The most underrated coaching hire in the NFL

On Jan. 27, the Baltimore Ravens hired Dwayne Ledford to be their offensive line coach for the upcoming season.

Ledford was the offensive line coach for the Atlanta Falcons for five seasons, while also taking on the role of run game coordinator for the last two years.

Now, this move doesn’t look very flashy. So what makes this hiring the most overlooked decision of the offseason so far?

To start, Ledford was widely considered the top offensive line coach on the market. After the newly hired Atlanta head coach, Kevin Stefanski, brought Bill Callahan with him from Cleveland, it opened the door for Ledford to receive many offers around the league.

One of the top pursuers of Ledford was the Minnesota Vikings. Minnesota has been one of the most well-run organizations over the past decade, so it is a safe assumption that if they want a coach, he’s likely one of the best at his job.

Now, that point is just speculation, but assumptions aren’t all that is needed to understand why this hire is so great.

Before joining the Falcons in 2021, their rushing attack was dismal. They ranked 31st in the league in rushing yards and 30th in yards per carry.

Just the next season, with a backfield led by rookie Tyler Allgeier and an offensive line coached by Ledford, the Falcons soared to third in the NFL in rushing yards and fourth in yards per carry.

In each season under Ledford, the Falcons have had a top-ten rushing attack in the league. While this was aided by drafting Bijan Robinson in 2023, Atlanta has had one of the best two-back attacks in the league over the last five years.

This two-back style should translate seamlessly to Baltimore, as the Ravens have one of the most talented running back rooms in the NFL. Obviously led by Derrick Henry, backups Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell have provided major contributions to this offense over the last two seasons.

Baltimore has always relied on a physical running game, consistently ranking among the top three rushing attacks in the league. However, last season, the offensive line proved to be a glaring weak point during a disappointing season.

The unit ranked 28th in PFF pass-blocking efficiency rating, giving up 155 pressures on 501 snaps.

The play from the interior guards, specifically, was borderline unwatchable. Baltimore's guards finished the season with a cumulative 52.1 PFF run-blocking grade, good for 27th in the league. For reference, Chris Lindstrom of the Falcons finished with the second-highest run-blocking grade of any guard this season.

The hiring of Ledford will help to fix what was arguably Baltimore’s biggest deficiency last season. Combined with the likelihood that the Ravens will look to make offseason moves through the draft and free agency to secure talent at these positions, Ledford will have a lot of new faces to work with and develop.

As Derrick Henry enters the final leg of his prime, running behind a strong offensive line is vital to preserving his final elite seasons. Ledford will ensure that this offense gets every ounce of production out of the All-Pro running back.

Lamar Jackson missed numerous games due to injury last year, while also looking visibly hurt on the field when he did play. Providing him with elite protection to preserve his body is the best way to ensure the Ravens remain a contending team. The addition of Ledford will give Jackson the best chance of staying healthy and leading this Baltimore offense.

Dwayne Ledford is one of the best at what he does. Joining a Ravens team that was in desperate need of his services will elevate this squad right back into contending status.

Brendan Kern is a second-year majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact him, email bwk5372@psu.edu