The Ravens hired one of their former defensive assistants as their new head coach, and he may hire another as his defensive coordinator.
Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen received a request to interview
for the Ravens’ defensive coordinator job, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The 58-year-old previously held the same job in Baltimore from 2016 to 2020, during which time he worked closely with Jesse Minter under defensive coordinators Dean Pees and Wink Martindale.
The Ravens consistently fielded strong defensive lines under Cullen. He had a knack for developing Day 3 and undrafted players into solid contributors, a list that includes Matt Judon, Za’Darius Smith, Pernell McPhee, Michael Pierce, and Brent Urban.
Cullen left Baltimore in 2021 to take the Jaguars’ defensive coordinator job. That year in Jacksonville was disastrous for all involved, and Cullen was out by the end of the year along with the rest of Urban Meyers’ staff. He went to Kansas City, where he won two Super Bowls and elevated Chris Jones from a perennial Pro Bowler to one of the most dominant interior pass-rushers in the game. He also quickly developed 2022 first-rounder George Karlaftis into an impact edge rusher with a knack for making plays in the postseason.
Minter will be the chief architect and play-caller for the Ravens’ defense, so Cullen’s rough year in Jacksonville should not be overly concerning. Baltimore’s defensive line certainly needs to make more of an impact, especially in the pass rush, and Cullen could get the most out of youngsters like Aeneas Peebles and C.J. Okoye.
But the Ravens could also consider infusing some new blood into their defensive staff. Minter’s system is based on what the team has already run for…a decade? More? Hiring a brand-new defensive coordinator could be an opportunity to expand.
Cullen’s familiarity and experience has its upsides. The Ravens cannot afford to waste any time and will want to avoid first-year bumps with a new coaching staff. Minters knows exactly what he is getting in Cullen, and he knows exactly what kind of system Minter wants to run.
