The Baltimore Ravens could have a tough time holding on to one of their top coaches early next year as the buzz around the NFL suggests he could be “the next Dan Campbell.”
On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens will take part in, arguably, one of the biggest games of the 2023 season when they play the San Francisco 49ers in a clash of teams with the best records in the league. This season has been a big bounce-back year for Baltimore and a case could be made that assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver has been a notable part of that resurgence.
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This past season, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh elevated the former Baltimore player to the role of assistant head coach after 10 years of building his coaching resume. Which includes a run in Houston where he helped pass-rushing great JJ Watt build a Hall-of-Fame resume.
In his two seasons in the role, the Baltimore Ravens had a surprising 10-7 finish despite missing Lamar Jackson for much of 2022, and are now tied for the best record in the league this year after 15 weeks. That is why it should come as no surprise that there is a serious buzz developing around him as other organizations start putting together candidate lists for their next head coach.
Baltimore Ravens assistant Anthony Weaver considered “the next Dan Campbell”
In the Athletic’s Sunday edition of their morning newsletter, NFL insider Dianna Russini explained why he is a major under-the-radar head coach candidate who is building a lot of momentum around the league.”One league source described him as the next Dan Campbell,” Russini said. “At a time many owners are looking for culture-builders, Weaver has been around long enough as a player and coach and may just be the type of person you want to build around.”
The Detroit Lions head coach put together a strong resume as a head coach before landing his current role. He served as a tight ends coach in Miami for six seasons and in his final year was surprisingly promoted to the interim head coach job after Joe Philbin was fired during the season.
He then went on to be an assistant head coach in New Orleans in 2016 before getting the full-time role in Detroit in 2021, where he has turned the Lions into one of the best teams in the NFC this season with his unique and emotional coaching style.