If you think the Baltimore Ravens’ special teams are going to take a step back after firing John Harbaugh, think again. Yes, Harbaugh valued that area more than any other coach in the NFL, but just because he’s gone doesn’t mean the Ravens won’t emphasize it. It remains a passionate group.
We can actually expect a similar impact on special teams. Even with Harbaugh gone, two key coaches remain. Anthony Levine Sr. was promoted to special teams coordinator, and Randy Brown is still the senior special teams coach. Safe to say, Baltimore should stay on the same development path on special teams.
For Levine, he’s obviously working with the entire unit, but as a former ace on coverages, he’s excited to see what Keondre Jackson has to offer. The second-year safety made an impact as a gunner last year, and Levine has a simple challenge for him.
“I want him to keep making plays,” Levine said on Tuesday. “He’s a physical player, he’s fast, he’s smart, plays with great effort. He sees the field very well, especially on special teams.”
Baltimore Ravens’ second-year playmaker given a clear goal for 2026
While the Ravens’ 2025 season was flooded with inconsistency and disappointment, Keondre Jackson was one of the bright spots. It took him a while to get there, though.
Despite a strong showing in preseason, Jackson was cut and initially stashed on the practice squad. However, after standout efforts, he was elevated in Week 6 and outplayed Sanoussi Kane to officially secure a spot on the 53-man roster after Week 9. He never looked back from there, turning in a season that saw him become a core piece on special teams.
Jackson is a certified playmaker. His 13 tackles were good for second among Baltimore's specialists last year, but he did more than just make tackles.
A forced fumble against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10 was the highlight of Jackson’s rookie campaign. In Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he also made what could’ve been the clutchest play of the year with a blocked PAT late in the fourth quarter. That block kept the Baltimore deficit at two points, which put them in a prime position to clinch a playoff berth with a game-winning field goal, but…we all know what happened. Still, the 24-year-old’s efforts in 2025 cannot be understated.
Bigger and better things could be coming for Jackson in year two, as well. We all saw how reliable he was as a specialist, coming up with game-changing plays. However, there could be a role for him beyond just being a gunner.
During Tuesday’s practice, Jackson showed out on defense. He tallied an interception and almost had two others throughout the day, demonstrating improved awareness and anticipation. Sure, Baltimore’s safety room is already deep with Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, and K'Von Wallace, but with Jackson flashing like he is at OTAs, it’s going to be hard for Jesse Minter to keep him off the field.
If Jackson wants to continue growing his role, he needs to do just what Levine is asking of him: keep making plays. That’s how undrafted players become core special teamers, and that’s how special teamers become key parts of the starting offense or defense. Jackson could follow that trajectory if he keeps up this impressive pace, and by working with the perfect mentor in Levine, that's certainly a possibility.
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