Ravens reuniting with key figure from Super Bowl team

Aug 28, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; A Baltimore Ravens helmet sits on a box on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The Baltimore Ravens are bringing back one of head coach John Harbaugh’s old company men.

Baltimore is reuniting with former defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who is coming back on as a senior advisor to current DC Zach Orr. The first-year DC Orr revealed the news to reporters on Wednesday and added that Pees will be starting this week.

“He’s a guy who knows me as a person, knows the system, knows the culture here,” Orr said of Pees, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. “He’s a Raven.”

Pees, 75, is a very familiar figure to the Ravens. He began with them in 2010 as their inside linebackers coach and was eventually promoted to defensive coordinator. Pees served as Baltimore’s DC from 2012-17, including during the team’s victory in Super Bowl XLVII. He then went on to become the DC of both the Tennessee Titans (from 2018-19) and the Atlanta Falcons (from 2021-22) before announcing his retirement prior to the 2023 season.

Now Pees is back though and will lend a helping hand to Orr, the 32-year-old former Ravens All-Pro linebacker who went into coaching after being forced into an early retirement. Baltimore has the best rushing defense in the NFL this season but ranks a miserable 31st in passing defense (by total yards allowed). That latter part is where the veteran Pees might be able to offer some assistance.