MOBILE, Ala. — The Baltimore Ravens are on the verge of adding former New England Patriots defensive coordinator Dean Pees to the coaching staff as their new linebackers coach.
Plus, the Ravens have granted permission for the Chicago Bears to interview quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson for their offensive coordinator vacancy.
There hasn’t been an official announcement at this point regarding Pees while the team hashes out the situation.
Veteran NFL assistant coach Vic Fangio coached the linebackers last season, but it remains unclear whether he’s going to return. Fangio was passed over for the defensive coordinator position that went to Greg Mattison last year when Rex Ryan went to the New York Jets.
Pees has a strong background with Ravens coach John Harbaugh. He was the defensive coordinator at Miami (Ohio) when Harbaugh was a college safety and special-teams contributor.
“I think his reputation is as a very solid technician, knows the game inside-out, been around it at all levels,” NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said Monday following the North practice at the Senior Bowl all-star game. “He would be a welcome addition to any staff.”
Pees, 60, was hospitalized for shortness of breath following a loss to the Houston Texans in the regular-season finale, but it turned out to just be a scare as he was kept overnight for precautionary reasons.
Pees has had other health issues, undergoing prostate cancer surgery last summer and also dealt with a blood clot in his leg among other medical issues.
The Patriots didn’t extend Pees’ contract when it expired after last season after he coached them to the No. 11 defensive ranking in the league.
Pees was rumored to be a frontrunner for the Denver Broncos’ defensive coordinator position, but they’re now expected to promote linebackers coach Don Martindale.
Meanwhile, Jackson is scheduled to interview with the Bears today.
Jackson has been instrumental in the development of Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
Jackson interviewed with the Oakland Raiders last week, discussing both the head-coaching position currently held by Tom Cable and the offensive coordinator job.
Jackson’s interview with the Raiders apparently went extremely well, but there’s no movement toward him joining their staff at this time.
Jackson is regarded as quarterback-friendly in terms of his demeanor and coaching style, two attributes that could lend themselves well to a potential partnership with combustible Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.
Jackson has previous offensive coordinator stints with the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Redskins.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times and the Annapolis Capital.
