The Ravens' 2014 coaching staff is now filled.
Head Coach John Harbaugh announced the hiring of Wide Receivers Coach Bobby Engram Tuesday afternoon. Engram replaces Jim Hostler, who departed for Buffalo after being passed over for the offensive coordinator vacancy.
Engram is another young, highly-regarded coach for Harbaugh's staff. He brings a blend of 14 years playing in the NFL and four years coaching.
"When you combine Bobby's NFL pedigree as a player and his coaching experience, you see why we're excited to add him to our staff," Harbaugh said. "He comes highly recommended, he did an outstanding job at San Francisco and Pitt, and he's an impressive person. He'll help our receivers and our offense become better."
Engram played wide receiver for the Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs. His career was just three years shorter than that of Ray Lewis.
Engram finished his pro career with 650 receptions for 7,751 yards and 35 touchdowns, including six catches for 70 yards in Super Bowl XL for the Seahawks in a loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Before that, Engram was arguably the greatest receiver in Penn State history. He won the first-ever Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver, and is still the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in yards (3,026) and touchdowns (31).
After retiring in 2009, Engram quickly began coaching. He was an offensive assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers in 2011, then the wide receivers coach at the University of Pittsburgh in 2012 and 2013.
In 2013, Engram guided a Pittsburgh's receiving corps that was led by Tyler Boyd, who set school marks for receptions (85) and receiving yards (1,174) by a freshman. Both records were formerly held by current Arizona Cardinals standout Larry Fitzgerald.
In his first season with Pittsburgh (2012), Engram guided wide receivers Mike Shanahan (62 receptions for 983 yards) and Devin Street (73-975), who each garnered All-Big East honors in the same season, marking the first such occurrence in school history.Â
As an offensive assistant with the 49ers in 2011, Engram was part of a team that earned its first NFC West title in nine seasons and reached the NFC championship game.
Engram will work with a young cast of receivers in Baltimore.
Torrey Smith is the elder statesman of the current group, and he's going into his fourth year after a breakout campaign with 65 catches for 1,128 yards. He's looking to take the next step* *in becoming an elite, consistent playmaker.
Marlon Brown is coming off a standout rookie season with 524 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, and the Ravens have other young, malleable talent, such as Deonte Thompson, Aaron Mellette and Tandon Doss.
The Ravens ranked 29th in the NFL in average yards per catch last year (10.8) and 25th in touchdown receptions (19). The receiving corps had 13 of those touchdowns.
"What an opportunity to join a team that has won, knows how to win and does all it can to make sure they continue to win," Engram said. "I'm ready to be part of that and ready to work."
