Jim Caldwell deserves a healthy share of the credit for having the Ravens in the playoffs: After taking over the play calling from the fired former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Caldwell helped shape an offense that has played well in the postseason and taken Baltimore to the Super Bowl.
But while Caldwell has already been assured that the coordinator job is his for 2013, he’s hoping that he doesn’t have the job much longer than that. Caldwell says he’s hoping for another shot as a head coach.
“At some point in time, if the Lord wills it, I’d love to be able to do it again,” Caldwell said. “But it may not happen. Everybody in our profession is looking for an opportunity to run their own program, and I’m no different than anybody else in that regard.”
Caldwell’s 2-14 record in his final season as a head coach may make him a tough sell for other NFL teams: Although he went 14-2 and reached the Super Bowl in his first season, that was after inheriting Peyton Manning and a team that Tony Dungy had taken to the playoffs for seven straight years. When Manning was lost to neck surgery in 2010, Caldwell wasn’t able to salvage the season.
But Caldwell has helped salvage a Ravens season that appeared to be on the brink of collapse at the time Cameron was fired. If the Ravens’ offense has another strong season with Caldwell calling the plays in 2013, he may be a head coach of another team a year from now.