Chuck Pagano, the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach from 2012 to 2017, has come out of retirement to join the Baltimore Ravens.
Pagano took over for the Colts shortly after Indianapolis star Peyton Manning left, and he led them to the playoffs three years in a row. However, the Colts began to suffer in 2015, finishing 8-8 in consecutive years before losing in 2017. Pagano was dismissed after the team failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
His final record was 53-43 over six seasons, and while Pagano struggled, the Colts never really recovered after losing both Pagano and quarterback Andrew Luck.
After leaving Indianapolis, Pagano worked as a consultant for a year before becoming the defensive coordinator in Chicago before retiring in 2021. He has worked as a pundit and analyst since then, but when he retired, he stated that he wanted to spend more time with his family.
Until now.
Pagano has been named the new senior secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens, reporting to John Harbaugh. “It is exciting to add Coach Chuck Pagano to our defensive staff and continue to develop and grow our young and talented secondary,” Harbaugh said in a news release. “Chuck provides a plethora of information, experience and coaching talent to our squad. He has strong ties to the program and is eager to go to work.”
Harbaugh and Pagano have already worked together, when Harbaugh was appointed to coach the Ravens in 2008. Pagano was Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator, and his defense flourished. Despite possessing a talented roster, the Ravens’ current defense has underperformed. The defense improved in the second half of 2024, when Harbaugh hired Dean Pees as a consultant; the hope is that Pagano’s skills will help the Ravens defense even more.
