The Ravens are bringing back Dean Pees as a senior advisor to defensive coordinator Zach Orr's staff

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens are bringing back a familiar face to their defensive coaching staff.

Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr said Wednesday The athlete Longtime NFL defensive coordinator Dean Pees will return to Baltimore's staff as a senior adviser. Pees, who coached Orr as a player and was the Ravens' defensive coordinator from 2012 to 2017, will start this week. He will be on the practice field participating in defense meetings.

“When you get a guy that I'm very familiar with and knows the culture and is a great footballer and he's ready for it, then that's a no-brainer for me,” Orr said.

Orr, a first-year defensive coordinator, said he spoke with Pees over the summer and discussed a possible role on his defensive staff. They decided this week that the time was right.

Pees, 75, has been retired since serving as the Atlanta Falcons' defensive coordinator during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He also had stints as defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans (2018-19) and New England Patriots (2006-2009). Pees was the Ravens' defensive coordinator during their last Super Bowl victory in 2012.

“I stayed in touch with Dean throughout the season and said, 'Hey, it would be good if you wanted to come here and act as an advisor, be another focal point and just help us,'” Orr said. “At the end of the day, all I care about is that we do our best to help ourselves win.”

The Ravens, preparing for Sunday's game against the surging Washington Commanders and rookie phenom quarterback Jayden Daniels, are coming off a 41-38 overtime win over the Cincinnati Bengals. In that game, the Ravens allowed Joe Burrow to throw for 392 yards and five touchdown passes.

After the Ravens became the first team in NFL history to lead the league in points allowed, sacks and takeaways last year, Baltimore's defense struggled in the team's first five games of 2024. Baltimore has allowed the 13th-most yards per game (5.6). this season while forcing just five turnovers. The secondary, which features several former Pro Bowl players and first-round draft picks, has been a problem.

The Ravens currently rank 31st against the pass, 25th in the red zone and 26th in points allowed per game. Orr replaced Mike Macdonald in the offseason after Macdonald was hired as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks. The Ravens also lost defensive coach/assistant head coach Anthony Weaver (who became the Miami Dolphins' defensive coordinator) and defensive coach Dennard Wilson (the Titans' defensive coordinator) from last year's staff, along with key players Jadeveon Clowney, Patrick Queen, Geno Stone and Ronald Darby .

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