The Baltimore Ravens have been uncharacteristically newsworthy early in this 2023 offseason. But they’ve been busy too, and just made a notable addition to their coaching staff.
According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter, the Ravens are hiring former All-Pro defensive lineman Chuck “Dr. Rush” Smith as their new outside linebackers coach. Smith replaces Rob Leonard, who left the team after the 2022 season to join the Las Vegas Raiders.
This is the first top flight coaching job Smith has had in quite some time. His most recent coaching job came as a defensive line coach for the Tennessee Volunteers under Derek Dooley back in 2010.
But Smith is better known in the NFL for his wildly successful eight-year run as a star pass rusher for the Atlanta Falcons.
A third-round pick out of Tennessee in the 1992 NFL Draft, Chuck Smith became a force on the Falcons defensive line throughout the 90s, recording 58.5 sacks in 123 games for the team.
In 1997, Smith had a career-high 12.0 sacks and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors. He was the leading defender on the Falcons in 1998, the year they went 14-2 and reached the Super Bowl on the heels of their best defense in over 20 years.
Smith finished his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2000 and has since enjoyed stints in radio and as a personal trainer.