With the NFL scouting combine taking place in Indianapolis this week, the Ravens have made four hires to their 2024 coaching staff official.
In a Monday press release, head coach John Harbaugh announced inside linebackers coach Mark DeLeone, defensive line coach Dennis Johnson, defensive backs coach Doug Mallory, and assistant offensive line coach Travelle Wharton as the newest additions to Baltimore’s staff. Of course, the Ravens lost several talented assistants from this past season, a list headlined by defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald departing to become the new head coach of the Seattle Seahawks.
Replacing new defensive coordinator Zach Orr as the inside linebackers coach, DeLeone, 36, was most recently a defensive analyst at the University of Kansas, but he also carries 10 years of NFL coaching experience. That includes a two-year stint as the inside linebackers coach of the Chicago Bears (2019-20) where he coached two-time Pro Bowl selection Roquan Smith. DeLeone is the son of the late George DeLeone, who had nearly 50 years of coaching experience between the collegiate ranks and the NFL.
“Mark comes from a true football family and understands the importance of building strong relationships with players,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “Throughout his career, he has proven to successfully help young linebackers become premier NFL defenders, as evidenced by his history and relationship with Roquan Smith in Chicago. We’re excited for the contributions Mark will bring to such an esteemed position in our franchise’s history.”
Each of the Ravens’ last four defensive coordinators — Orr, Macdonald, Wink Martindale, and Dean Pees — served as a linebackers coach for the team before being promoted to run the defense.
The 59-year-old Mallory replaces Dennard Wilson — the new defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans — and easily carries the most experience of the four newcomers. He served as a defensive analyst for the University of Michigan over the last three seasons and spent the six years prior to that as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Falcons. In addition to his time working for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan, Mallory was part of Jack Harbaugh’s Western Kentucky staff from 1990-93, making him quite familiar with the Harbaugh family.
“Doug has made an impact at every level of his extensive coaching career,” John Harbaugh said. “He’s helped elevate many players and schemes to new heights. Working alongside [secondary coach] Chris Hewitt, our defensive backs will benefit greatly from Doug’s wealth of knowledge and experience, which are matched by his abilities to communicate, relate, and teach.”
Mallory has 35 years of coaching experience that included a stint at the University of Maryland as part of Ron Vanderlinden’s staff from 1997-2000.
Johnson, 35, is the only one of the four hires without NFL coaching experience as he replaces former defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, who left to become the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins. A college assistant for the last 12 years, Johnson coached Baylor’s defensive line for the last four seasons and coached at LSU — his alma mater — for the six years prior to that.
The 42-year-old Wharton replaces Mike Devlin — the new offensive line coach for the Los Angeles Chargers — as the assistant to Joe D’Alessandris. Having spent the last four seasons with the Washington Commanders, Wharton also served two years as the assistant offensive line coach for Carolina after a 10-year NFL playing career with the Panthers and Cincinnati.
“Travelle is able to connect with today’s players from a unique perspective of having played in the modern game,” Harbaugh said. “Beyond that intangible, his intelligence and detail-oriented approach have built fundamentally-sound habits across every offensive line he’s worked with.”
Harbaugh and general manager Eric DeCosta are both scheduled to speak with reporters in Indianapolis on Tuesday.
