Head Coach John Harbaugh announced Monday the hiring of four new coaches to his staff: Mark DeLeone (inside linebackers coach), Dennis Johnson (defensive line coach), Doug Mallory (defensive backs coach), and Travelle Wharton (assistant offensive line coach).
Harbaugh and first-year Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr had to fill three vacancies on his staff after he was promoted and the departures of Anthony Weaver (Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator) and Dennard Wilson (Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator). Assistant Offensive Line Coach Mike Devlin went to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Harbaugh knocked his coaching hires out of the park last offseason, which was a substantial factor in the Ravens’ strong 2023 campaign.
While Baltimore had had some coaching losses this offseason, also including Mike Macdonald becoming the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Harbaugh has assembled another highly-accomplished staff for 2024.
Here’s what you should know about each new coach:
recently leading Baylor’s defensive line since 2020. Prior to his time in Waco, Johnson spent six seasons (2014-19) at his alma mater, LSU, assisting the defense in multiple capacities. His coaching career began as a graduate assistant in 2012 at Northwestern State, where he worked with the linebackers and secondary for two seasons (2012-13).
In 2021, the Johnson-led defensive front helped Baylor garner No. 2 Big 12 Conference marks in rush defense (118.4 yards per game), scoring defense (18.3 points per game) and sacks (44) – all of which ranked Top 17 nationally. That season, Johnson also guided Siaki Ika to Big 12 Defensive Newcomer of the Year and All-Big 12 honors.
Johnson served as an analyst during LSU’s 2019 National Championship season, after directing the Tigers’ defensive line in 2018 and spending two years (2016-17) with outside linebackers. In 2016, Johnson played a key role in the development of LB Duke Riley, who produced a team-high 93 tackles and earned Team MVP honors in his lone season as a starter.
A native of Amory, Miss., Johnson was a defensive lineman at LSU and appeared in 19 games over three seasons (2009-11) after originally joining the team as a walk-on.
