The Baltimore Ravens clearly think that it's better to have several coaches with ties to Notre Dame than not. That was demonstrated on Monday when new head coach Jesse Minter announced Anthony Weaver as his first defensive coordinator.
Weaver, a Notre Dame alum, will take the reins of a franchise well known for some of the best defenses in the history of the league. On his staff, of course, is the recently hired Mike Mickens, who held the reins of one of the best defensive backfields in college football over the last few years.
Mickens will now run the Ravens' defensive backfield under the leadership of Weaver, and while it's not precisely a Notre Dame reunion, considering the two never played or worked together, it's a safe bet they'll have plenty to talk about when discussing the glory days of the program they both served and just how good things are getting under Marcus Freeman.
Anthony Weaver’s return to Baltimore adds another Notre Dame connection to the Ravens.
For Weaver, it is a reunion of sorts as he returns to the team he entered the NFL with. After a standout career at Notre Dame, Weaver began his pro career in Baltimore as a second-round pick in 2002. He started for four years with the Ravens, then spent three seasons in Houston before retiring.
Once he gave up his playing days, Weaver moved to coaching and started working from the ground up as a GA with Florida. He gradually became one of the more respected coaches in the NFL and then was hired by the Ravens in 2021, first as the defensive line coach and eventually assistant head coach.
In 2024, Weaver was named the defensive coordinator for the Miami Dolphins and spent two years there before coming back to Baltimore. Now the Notre Dame grad will get to lead the defense for the first team he ever played for, and work alongside a coach from his alma mater.