Ticket To Head Coaching Job
Being the Ravens defensive coordinator is a pretty good resume builder for potential head coaches. Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan, and Chuck Pagano went from Ravens defensive coordinator to head coaching positions. Mike Smith, and Mike Singletary ended up being head coaches after being assistant coaches with the Ravens.
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All of these head coaches have a lot to be thankful for. Ray Lewis may be at the top of that list for everyone of them. Lewis was a game changer and an all-time great preparer for competition. Being Lewis’s coach was no easy task. If you could work with somebody as passionate and intense as Lewis and get him to buy into what you were selling, you could do anything in the NFL. The Ravens had defensive legends who were essentially coaches on the field. There were many teams who desperately wanted to adopt that kind of model of success.
The most successful head coach of this group has been Marvin Lewis. Lewis has been to the playoffs seven times since taking the Bengals job in 2003. He lost all seven playoff games the Bengals have had. Rex Ryan took the New York Jets to back to back AFC Championship games. With Mark Sanchez as his quarterback, this almost deserves a medal. Chuck Pagano has had regular season success, but hasn’t been able to get past the New England Patriots (and Ravens in 2012) in the playoffs. After a bad 2015 season, Pagano looks to turn the Colts around.
Next: Defensive Legacy