, served in his current role with the Ravens since 2019, having worked for the team for 26 years. Baltimore’s head coach since 2008 has been John Harbaugh, Jim Harbaugh’s brother.

Teaming with former Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and current Ravens GM Eric DeCosta, Hortiz helped shape two Super Bowl championship teams and a club that went an NFL-best 13-4 this season before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game.

Tom Telesco was the Chargers’ general manager until Dec. 15, when he and head coach Brandon Staley were fired after a 63-21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders dropped Los Angeles’ record to 5-9.

The Chargers went 0-3 under interim head coach Giff Smith to finish the season. Telesco was hired last week as the Raiders general manager.

Los Angeles finished 18th in total offense this season (329.4 yards per game), 21st in scoring offense (20.4 points per game), 28th in total defense (362.9 ypg) and 24th in scoring defense (23.4 ppg).

–Field Level Media

Jan 20, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) reacts after running past for Houston Texans defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter  in a 2024 AFC divisional round game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson, Lions serve as popular bets heading into title games

There has been little movement from the opening lines to the current spread in the AFC and NFC Championship games on Sunday.

The top-seeded Ravens opened as 3- and 3.5-point favorites by DraftKings and BetMGM, respectively, over the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game in Baltimore. The line currently resides at 4.5 by both sportsbooks in favor of the Ravens, who are being backed by 59 percent of the bets and 72 percent of the handle at BetMGM.

BetMGM had the opening line and current spread staying level in the NFC Championship Game. with the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers serving as a 7-point favorite over the visiting Detroit Lions. DraftKings, however, saw its opening line of 6.5 jump to 7.5 in favor of the 49ers.

The betting public, however, is supporting the Lions, with the spread attracting 71 percent of the bets and 58 percent of the handle at BetMGM.

“The Lions are the most bet team to win and cover in the conference championship games,” said Christian Cipollini, trading manager, BetMGM. “BetMGM will be cheering for the 49ers on Sunday.”

As for player props, BetMGM noted the most bet (tickets) player props included Ravens star quarterback Lamar Jackson with over 64.5 rushing yards and 49ers wideout Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle over 75.5 and 58.5 receiving yards, respectively. All three are listed at -135.

BetMGM has Jackson (+100), Kittle (+115) and Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (+115) as favorites to score a touchdown, while DraftKings has Jackson (+105), Lions rookie running back Jahmyr Gibbs (+115) and Kelce (+120).

–Field Level Media

Dec 11, 2022; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA;  Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald reacts on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Seahawks plan to interview Ravens DC Mike Macdonald

The Seattle Seahawks are willing to wait to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for their vacant head coaching position, according to multiple media reports, but they can’t do so until the Ravens lose.

Baltimore hosts the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in the AFC Championship Game, and a Ravens victory would make Macdonald unavailable until after the Super Bowl.

It’s a scenario that the Indianapolis Colts followed last season with Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen, whom they hired as head coach after the Super Bowl.

Macdonald, 36, interviewed this winter with the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders. Only the Commanders and Seahawks still have head coaching vacancies.

The Seahawks have scheduled second interviews with New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinators Ejiro Evero of the Panthers, Patrick Graham of the Las Vegas Raiders and Dan Quinn of the Dallas Cowboys, according to reports.

Others interviewed at least once, according to reports, are offensive coordinators Ben Johnson of the Detroit Lions, Bobby Slowick of the Houston Texans and Frank Smith of the Miami Dolphins.

Seattle fired Pete Carroll, the head coach since 2010, following a 9-8 season.

Macdonald oversees a Ravens defense that led the NFL in allowing only 16.5 points per game in the regular season. Baltimore had a first-round playoff bye, then defeated the Houston Texans 34-10 on Jan. 20 to reach the conference title game.

He rejoined the Ravens as defensive coordinator in 2022 after spending the 2021 season as the University of Michigan’s DC. Previously, Macdonald was with Baltimore starting in 2014, serving as a defensive coaching intern (2014), defensive assistant (2015-16), defensive backs coach (2017) and linebackers coach (2018-20).

–Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (10) beats a tackle.

Reports: Chiefs RB Isiah Pacheco to play vs. Ravens

Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco is expected to play against the host Baltimore Ravens in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game, multiple media outlets reported.

Pacheco carries a questionable tag into the game due to ankle and toe injuries. He sat out practice on Wednesday and Thursday before being limited on Friday.

Pacheco, 24, rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in last Sunday’s 27-24 divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills. He ran for 935 yards and seven touchdowns and added 44 catches for 244 yards and two scores in 14 games during the regular season.

Per multiple reports, Ravens cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Rock Ya-Sin (knee) are expected to play on Sunday. Both players are questionable heading into the game due to their respective injuries.

–Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews (89) collects a pass in the end zone as Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt (29) defends in the second quarter of a Week 2 NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

Ravens activate TE Mark Andrews ahead of AFC title game

The Baltimore Ravens activated tight end Mark Andrews off injured reserve on Friday in time for Sunday’s AFC Championship Game against the visiting Kansas City Chiefs.

Andrews hasn’t played since Nov. 16 when he suffered an ankle injury in a win against the Cincinnati Bengals. At the time, it was believed Andrews wouldn’t play again until the 2024 season.

His availability will give Lamar Jackson and the No. 1 seed Ravens another option, and the quarterback said earlier this week that having his top tight end back would be huge for the offense.

“With Mark and the type of guy he is, the type of caliber player he is, and what he brings to the table for us, it would definitely mean a lot for us,” Jackson said.

Andrews, 28, caught 45 passes for 544 yards in 10 games this season before the injury. He scored six touchdowns.

The Ravens selected Andrews in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. A 2021 All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection, Andrews has 381 catches for 4,857 yards and 40 scores in 87 career games (42 starts).

–Field Level Media