Baltimore Ravens officially hire Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald

The Ravens have officially hired Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to be the leader of their defense, according to a Thursday night press release. After transforming the Wolverines defense, Macdonald is returning to the franchise where he cut his teeth.

“Mike is one of us – a Raven through and through,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in the press release. “During his initial seven seasons with us, it was evident that his leadership, intelligence and passion would earn him the opportunity to be a defensive coordinator in the NFL.

Before joining Michigan, Mike Macdonald was with the Baltimore Ravens from 2014-2020. After beginning his career in Baltimore as an intern in 2014, he’s returning to become the Ravens’ defensive coordinator in 2022.

In-between, Macdonald serves numerous roles with the Ravens. After joining the franchise as an intern, he was promoted to a defensive assistant. From there, he was then the team’s defensive backs coach, and eventually their linebackers coach. Now, after one season as Michigan’s defensive coordinator, he’s being brought back to run the defense himself.

While his time at Michigan was short-lived, Macdonald made a gigantic impact on the Wolverines. In his lone season, the program won the Big Ten, defeated Ohio State and made their first College Football Playoff appearance.

“Mike has continuously proven himself, including when he led one of the country’s best defenses at Michigan last year,” Harbaugh continued in the Ravens’ news release. “He is a proven play-caller who knows our system well. He also fully understands the standard of playing defense in Baltimore.”

Now, Mike Macdonald will takeover a Baltimore team replacing capable defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. The former Michigan defensive coordinator will have big shoes to fill, but he’s proven capable of doing so.

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Moreover, Mike Macdonald is taking over a Ravens defense that has talent. However, the unit is facing a potential overhaul due to age, as well as inefficiency from last season.

Last season, the unit was decimated by injuries — especially in the secondary. Three of their four starting defensive backs landed on the injured reserve, as Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and DeShon Elliott suffered setbacks.

Alas, quarterbacks passed all over the Baltimore defense. Now, Macdonald will be tasked with getting the Ravens back to the ferocious defense they boasted for multiple seasons.

The Baltimore Ravens are hiring Mike Macdonald to return their defense to the glory of their past. Sharing the same vision as John Harbaugh, a renaissance could be on the way in the Charm City.