You can take Chuck Pagano out of Baltimore, but you can't take Baltimore out of Chuck Pagano. Well, apparently, you can't take Pagano out of Baltimore. It's been a while, but the former Ravens defensive coach is returning in the flesh to help elevate the Ravens' secondary one more time.
It's a reunion of sorts for Pagano, as he served under head coach John Harbaugh from 2008-2011. He started his first few seasons as the secondary coach, ultimately taking over as the defensive coordinator in 2011. He left after one season as the DC to coach the Indianapolis Colts, where he won a Super Bowl the following season.
Bringing him back feels like a slam-dunk hire. Heck, even Pagano couldn't hide his excitement when appearing on The Pat McAfee Show:
"I've always thought about getting back into coaching..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 29, 2025
It's always been in the back of my mind it just had to be the perfect situation..
They've got a great staff in Baltimore and they have a phenomenal roster" ~ @ChuckPaganoNFL #PMSLive #RavensFlock https://t.co/FYiDHRZMHk pic.twitter.com/VJzj5pbLtR
Chuck arrives at a great time. Soon-to-be second-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr could use an experienced, no-nonsense voice in his corner—someone with nothing to prove and no agenda beyond helping the team. Pagano isn’t chasing a head coaching gig or a coordinator job—it would have taken the right opportunity to pull him out of retirement. And here it is.
Chuck Pagano is a perfect addition to the Ravens' defensive staff
He surely sounds amped for the opportunity. And why wouldn't he be? He gets to work with some of the game's best defensive backs, including Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, and Nate Wiggins. From an outside perspective, the fit feels seamless. Pagano is known for his defensive acumen and success with defensive backs, in particular—Ed Reed, Kyle Fuller, Eddie Jackson, Vontae Davis, and Mike Adams are a few of the names he's taken to new heights.
So, while it might look like a perfect fit from the outside, public perception isn’t the only one buying into the idea:
"The role is absolutely perfect," Pagano said. "There's been coordinator after coordinator after coordinator, but the nuts and bolts of that of that scheme have not changed. So it's an opportunity for me to go in and [say], 'Hey, what do you what do you need me to do? How can I how can I help you guys develop these players?' They've got phenomenal players back there."
There's no denying the Ravens have talent on the defense, but it's more of a question of, "Can they actually get over the hump?" Well if you're asking Chuck, he'll shoot you straight:
"The thing that pulls you off the couch is the opportunity to win and win it all," Pagano said. "They've built a phenomenal roster. They are a wagon from top to bottom."
That's the kind of reaction any Ravens fan, player, coach, and front office exec wants to hear. For someone who's been out of the league for four years, any coaching return would have to be well worth their while. It's hard to argue Baltimore is not an opportunity worth his while. In the X post above, look at how happy Pagano looks just talking about his new role. It's childlike. He couldn't be more ready to help this team.
The Ravens really lucked out here. Zach Orr really added another dawg to his staff. Pagano understands the opportunity he has in front of him, and he's not going to squander it:
"I've had some other [coaching opportunities] come by, [but] they don't feel the same, right? You just know in your gut like, no, I don't think this is the right," Pagano said. "But this one, I mean, just check all the boxes. Very, very grateful for this opportunity."
Pagano is a great hire for Harbaugh, Orr, and the Ravens. His expertise could transform the defensive backs group back into the intimidating unit it once was when Ed Reed was playing.