It didn't take long for Chuck Pagano to have second thoughts about whether he should have retired from coaching in 2020. Looking back on it, Pagano said he thought about getting back in the same day.
After four years out of the game and offers to join other staffs, Pagano is back as the Ravens' senior secondary coach.
On Wednesday, he joined "The Pat McAfee Show," where he has been a contributor during his time away from coaching, to explain why he made the decision to return.
"It's always been in the back of my mind," Pagano said. "It just had to be the perfect situation. Obviously, I'm very, very familiar with that organization. That had a ton to do with it. … I know the people in that organization from the top down. It's the gold standard."
Pagano coached in Baltimore from 2008-2011, first as a secondary coach and then as the defensive coordinator in 2011. That year, the Ravens had the league's No. 3-ranked defense in yards (288.9) and points (16.6), posted the third-most sacks (48, tied), and allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (11).
Pagano's defense had a swagger about it, an extension of its aggressive-minded coach and his personality. Now he's bringing that back to Baltimore in an assistant role, joining Zach Orr's staff. Pagano said he didn't want to be a head coach or defensive coordinator again with all the responsibility and pressure that comes with it.
"The role is absolutely perfect," Pagano said. "There's been coordinator after coordinator after coordinator, but the nuts and bolts of that of that scheme have not changed. So it's an opportunity for me to go in and [say], 'Hey, what do you what do you need me to do? How can I how can I help you guys develop these players?' They've got phenomenal players back there."
Pagano rattled off the "bunch of dogs" he's pumped to coach, such as safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, and more.
Pagano's 2011 defense was fierce, but the Ravens fell one game short of the Super Bowl in a crushing AFC Championship loss. Pagano left and the Ravens won the Super Bowl the following year. Now he wants to help be part of the group that gets over the hump after more near misses in recent years.
"The thing that pulls you off the couch is the opportunity to win and win it all," Pagano said. "They've built a phenomenal roster. They are a wagon from top to bottom."
Pagano has been living in Idaho but has kept in touch with Harbaugh over the years with text messages and occasional phone calls. Last week, Pagano reached out to Harbaugh to recommend another coach looking for an opportunity. They spoke on Friday about the other coach, and then Harbaugh asked if he had any desire to get back into the game.
That led to a Zoom conversation on Tuesday, and after talking a lot of ball, they worked out what his role would be and agreed to a reunion by the end of the day.
"It just came out of came out of nowhere, really," Pagano said. "And [I'm] very, very grateful that that John would give me this this opportunity to go back to a place [that] … changed the whole trajectory of my career."
Pagano won his battle with leukemia in 2012 and went on to be the Colts' head coach for six seasons. He followed that up with two years as the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator.
Though Pagano spent years away with his family, he remained connected to football. He did so as part of the media, writing for The 33rd Team and appearing on McAfee's show. He also spent some time with the Boise State football team. Starting Monday, he'll be back in the coach's chair and back in Baltimore's Little Italy getting some good grub, he joked.
"I've had some other [coaching opportunities] come by, [but] they don't feel the same, right? You just know in your gut like, no, I don't think this is the right," Pagano said. "But this one, I mean, just check all the boxes. Very, very grateful for this opportunity."
