Two years after being passed over for the Ravens’ defensive coordinator role, Anthony Weaver is headed back to Baltimore - this time, to take that very job under newly hired head coach Jesse Minter.
Weaver, who just wrapped up a two-year stint as the Miami Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, returns to a Ravens franchise he knows well. He won’t be calling plays - Minter made it clear during his introductory press conference that he’ll retain control of the defense - but Weaver’s return is still a significant move for a team looking to reestablish its identity after a disappointing 2025 season.
This isn’t Weaver’s first rodeo in Baltimore. He was drafted by the Ravens in the second round back in 2002 and spent four of his seven NFL seasons anchoring the defensive line. In 57 games with the team, he logged 144 tackles and 14.5 sacks - a productive run that laid the groundwork for his second act in coaching.
After stops in both the college and NFL ranks, Weaver returned to the Ravens in 2021 as the defensive line coach and run game coordinator. By 2022, he had earned the title of assistant head coach under John Harbaugh, a nod to both his leadership and the impact he had on the development of Baltimore’s young defensive core. That group included rising talents like Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington, while veterans such as Michael Pierce and Brent Urban found new life under Weaver’s guidance.
The 2023 season was a defensive masterpiece for the Ravens - a triple crown performance that saw them lead the league in sacks (60), takeaways (31), and points allowed per game (16.5). Madubuike’s 13 sacks were a massive part of that surge, and Weaver’s fingerprints were all over the unit’s success.
But despite that high, the coaching carousel spun fast. When defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald left to take over the Seattle Seahawks, Harbaugh promoted linebackers coach Zach Orr instead of Weaver.
Within days, Weaver was headed south to coordinate the Dolphins defense - a unit that, like his 2020 Texans squad, struggled to find its footing. In both cases, the results didn’t meet expectations, but context matters: neither situation offered him much to work with in terms of personnel or stability.
Now, Weaver returns to Baltimore with unfinished business and a roster in flux. The 2025 Ravens fell well short of expectations, especially on the defensive side.
The secondary, loaded with first-round pedigree, saw only Kyle Hamilton consistently play at a Pro Bowl level. Roquan Smith battled injuries and inconsistency as he tried to anchor the linebacker corps alongside rookie Teddye Buchanan, whose promising season was cut short by an ACL tear.
The pass rush - once a strength - sputtered after losing Madubuike to a season-ending neck injury.
There are more questions than answers heading into 2026. Kyle Van Noy, once a steady veteran presence on the edge, is a free agent, and his production dipped sharply last season.
Marlon Humphrey, a former Pro Bowl corner, appears to have lost a step and could be a cap casualty. Chidobe Awuzie was a reliable piece on a one-year deal, but his future is uncertain.
And then there’s Madubuike - the engine of the pass rush - whose health and contract status will be central to how the front office navigates the offseason.
Weaver will be tasked with maximizing a group that includes a large crop of second-year players who saw significant snaps as rookies. That experience should pay dividends, but development is never guaranteed. Buchanan’s recovery will be closely monitored, while Jones - who signed an extension at season’s end - looks poised to take another leap under Weaver’s mentorship.
Though he won’t be the one calling plays, Weaver brings leadership, continuity, and deep relationships within the organization. His familiarity with the Ravens’ culture, combined with Minter’s defensive vision, could be the right mix to spark a turnaround. For a team trying to reclaim its defensive dominance, bringing back a respected voice like Weaver’s might be just what Baltimore needs to start building its next great unit.