On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh announced the addition of four new coaches to his staff: assistant offensive
line coach Travelle Wharton, defensive backs coach Doug Mallory, defensive line coach Dennis Johnson, and inside
linebackers coach Mark DeLeone.
Following his promotion and the departures of defensive coordinators Dennard Wilson of the Tennessee Titans and
Anthony Weaver of the Miami Dolphins, Harbaugh and first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr were left with
three openings on their staff. Mike Devlin, the assistant offensive line coach, joined the Los Angeles Chargers.
Last offseason, Harbaugh hired coaching staff that was off the charts, and that contributed significantly to the
Ravens’ successful 2023 campaign.
Even though Mike Macdonald joined the Seattle Seahawks as head coach this offseason, and Baltimore lost a few
coaches, Harbaugh has put together another very successful group of players for 2024.
DeLeone, 36, has been a coach for 17 years; the last two seasons he spent as a defensive analyst at the University of
Kansas. Before that, he coached in the NFL for ten seasons (2012–2021), most recently with the New York Jets
(2012), Detroit Lions (2021), Chicago Bears (2019–2020), and Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2018).
From 2018 to 2021, he served as the Chiefs, Bears, and Lions’ inside linebackers coach. This included two seasons in
Chicago working with Roquan Smith of the Ravens, a linebacker who DeLeone helped make his NFL debut and win a
spot on the 2020 second-team All-Pro team.
DeLeone, a 2007 University of Iowa alumnus, began working as a defensive student assistant for head coach Kirk
Ferentz. George, DeLeone’s late father, was a football lifer who racked up almost 50 years of collegiate and NFL
coaching experience.
“Mark comes from a true football family and understands the importance of building strong relationships with
players,” said Harbaugh. “His past and bond with Roquan Smith in Chicago serve as proof that he can successfully
guide young linebackers toward becoming elite NFL defenders throughout his tenure. We’re thrilled about the
contributions Mark will make to this prestigious position in the history of our team.”
