The Ravens are turning to a familiar face as they reshape their coaching staff, and there’s a strong chance another one could be on the way.
Kansas City Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen has been requested for an interview to become Baltimore’s next defensive coordinator. At 58, Cullen isn’t new to the building - in fact, he spent five seasons with the Ravens from 2016 to 2020, working under Dean Pees and Wink Martindale. During that stretch, he helped mold a rugged, relentless defensive front and worked closely with Jesse Minter, who’s now set to call the shots as the Ravens’ defensive play-caller.
Cullen’s track record in Baltimore speaks for itself. He had a reputation for developing late-round picks and undrafted players into legitimate contributors - guys like Matt Judon, Za’Darius Smith, Pernell McPhee, Michael Pierce, and Brent Urban all thrived under his watch. He didn’t just coach talent; he helped uncover and refine it.
After leaving the Ravens in 2021 to take on the defensive coordinator role in Jacksonville, things didn’t go as planned. That year was a mess across the board for the Jaguars, and Cullen was out along with the rest of Urban Meyer’s staff. But he didn’t stay unemployed for long - and his next stop turned out to be a championship-caliber one.
In Kansas City, Cullen found his groove again. He helped elevate Chris Jones from a consistent Pro Bowler into one of the most feared interior pass-rushers in football.
And he didn’t stop there. First-round pick George Karlaftis quickly became a postseason difference-maker under Cullen’s guidance.
The Chiefs' defensive front turned into a game-wrecking unit, and Cullen’s fingerprints were all over it - all while collecting two Super Bowl rings along the way.
Now, he could be headed back to Baltimore, where the defensive line could use a spark - especially when it comes to generating pressure. The Ravens have young pieces like Aeneas Peebles and C.J.
Okoye who flash potential, but they’ll need someone who can bring that out consistently. Cullen’s history suggests he’s more than capable of doing just that.
Still, there’s a conversation to be had. Minter’s system is an evolution of what the Ravens have been running for over a decade.
Bringing in someone from outside the Ravens’ coaching tree could offer a chance to shake things up, add a new layer, or even modernize certain aspects of the scheme. There’s value in continuity, but there’s also value in fresh ideas.
That said, Cullen offers a blend of both. He knows the Ravens’ defensive DNA, understands what Minter wants to build, and brings championship experience from a different environment. For a team that doesn't want to waste time adjusting to a brand-new staff, that kind of familiarity could be invaluable.
If Cullen gets the job, it won’t just be a reunion - it could be a calculated move to maximize both continuity and impact. And in a league where margins are razor-thin, that kind of edge matters.