This Ravens assistant coach could become a HC this offseason

The Baltimore Ravens have long prided themselves as an organization that develops and builds from within, and that extends beyond their players to their coaching staff.

Many of the team’s top assistants and executives have been with the franchise for years and have grown into their current roles. One such coach is special teams coordinator Chris Horton.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero recently released a list of some potential head coach candidates for this year’s coaching cycle and Horton was among those listed as possible new hires this offseason.

A former NFL safety, Horton joined the Ravens as an assistant special teams coach in 2014 before being promoted to special teams coordinator in 2019, succeeding longtime coach Jerry Rosburg.

Now in his fourth season as the Ravens’ special teams coordinator, Horton has garnered quite the reputation around the league and is someone to keep an eye on as far as future head coach candidates are concerned.

"“Horton has a presence and the trust of John Harbaugh, a former special teams coordinator himself. The Ravens finished No. 1 in Rick Gosselin’s special teams rankings in 2021, and not just because of all-world kicker Justin Tucker. Harbaugh has given Horton ownership over the operation and Horton has run with it, coaching up players from both sides of the ball into what is perennially one of the NFL’s top units.”"

Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton could be a future head coach

A seventh-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, Horton spent three years in Washington, starting 15 games before his NFL career fizzled out. He joined his alma mater, UCLA, as a quality control assistant in 2012 and was with the Bruins until he made his way to Baltimore.

Under Horton, the Ravens have consistently had one of the NFL’s best special teams units. Even aside from Justin Tucker and the recently-retired Sam Koch, the Ravens have excelled in every facet of special teams.

The Ravens have ranked third in special teams DVOA, per Football Outsiders, in each of the last three seasons and currently rank first in the NFL through 10 weeks. No other NFL team has found that level of consistent success on special teams.

Sure, it helps to have the greatest kicker of all time on their roster, but it goes beyond that. The Ravens’ return game, led by the dynamic Devin Duvernay, is excellent. Their kick/punt coverage teams are among the best in the league.

The Ravens are the epitome and model of consistency and sustained success on special teams, and Horton is a large part of that. If anyone knows special teams coaches, it’s John Harbaugh. The fact that he’s trusted Horton the way that he has speaks volumes of how much he’s respected.

Chris Horton is a name to keep an eye on as far as future head coaches are concerned.