As we reported on Monday, the Baltimore Ravens have hired former Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees to coach Ray Lewis and the rest of the Ravens’ linebackers.
Coach John Harbaugh announced the move Tuesday morning.
“I’ve know Dean for 27 years, and he’s our type of coach -- energetic, hard-working and innovative,” Harbaugh said in a release. “He has worked with all three levels of defense -- defensive line, linebackers and secondary. His experience and wealth of knowledge speak for themselves. Dean has also earned respect from his players and fellow coaches because he has been a coordinator. He’ll help our linebackers complement the guys up front and in the back end. He’ll fit in with us well, and we’re excited to get him.”
Pees coached Harbaugh at the Miami (Ohio) in the 1980s. Said Harbaugh, “He was the one coach who I thought could play.”
“It’s a privilege and an honor to be a part of an organization like the Ravens,” Pees said. “I’m very anxious and excited for the opportunity to work with Coach Harbaugh and also [defensive coordinator] Greg Mattison, with whom I have coached. I think this is a tremendous opportunity and something that my family and I are very excited about. I can’t wait to get to work.”
No longer going to work for the Ravens will be former linebackers coach Vic Fangio. The team has announced that Fangio “is no longer with the team.” Said the Ravens, “He should have an announcement about his future in football soon.”
The Ravens also are looking for a quarterbacks coach, given the departure of Hue Jackson for Oakland.