Ravens Coach Macdonald Feels 'Fortunate and Lucky'

There has been a lot of success over the years for the Baltimore Ravens and as a coach who has grown from within it, defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald feels fortunate.

Talented people make an organization successful no matter the business you're in, but the Baltimore Ravens have found a way to become one that also creates future leaders while maintaining their own standards along the way.

Following this trend, Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald appears to be the next member of the organization who will likely get his shot at running a different team.

Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald reacts on the sidelines against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the second quarter at Acrisure Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

If and when that time comes, Macdonald knows he'll be taking with him lessons and procedures that will help make his next location as successful as he is now in Baltimore.

“We’re so fortunate and lucky to be around, first of all, the organization. The organization, when you think about it, its made up of people, and the alignment that comes from the top here when I was an intern and [executive vice president] Ozzie [Newsome] being the general manager and starting with him, starting with [owner] Steve [Bisciotti] [and] now working with [executive vice president & general manager] Eric [DeCosta] – really everybody throughout the building," Macdonald said of the opportunity to grow from within the Ravens organization. 

"Then ultimately, [head coach] John [Harbaugh] and the person that he is, and the leader that he is, you just have great role models that you look up to and that are high integrity [and] high character individuals and just phenomenal leaders. So, they’re easy guys to follow. If and when that opportunity presents itself, obviously you want to model that behavior after them.”

Macdonald first entered the NFL as a coaching intern in 2014 after spending 2011-13 working with the Georgia Bulldogs football program. 

From there, he's worked his way up from being an intern to an assistant, then a position coach before leaving to be the defensive coordinator for one year with the Michigan Wolverines, returning in 2022 to do the same for Baltimore. 

His next step, head coach, will not be with the Ravens. And as much as fans try to dissuade other circles from recognizing Macdonald's value, it's hard to hide talent.

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In sports circles, we debate systems vs. talent all the time trying to pinpoint which one is more effective.

With Macdonald, it appears Baltimore not only has the system, but the talent, and it's a combination that's proven lethal to other opponents - including Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson who is getting even more head coaching buzz than Macdonald - and highly attractive to outside agencies looking for their next franchise leader.