Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are bringing a veteran coach onto their staff.

The team announced Tuesday that they have hired Chuck Pagano to be their defensive staff as their senior secondary coach. Pagano was the Indianapolis Colts head coach from 2012 to 2017 and was most recently the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020.

We’re excited to welcome back Chuck Pagano as our Sr. Secondary Coach! pic.twitter.com/CfwatDQetI

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 29, 2025

"It is exciting to add Coach Chuck Pagano to our defensive staff and continue to develop and grow our young and talented secondary," head coach Jim Harbaugh said in a statement. "Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and coaching talent to our team. He has deep ties to the program and is excited to get to work."

Pagano cut his teeth in the collegiate ranks early in his career before getting his start in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns in 2001 as a secondary coach. He was the Oakland Raiders defensive backs coach from 2005 to 2006 and left the NFL for one season to be North Carolina's defensive coordinator in 2007.

He joined Harbaugh's staff in Baltimore a year later as a secondary coach and stayed in that role until 2011 when he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

After his time with the Colts and the Bears, his time as a coach appeared to be over as he announced his retirement following the 2020 season.

"As much as I love coaching, it takes a lot of time away from your family and loved ones," he said in a statement announcing his retirement. "I'm excited to start this new chapter of my life and can't wait to be able to spend more time with my family. This has been an amazing ride and I have made countless relationships that I will cherish forever."

Now Pagano will reunite with Harbaugh, and together the two will look to get Baltimore into Super Bowl shape after years of teetering on the edge of competing for a championship.

The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly finalizing a contract extension with offensive coordinator Todd Monken on Monday.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Ravens are completing an extension agreement with Monken after he generated interest from multiple opposing teams regarding their head coaching vacancies.

The 58-year-old is coming off his second season as Baltimore's offensive coordinator.

Monken interviewed with the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Las Vegas Raiders also submitted an interview request during the current hiring cycle.

His extension should be especially exciting for Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, who told reporters that he was "hopeful" Monken would be back with Baltimore after its 2024 season ended in the divisional round of the playoffs (via Clifton Brown of the team's official website).

"Todd Monken will be a great head coach," Harbaugh said. "He's an old-school football coach with kind of a new school and a great mind. Always creative. He works well with his staff. I'm really excited about 3.0, that iteration of this offense going forward."

Before joining the Ravens, Monken was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Georgia from 2020-22. He was also the offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns in 2019 and held the same role with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2016 through the 2018 season.

Baltimore's offense has been one of the NFL's best under Monken, averaging a league-leading 424.9 total yards per game during the regular season. The Ravens have also owned the NFL's No. 4 and No. 3 scoring offenses in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Lamar to Mark Andrews for the 10th time this season! #NFLonNetflix#BALvsHOU on @Netflix pic.twitter.com/giQujpgvNo

— NFL (@NFL) December 25, 2024

While quarterback Lamar Jackson was already one of the top players at his position prior to Monken's arrival, he's excelled since the offensive coordinator was brought in.

Jackson has combined to throw for 7,850 yards and 65 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions over the past two seasons. He's also rushed for 1,736 yards and nine more scores over that same span.

Lamar Jackson is the first QB in history to pass for 4,000+ yards and rush for 800+ in a single season 🔥 pic.twitter.com/uaAzHT0srE

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 4, 2025

Monken has helped the Ravens cultivate one of the league's elite offenses, and he's reportedly finalizing a long-term extension to remain with the team moving forward.

Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey kept the receipts.

After the Buffalo Bills defeated his Ravens in the AFC Divisional Round, one of the victorious players apparently took a shot at Baltimore having nine Pro Bowlers and still falling short:

One thing was clear—the @BuffaloBills felt disrespected. Right or wrong, it was a rallying cry, and Josh Allen brought up at halftime the narrative that the Bills weren't big or strong enough.

On the way out, I heard a guy say, "Now those 9 Pro Bowlers can go to the Pro Bowl." https://t.co/M13oe8TBS8

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 20, 2025

Well, Buffalo's season came to an end Sunday with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Humphrey seized the opportunity to bring things full circle when he took to social media and said, "after the pro bowl maybe we can all go enjoy Cancun."

There's a certain level of irony with Humphrey poking fun at the Bills after their loss.

After all, it was just a handful of days ago that he took to social media and urged Buffalo to defeat the Chiefs and prevent Patrick Mahomes and Co. from making history as the first team in the NFL to win three straight Super Bowls:

I have no reason of saying this other than being a hater. The Bills or whatever NFC team gotta beat the Chiefs. We can’t let them keep getting away with this

— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) January 21, 2025

Humphrey and NFL fans who are tired of the Chiefs winning now have to put their hopes on the Philadelphia Eagles.

It will be a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, which Kansas City won 38-35. However, Philadelphia didn't have Saquon Barkley on its side for that one, which could be the difference this time around.

But defeating a Chiefs team that feels inevitable is easier said than done.

Buffalo certainly knows that considering it has lost to Mahomes' side in four of the last five postseasons. Two of those losses came in the AFC Championship Game, with Sunday coming in particularly painful fashion since it had a fourth-quarter lead.

Humphrey knows what it's like to lose to the Chiefs at this stage since Kansas City defeated the Ravens in last season's AFC Championship Game.

Ultimately, there is nobody in the NFL better at sending opponents to Cancun than Mahomes.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews broke his silence on his disappointing mistakes in the team's 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round last Sunday.

"It's impossible to adequately express how I feel. I'm absolutely gutted by what happened on Sunday," Andrews wrote in the caption of his most recent Instagram post. "I'm devastated for my teammates, my coaches and Ravens fans."

Mark Andrews on IG: pic.twitter.com/pToANmX2NF

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) January 23, 2025

Andrews had a team-high five catches but produced just 61 yards and committed a pair of costly blunders in the fourth quarter. He lost a fumble midway through the period that resulted in a field goal that gave Buffalo an eight-point lead.

When Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson led the team on an eight-play, 88-yard touchdown drive on the team's next possession, he looked to Andrews to complete the two-point conversion attempt to tie the game. However, the normally surehanded tight end dropped the pass.

The two-point conversion is no good 😳

📺: #BALvsBUF on CBS
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus and Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/s1DAo0tdm1

— NFL (@NFL) January 20, 2025

The mistakes were uncharacteristic for Andrews, who had previously lost just one fumble in his entire career and had just three drops in all of 2024.

Naturally, Andrews has faced a wave of negativity since Sunday's loss, but it didn't outweigh how much he's been beating himself up. He wrote that he will use the situation as fuel to bounce back in a big way the next time he's on the field.

"I pour every ounce of my being into playing at the highest level possible, because I love my team and the game of football like nothing else. That is why it's taken me until now to collect my thoughts and address this publicly," Andrews wrote. "Even though the shock and disappointment are unlike anything I've felt before, I refuse to let the situation define me. I promise that this adversity will only make me stronger and fuel us as we move forward."

Derrick Henry had an epic 2024 season with the Baltimore Ravens, and he's already pumped to get the 2025 campaign going

Henry posted "run it back" on his Instagram Stories underneath a screenshot of general manager Eric DeCosta praising the veteran running back.

Derrick Henry: “RUN IT BACK”

📸: IG/last_king_2 pic.twitter.com/KyJ4gEoaPK

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) January 22, 2025

DeCosta also hinted that the Ravens would consider signing Henry to a contract extension:

"Derrick proved he had a lot left in the tank. We'll look at that... I'm so grateful Derrick chose us last year."

GM Eric DeCosta on RB Derrick Henry: pic.twitter.com/kOb9Fb1SB4

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 22, 2025

Asked about an extension for RB Derrick Henry, Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said, "we'll look at that."

Henry is signed through the 2025 season. DeCosta said he was happy that Henry chose to sign with Baltimore last offseason.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 22, 2025

The 31-year-old Henry proved to be the perfect fit for the Ravens, rushing 325 times for 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns. Most running backs generally start to slow down in their early 30s—especially running backs who have logged 280 carries in five of the past six seasons like Henry, a significant workload—but he hasn't lost a step.

His long-term future remains to be seen, though he'll be in Baltimore for at least the 2025 season after signing a two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens a year ago. By all accounts, the signing was a steal for the Baltimore, and sweetening that deal a bit for Henry would make a lot of sense.

Reflecting on the ill-fated mid-season trade for wide receiver Diontae Johnson, Baltimore Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta admitted that he wasn't surprised that things didn't work out.

DeCosta told reporters on Wednesday that he "knew it was 100 percent not a slam dunk" that acquiring Johnson from the Carolina Panthers on Oct. 29 would pay off in the long run.

DeCosta's instincts were correct, as Johnson appeared in just four games in Baltimore and recorded one catch for six yards before eventually being waived on Dec. 20. DeCosta was even forced to suspend him for one game after he refused to enter the team's Week 13 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Houston Texans claimed Johnson off waivers but then waived him less than a month later, giving the Ravens the chance to claim him. He didn't play another game for the team, and he will be a restricted free agent this offseason.

With Baltimore giving up just a 2025 fifth-round pick to Carolina, DeCosta added that he didn't see much downside to the trade thanks to the minimal compensation. Still, he was aware of the possibility of Johnson being unhappy in his role with the Ravens.

Baltimore's season came to an end in a heartbreaking 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round, so DeCosta will surely be looking to make more effective deals this offseason as the team gears up to make another run in 2025.

After a stellar debut season with the Baltimore Ravens, Derrick Henry could be rewarded with a new contract.

General manager Eric DeCosta told reporters on Wednesday the team will "look" into extending Henry one year after he signed a two-year, $16 million contract last offseason.

"Derrick proved he had a lot left in the tank. We'll look at that... I'm so grateful Derrick chose us last year."

GM Eric DeCosta on RB Derrick Henry: pic.twitter.com/kOb9Fb1SB4

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 22, 2025

One reason for the Ravens to give Henry a new contract is to help the salary cap. They currently project to have just $3.2 million in effective cap space in 2025.

Henry's $12.9 million cap hit next season is the second-highest among all running backs. Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts ($15.6 million) is the only player ahead of him.

It would also be financially beneficial for Henry to use his leverage coming off a terrific 2024 to get one more significant contract. His $7 million in cash earnings next season is seventh among running backs. Joe Mixon and D'Andre Swift are the two players directly above him on the list.

There was some concern about Henry's ability when he hit free agency last offseason. He put up good numbers in 2023 for the Tennessee Titans with 1,167 yards and 12 touchdowns, but he tied his career-low for fewest yards per attempt (4.2) and had the third-lowest success rate (46.1 percent) of his career.

It's safe to say those numbers were more a product of the environment Henry was playing in and the state of Tennessee's offensive line than any decline in his performance.

Henry had arguably the best season of his career with the Ravens in 2024. He tied for the NFL lead with 16 rushing touchdowns, ranked second with 1,921 rushing yards and set a new career-high with 5.9 yards per attempt at the age of 30. (He turned 31 on Jan. 4.)

The Ravens led the league with 187.6 rushing yards per game during the regular season. They won the AFC North with a 12-5 record, but their season ended on Sunday with a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.

And then there was one.

HBO set out to chronicle the behind-the-scenes developments of four different teams at once this season with Hard Knocks: In Season With the AFC North, but only the Baltimore Ravens remained in the playoffs this past weekend.

Naturally, they took center stage in Tuesday's episode.

NFL fans tuning in surely knew the ending, as Baltimore lost to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round game. It fell just short in a 27-25 defeat that was largely defined by mistakes.

Postgame mic'd up between Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson 🤝

Greatness respects greatness. #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/I6Hru2vVYp

— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2025

This is what it’s all about! Lamar already has a Champion mentality. Always celebrate others until it’s your time. His time will come.

— Niners 24/7 (@Niners247) January 22, 2025

Fired up. Love the respect. They both deserved it. There’s always next year!

— Saul Goodman (@SaulRealGoodman) January 22, 2025

Great sportsmans ship by two awesome athletes. This is the way.

— ChairForceOne (@ForceChair) January 22, 2025

https://twitter.com/RNMachine/status/1881896314692415801

2 best players in the NFL so far this year 🫡

— DaTruthDT (@DaTruthDT) January 22, 2025

The biggest mistake was Mark Andrews' drop on a two-point conversion that would have tied the game in the final two minutes and potentially forced overtime. Yet it wasn't the only mistake, as Lamar Jackson lost a fumble and threw a pick, while Andrews also lost a fumble.

But Tuesday's episode wasn't only about the loss.

Baltimore also got to enjoy its Wild Card Round win over the rival Pittsburgh Steelers before the build up to the Divisional Round. That meant voting on the image that best encapsulated the win, and the team chose Isaiah Likely stiff-arming a Steelers defender to the ground.

0-0. Back to work.

Thanks for watching #HardKnocks! pic.twitter.com/u0sFTbkmnj

— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) January 22, 2025

It also provided HBO with a natural transition to Pittsburgh, where head coach Mike Tomlin provided an end-of-season speech that focused on using failure to motivate long-term success.

It was a brief sunset on the Steelers' campaign before the Ravens' preparation returned. And that preparation included making the indoor practice facility as cold as possible with fans and frozen air blowing in to better simulate conditions in Buffalo.

About to watch the Ravens lose to the Bills on #HardKnocks. #BillsMafia #RavensFlock

— aykay (@AykayBills) January 22, 2025

This Hard Knocks episode is difficult to watch. It is weird how much these guys can affect my mood.

— Mimi a journey of Synths and Sensibility (@mimidancer) January 22, 2025

I commend any Ravens fan watching Hard Knocks tonight. You are a stronger person than I am.

— Nick (@NICK_CARTER20) January 22, 2025

Yet the centerpiece of the episode was the quarterback battle between Jackson and Allen. After all, they are the two leading contenders for MVP, and Sunday's game represented the opportunity to reach the AFC Championship Game and earn another chance against the roadblock that has been standing in the way for both of them in Patrick Mahomes.

Jackson demonstrated his leadership in practice and repeatedly said how fired up he was for the contest. He even pushed to practice in the cold so he could be better prepared.

Lamar was pushing to practice in the cold.

New episode of #HardKnocks In Season with the AFC North airs tonight at 9pm ET on @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/3XPQ7S4AWW

— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2025

Season finale 🙌🏾 #HardKnocks

— Ceez (@CEEZ____) January 22, 2025

End of hard knocks made me emotional lol

— aliciadawnnnnn (@aliciadawnnnnn) January 22, 2025

That episode of Hard Knocks was unbelievable

— Kalton Dincaid (@Jeffsteeleflex1) January 22, 2025

Still, it wasn't enough.

Buffalo forced the key turnovers and dropped Jackson's overall record in the playoffs to 3-5. The losses are certainly not all his fault, but this one was all the more painful because it prevented an AFC Championship Game rematch against the Chiefs and chance to reach the Super Bowl.

Perhaps the most striking moment of the entire episode and game itself was the sportsmanship between Allen and Jackson as they embraced after the game.

Unfortunately for Jackson, his next postgame embrace will be during the 2025 season.

Buffalo Bills fans managed to both slightly troll Baltimore Ravens' tight end Mark Andrews and support a great cause on his behalf in one fell swoop.

As of 11 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Bills' fans have already donated over $90,000 to the Breakthrough T1D charity, which is both pushing for a cure to Type 1 Diabetes and looks to support those afflicted with the disease. Andrews, who has Type 1 Diabetes, supports the charity.

Shout out to Bills Mafia for showing support to our guy Mark Andrews and donating to the @BreakthroughT1D organization, which works towards curing and improving the lives of those dealing with Type 1 diabetes. 💜https://t.co/tQfjchcmOx

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 22, 2025

The charitable donations come after Andrews had a rough game against the Bills in Sunday's Divisional Round matchup, dropping two passes—including what would have been a game-tying two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter—and losing a fumble in Baltimore's 27-25 loss.

You gotta catch that all day - Tony Romo pic.twitter.com/KrJbYtDCzf

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 20, 2025

THE BILLS (+100 ML) FORCE A FUMBLE WITH UNDER 10 MINUTES TO GO 😱pic.twitter.com/BwbKzpg55m

— br_betting (@br_betting) January 20, 2025

Head coach John Harbaugh was quick to defend his star tight end.

"There's nobody that has more heart, and cares more, and fights more than Mark. We wouldn't be here without Mark Andrews," he told reporters. "Mark will handle it fantastic, like he always does, because he's a high-character person, he's a tough person and he's a good person. I'm proud of him just like I am all the guys."

The Bills will now face Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, hoping to finally get over that hump. And their fans prepped for the game with a charitable gesture, even if it was tinged with a touch of trolling.

Baltimore Ravens rising star receiver Zay Flowers had to watch from the sideline as the team's playoff run came to an end in heartbreaking fashion in a 27-25 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Divisional Round.

Flowers, who suffered a knee injury in Week 18 against the Cleveland Browns that also forced him to miss the Wild Card win against the Pittsburgh Steelers, admitted that it was difficult for him to be absent for the postseason.

"It was killing me, for sure," Flowers said during Monday's exit interviews, per Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. "I want to be out there every game. I want to go through everything they go through, so not being out there, it took a little toll on me, just to watch that and not be able to participate and do what I wanted to do and help the team."

Flowers added that he believes he would've had a better chance to return for the AFC Championship if the Ravens had advanced to the game.

In his second year in the NFL, Flowers emerged as the favorite target for Baltimore star quarterback Lamar Jackson and led the team with 74 catches and 1,059 yards while adding four touchdowns. The 2023 No. 22 pick became the first Ravens player to be selected to the Pro Bowl as a receiver.

Flowers added that he intends to let the disappointment of missing the playoffs this year fuel him for the 2025 campaign.

"Definitely, because you want to play your last game," Flowers said. "You want to play every game, so not being able to play, that messed with me a little bit."