The Ravens have largely kept the outside world in the dark in regards to their ongoing search for a new offensive coordinator, but that doesn’t mean they haven’t been busy trying to find Jim Caldwell’s replacement.
Despite former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan being the only known candidate to already interview for the job — wide receivers coach Jim Hostler will also interview at some point — the sense offered from the Ravens is that they’ve already spoken to several candidates about the position. On Friday, head coach John Harbaugh flew to Ohio for the funeral of his grandfather, Joe Cipiti, but the interview process could pick up next week if a hire isn’t made over the weekend.
As the front office and coaching staff travels to Mobile, Ala. for the Senior Bowl, the main focus will be evaluating a talented batch of NFL draft prospects, but the Ravens could also conduct more interviews there.
“That, historically, is like a coaching convention,” senior vice president of public and community relations Kevin Byrne said to the team’s official site on Thursday. “Everybody who has a job or wants to have a job in the NFL goes to the Senior Bowl. If John continues [interviewing] into next week, it might be easier even.”
The Ravens appear to be in no rush to fill the position as they understand a high-profile job with one of the best organizations in the NFL is coveted by many assistants around the league. Despite finishing 29th in total offense last season, Baltimore has a 29-year-old franchise quarterback locked into a long-term contract and a reputation as a place where assistants have been able to thrive and eventually secure head-coaching opportunities of their own.
High-profile names such as former Texans head coach Gary Kubiak and former Cleveland head coach Rob Chudzinski are out there, but the Ravens appear willing to at least explore the possibility of a young up-and-coming candidate such as the 34-year-old Shanahan or former Packers quarterbacks coach Ben McAdoo, who was reportedly on the Ravens’ list of candidates to interview before he accepted the New York Giants’ offensive coordinator job earlier in the week.
Harbaugh isn’t necessarily looking for the biggest name as much as he seeks the right one for the job of breathing new life into an offensive attack that struggled mightily in 2013.
“We will have a coach that best fits what we want to be, where we want to go, and understands what Ravens football is all about,” Harbaugh said in a team statement following Caldwell’s departure. “I have a profile in mind, and we are excited about the coaches who have shown interest in the job.”
In addition to their offensive coordinator position, the Ravens have openings at running backs coach, quarterbacks coach, and secondary coach to fill.
