Head Coach John Harbaugh moved promptly to fill the available defensive coordinator post, appointing Zach Orr to
replace Mike Macdonald.
MacDonald agreed to become the Seattle Seahawks’ new head coach on Wednesday. One day later, Harbaugh said
that one of Macdonald’s senior lieutenants will take over.
Orr, 31, is well regarded as a hardworking, intelligent, and energetic coach. He has spent the previous two years
teaching the Ravens’ inside linebackers.
“Zach is a homegrown Raven in every way,” Harbaugh added in his statement. “His energy, intelligence, work ethic,
and good communication skills have been evident since he first joined our club as a player in 2014. Zach has excelled
at every stage of his football career, from joining our club as an undrafted rookie to becoming an All-Pro linebacker,
and then converting to an assistant coach who mentored many Pro Bowl defenders.
“He knows our athletes and understands our standards better than anyone. I’m convinced that he is ready to take on
the job of further developing our players and scheme as our next defensive coordinator.”
Harbaugh has recruited another young defensive coordinator, Orr, who is three years younger than Macdonald was
when he was hired two years ago. At the time, Macdonald was the NFL’s youngest coordinator, at 34.
Unlike Macdonald, this will be Orr’s first time calling plays. Macdonald had a year of experience doing so at the
University of Michigan before returning to Baltimore.
