Potential candidates to replace Greg Roman as Ravens offensive coordinator

Potential candidates to replace Greg Roman as Ravens offensive coordinator

After four seasons in Baltimore, Greg Roman will not return as the Ravens’ offensive coordinator.

Now, with quarterback Lamar Jackson’s future in Baltimore uncertain, coach John Harbaugh must find a new play-caller for the first time since January 2019.

“It’s going to be a very coveted job,” he said at his end-of-season press conference on Thursday. “It’s one of the best football jobs in the world. Everyone will want this job, so I’m excited to get started. … We shall cast a wide net, and we shall look far and far and near. We will find the best candidate for what we are trying to achieve and it will be a highly qualified candidate.

Here are eight possible candidates to succeed Roman, listed in alphabetical order.

Joe Brady, quarterback coach for the Buffalo Bills

Brady was a rising star when he joined Matt Rhule’s staff with the Carolina Panthers in 2020 as the offensive coordinator. He had won the Broyles Award the previous year at LSU and was honored as the best assistant coach in college football for his work as the Tigers’ passing game coordinator and wide receiver coach. Led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson, LSU won the national title 15-0 and averaged 48.4 points per game, rolling over defense with a spread attack fueled by offensive- West Coast concepts was supported.

In Carolina, Brady struggled to replicate his success with Teddy Bridgewater, Cam Newton and Sam Darnold. His inexperience in acting was also evident; The Panthers ranked 21st in offensive efficiency according to Football Outsiders in 2020 and were ranked 31st when Brady was fired in December 2021. Bridgewater later criticized Brady and the franchise for how unprepared the offensive was for rush and red-zone situations.

Brady landed in Buffalo last offseason, where he helped Josh Allen and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey weather the departure of Brian Daboll. The Bills finished the regular season just behind the Kansas City Chiefs, their highest ranking since Allen’s arrival, according to Football Outsiders.

Brian Johnson, quarterback coach for the Philadelphia Eagles

In his 13 years as a play-caller and positional coach, Johnson has helped develop two of the NFL’s best quarterbacks: Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and Dallas Cowboys star Dak Prescott. Hurts became the league’s most valuable player leader in his sophomore year with Johnson, while Prescott, a three-star recruit in high school, earned Mississippi State All-Southeastern Conference honors in his final two years with him.

Johnson also has experience as a coordinator; The 2020 Florida spread offensive he coordinated finished fourth nationally according to ESPN’s Football Power Index.

Johnson has previously applied for offensive coordinator positions. The Green Bay Packers considered him last season, and he’s reportedly a candidate for the New York Jets position. If Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen accepts a head coaching job this offseason, Johnson could also stay and replace him.

Tee Martin or George Godsey, assistant coach of the Ravens

Both are familiar with both the Ravens’ offense and play-calling experience — Martin in Southern California and Godsey in the NFL, having served as offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans (2015-16) and co-offensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins (2021 ).

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Martin, who joined the Ravens staff in 2021 as wide receivers coach, has struggled to maintain his early success at USC over three seasons as coordinator. The Trojans’ offense fell from 12th in offensive efficiency in 2016 to 24th through 67th, according to ESPN’s FPI.

Godsey, who was hired as tight ends coach this past offseason, oversaw the Texan offenses from 2015-16, which ranked 25th and 30th in overall efficiency according to Football Outsiders. The Dolphins placed 24th in his one year as co-coordinator.

Todd Monken, Georgia offensive coordinator

Monken pulled off one of the most dominant performances in Bowl history: a 65-7 victory over Texas Christian in the national college football playoff title, in which Georgia rushed for 589 yards, 32 first downs and nine touchdowns. The Bulldogs finished the season in second place nationally in offensive efficiency for the second straight season, according to ESPN’s FPI.

Even more impressive is that Monken has turned Georgia into an offensive powerhouse without overwhelming the talent. The Bulldogs had two offensive players in the top 100 of last year’s draft, and they only have three players ranked in ESPN’s top 100 prospects entering this year’s draft. Quarterback Stetson Bennett, the CFP national title MVP, is a former walk-on expected to be selected in the later round.

Monken’s attacks in Georgia, like Roman’s in Baltimore, have relied on their talented tight ends and overwhelming running games. But before heading to Georgia in 2020, Monken also coordinated prolific NFL airstrikes that relied heavily on three-wide-receiver formations. From 2016 to 2018, Monken’s three seasons as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator, the Buccaneers never finished lower than 11th, according to Football Outsiders. And that’s with Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick as their top quarterbacks.

Frank Reich, former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts

Reich is in the mix for a handful of head coaching spots, having previously been interviewed with the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers. But the former Maryland star has also emerged as a potential offensive coordinator candidate for the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

Reich served as the offensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers from 2014-2015 and the Philadelphia Eagles from 2016-2017. He helped Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz earn second-team All-Pro honors in just his sophomore NFL season, and then kept Philadelphia’s offense chasing their Super Bowl run with backup Nick Foles.

Reich went 40-33 as Indianapolis head coach and led the Colts to two playoff appearances in over four seasons, but struggled to produce elite offense after the retirement of quarterback Andrew Luck. Blending concepts from systems across the league, the Indianapolis offense relied on tight ends and pace to gain advantages against opposing defenses.

Bobby Slowik, San Francisco 49ers passing coordinator

Slowik could be the next big name to emerge from Kyle Shanahan’s coaching tree. Shanahan doesn’t have an offensive coordinator this season, so he relies on two quasi-coordinators: Slowik on the passing game and Chris Foerster on the running game.

Though the 49ers drove through three quarterbacks, including seventh-round pick Brock Purdy, in the second half of the season, the 49ers ended the year third in the NFL in passing efficiency, according to Football Outsiders.

Her passing offense, based on Shanahan’s wide-zone scheme and aided by perhaps the NFL’s most talented group of skill players, helps put playmakers in the void after the catch. Jimmy Garoppolo ranks first in the NFL in yards by catch per completion (7.0), according to Pro Football Reference, while Purdy would rank third (6.2).

Bobby Slowik is the son of Bob Slowik, a former NFL defense coordinator. Before joining the 49ers in 2017 as defensive quality control coach, he was an analyst for Pro Football Focus.

Matt Weiss, Michigan co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach

Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan program was a testing ground for Mike Macdonald, a former assistant coach for the Ravens who helped turn around the Wolverines’ defense in 2021 before returning as a replacement for coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale last year. Now Weiss could also find his way back to Baltimore, where he worked as a supervisor and assistant coach for over a decade.

Weiss shared play-calling duties with Sherrone Moore last season and helped direct a Wolverines offense that ranked 12th in the Football Bowl subdivision for efficiency, according to ESPN’s FPI. Michigan’s ground play incorporated elements of the Ravens’ quarterback-driven rushing attack, including reading option and gapping scheme concepts.

Weiss, an assistant quarterbacks coach with the Ravens for two seasons, has also helped stabilize the Wolverines’ quarterback spaces. Cade McNamara earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2021, and JJ McCarthy earned second-team All-Conference honors last season as a sophomore.

However, recent legal troubles could complicate Weiss’ candidacy. According to the Michigan Department of Athletics, he was put on leave because the school’s police department is investigating a “report of computer access crimes” that occurred at the team’s soccer facility in December.

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