AFC assistant reportedly frontrunner for Dolphins DC job

Already losing their defensive coordinator to the head coaching ranks, the Ravens could soon see another key defensive staffer take a prominent position elsewhere. 

Associate head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver has emerged as a name to watch on the Dolphins' defensive coordinator radar.

Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh confirmed earlier Friday that Weaver was still in the race to be the next Miami DC, per The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec. Harbaugh said that the Ravens want to keep Weaver, who has been on staff since 2021.

But the veteran assistant is viewed as the frontrunner for Dolphins DC job, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweeted. 

Weaver previously interviewed for the Atlanta and Washington HC jobs, joining Mike Macdonald in that regard. The latter has since landed a top job — in Seattle.

Interestingly, the Ravens hired Macdonald over promoting Weaver to DC in 2022, bringing the former back after a one-year stay at Michigan. They have now since elevated inside linebackers coach Zach Orr over Weaver to replace Macdonald. 

If Miami pulls the trigger, and Weaver decides to make the move to South Beach, the Dolphins could expect to see an improvement to an already very impressive pass rush. Miami finished third in the NFL this year for sacks, behind only the Chiefs and Weavers’ Ravens. A Dolphins pass rush featuring Bradley Chubb (11.0 sacks in 2023), Zach Sieler (10.0), Christian Wilkins (9.0), and Jaelan Phillips (6.5 sacks in only eight games) could become even more formidable.

Despite Weaver’s old ties to Charm City as a former second-round draft pick for the Ravens, his time coaching in Baltimore has been a short three years. The Ravens have shown their desire to keep him on staff, enticing him with add-on titles like run game coordinator and associate head coach during his time, but with Orr taking the reins as DC in 2024, it will be difficult to keep Weaver in place once again.