Anthony

Weaver

The Dolphins let defensive coordinator Vic Fangio leave to hold the same position in Philadelphia at the end of the 2023 season. Weaver rejoined the NFL ranks in 2012 after a successful playing career as a defensive end. He eventually worked his way up to defensive coordinator in Houston for the 2020 season but was let go after just one year. He then joined the Ravens and was promoted to associate head coach in 2022. Weaver was a well-respected name in coaching circles this offseason and even got a few head coaching interviews. He also has play-calling experience from his time with the Texans. The Ravens are coming off back-to-back top-10 finishes in sack rate under Weaver on top of their elite stats as a whole. With a strong showing in Miami, Weaver could be on the fast track to his first head coaching gig.

Detroit’s Ben Johnson remains the odds-on favorite to land Washington’s head coaching gig, but the team is also set to speak with Ravens assistant head coach Anthony Weaver and defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, along with defensive coordinators Dan Quinn and Aaron Glenn. With so many interviews on tap, the Commanders’ search isn’t quite over yet, but we’d expect them to come to a decision sometime this week. In addition to the five coaches they have to meet, the Commanders have already conducted second interviews with Texans OC Bobby Slowik and in-house candidate Eric Bieniemy.

In addition to Macdonald the Falcons also requested a second interview with the Ravens associate head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver, who has been targeted by multiple teams this offseason. Macdonald is fresh off another dominant defensive game in which his defense held the Texans out of the red zone and limited them to only a field goal in the 34-10 win. Macdonald needed just two years to build the Ravens into a defensive power house and has them on the cusp of a Super Bowl berth. A win over Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on Sunday would only further add to his already high stock.

The Falcons have been aggressive on the head coaching front and have added Weaver to the growing list of candidates they’re hoping to speak with. Weaver is held in high regard by many across the league and has spent the last 14 seasons honing his craft as a coach since retiring from the league as a player after the 2008 season. Whether or not he lands a head coaching job during this hiring cycle is to be determined, but he is undoubtedly a rising star amongst owners and could be in charge of calling the shots for his own team very soon.

Weaver was the subject of several interviews for defensive coordinator positions in 2022, and has been with the Ravens’ staff since 2021. A former second-round pick by the Ravens in the 2002 NFL Draft, Weaver spent seven seasons in the league as a player and has rapidly climbed the coaching ranks. Upon retiring from the league after the 2008 season, Weaver spent one season at North Texas as the team’s linebackers coach and worked in various positions with the Jets, Bills, Browns, and Texans from 2012 to 2020. Even if it doesn’t happen this season, Weaver is on track to eventually secure a head coaching job in the very near future.

Weaver, Baltimore’s run game coordinator as well as its DL coach, also interviewed for the defensive coordinator position in Baltimore before they hired Mike Macdonald to fill the opening on John Harbaugh’s staff. Weaver joined the Ravens in 2021 and previously worked for the Texans, Browns, Bills, and Jets, overlapping on Cleveland’s staff with coach Kevin O’Connell in 2015.

Weaver has been coaching for 12 years, and he joined the Ravens ahead of 2021 as their defensive line coach and run game coordinator. Weaver operated as Houston’s defensive coordinator in 2020 but didn’t fare too well, as the Texans ranked 30th in defense and last in turnovers forced that season. Despite that, the Broncos seem to view him in a positive enough light to potentially interview him for their defensive coordinator vacancy.

Weaver also served as the team’s defensive run-game coordinator in 2021. Baltimore permitted a league-low 84.5 rushing yards per game under his watch, holding opposing backfields to 3.8 yards per carry. It’s an opportunity for Baltimore to keep their play-calling in-house before beginning their search for outside candidates.

Weaver will also serve as the Ravens’ defensive run-game coordinator. It’s a step back for Weaver, who’s coming off a rough year as a first-time defensive coordinator. The Texans ranked 30th in total defense and last in turnovers and yards per attempt under Weaver this past season. Weaver, who played for the Ravens from 2002-2005, replaces Joe Cullen after he was hired to coordinate Urban Meyer’s defense in Jacksonville.

He’ll take the reins from Romeo Crennel, whose contract was set to expire. A former defensive end who spent three of his seven NFL seasons in Houston, Weaver has been on Bill O’Brien’s staff since 2016. The Texans underachieved on the defensive side in 2019 (fifth-most yards allowed), though Houston wasn’t exactly playing with a full deck. Three-time Defensive Player of the Year J.J. Watt missed much of the season with a torn pec while free-agent signing Bradley Roby was also slowed by injuries.