GREEN BAY — The Baltimore Ravens’ defense isn’t the reason they won’t be participating in Super Bowl LVIII.
A Super coach vying to be the defensive coordinator for the… the NFL in scoring defense (16.5 points per game); it ranked sixth in total defense (301.4 yards per game); it ranked seventh in third-down defense (36.4% conversion rate); second in fourth-down defense (40.6% conversion rate); it led the league in sacks (60); it tied for the league lead in takeaways (31).
The elder brother of former University of Wisconsin linebacker Chris Orr, Zach Orr, the coach of the Ravens’ inside linebackers, and defensive backs coach Dennard Wilson have been requested to speak with the Packers. The Packers’ interest in the Ravens tandem was first reported by the NFL Network.
Orr and Wilson are among the increasing number of contenders to succeed the departing Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for three seasons who was ousted by LaFleur last week.
Joe Barry, the defensive coordinator for the Packers, is fired.
After signing Barry and keeping Mike Pettine from the staff of his predecessor Mike McCarthy for the 2019 and 2020 seasons, LaFleur will have his third coordinator in six seasons.
Prior to employing Barry in January and February of 2021, LaFleur interviewed nine candidates. Barry was one of them. Jim Leonhard, a former defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin and interim head coach, was one of those nine finalists.
LaFleur is intent on hiring a broad selection process for his next defensive coordinator. Orr and Wilson are the fifth and sixth known candidates for the position, after former head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers Brandon Staley; defensive backs coach Christian Parker of the Denver Broncos, who was LaFleur’s defensive quality control coach during his first two seasons in Green Bay in 2019 and 2020; linebackers coach Bobby Babich of the Buffalo Bills; and defensive line coach Aden Durde of the Dallas Cowboys.
Babich was promoted to defensive coordinator by the Bills on Tuesday, thus he is no longer eligible.
Because of the Ravens’ success, Wilson and Orr are attractive prospects. Mike Macdonald, the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, is a candidate for head coach of the Seattle Seahawks; he is reportedly scheduled to speak with the Seahawks on Tuesday.
Both would make sense choices to take over for Macdonald in Baltimore should he decide to leave for the Seahawks. If hired, Macdonald may wish to bring one of them to Seattle as his coordinator.
Following Sunday’s defeat, Ravens coach John Harbaugh’s defensive staff has been in high demand. Anthony Weaver, the associate head coach and defensive line coach for the Ravens, interviewed on Monday for the head-coaching position with the Washington Commanders. Weaver is also a candidate for the defensive coordinator position with the Miami Dolphins.
Wilson, 41, is also a contender for the coordinator positions with the New York Giants, Los Angeles Rams, and Tennessee Titans.
