Chuck Pagano Returns to NFL, Hired as Ravens Secondary Coach on John Harbaugh's Staff

The Baltimore Ravens are bringing a veteran coach onto their staff.

The team announced Tuesday that they have hired Chuck Pagano to be their defensive staff as their senior secondary coach. Pagano was the Indianapolis Colts head coach from 2012 to 2017 and was most recently the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2020.

"It is exciting to add Coach Chuck Pagano to our defensive staff and continue to develop and grow our young and talented secondary," head coach Jim Harbaugh said in a statement. "Chuck brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and coaching talent to our team. He has deep ties to the program and is excited to get to work."

Pagano cut his teeth in the collegiate ranks early in his career before getting his start in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns in 2001 as a secondary coach. He was the Oakland Raiders defensive backs coach from 2005 to 2006 and left the NFL for one season to be North Carolina's defensive coordinator in 2007.

He joined Harbaugh's staff in Baltimore a year later as a secondary coach and stayed in that role until 2011 when he was promoted to defensive coordinator.

After his time with the Colts and the Bears, his time as a coach appeared to be over as he announced his retirement following the 2020 season.

"As much as I love coaching, it takes a lot of time away from your family and loved ones," he said in a statement announcing his retirement. "I'm excited to start this new chapter of my life and can't wait to be able to spend more time with my family. This has been an amazing ride and I have made countless relationships that I will cherish forever."

Now Pagano will reunite with Harbaugh, and together the two will look to get Baltimore into Super Bowl shape after years of teetering on the edge of competing for a championship.