The Baltimore Ravens have reportedly blocked several assistant coaches from lateral moves.
In 2020, the NFL established a rule that assistant coaches could not move laterally without explicit permission from their current team, especially if under contract. The Baltimore Ravens have exercised that rule on several assistant coaches.
The usual case when a new head coach is installed is that they bring in their own coaching staff. It is not always cut and dry, and some assistants and internal coaches can be promoted.
Baltimore is likely to install a new defensive and offensive coordinator, but they are reportedly blocking several assistants from making lateral moves.
Per NFL insider Mike Garafolo, special teams coordinator Chris Horton is among several coaches who have been blocked from making lateral moves.
"#Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton is among a handful of coaches the team has blocked for lateral moves, sources say. His assistant Anthony Levine Sr. and senior ST coach Randy Brown might also be retained, pending the new HC hire," Garofolo said on X.
Anthony Levine Sr. and Randy Brown are also two other coaches who may be retained by the Ravens, regardless of who is hired as the team's next head coach.
Baltimore clearly sees the value of Horton and his staff, and they are ensuring they stick around unless given an opportunity to be promoted to another team.
While the rule on lateral moves stipulates teams can block such moves, the rule does not permit coaches from taking coordinator positions with other teams.
Horton could take interviews for a defensive or offensive coordinator position if that were to materialize.
For now, the Ravens are continuing their exhaustive search for their new head coach. The organization has already interviewed 16 potential candidates, and three have emerged as finalists thus far.
Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver are among the current favorites for the position.
Thus far, the Ravens have not yet reached out to recently fired Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Considering his longevity with Buffalo, it would not be shocking for Baltimore to reach out.
The Ravens are likely moving to the next stage of the hiring process this week, as are the other six teams still without a new head coach. Considering the wealth of candidates available, teams are taking a bit more time to get through those candidates.
So far, the New York Giants have hired John Harbaugh, the Atlanta Falcons have hired Kevin Stefanski, the Dolphins have hired Jeff Hafley, and the Tennessee Titans have hired Robert Saleh.