BALTIMORE _ Greg Roman has been promoted to Ravens offensive coordinator, coach John Harbaugh confirmed Friday, marking the end of Marty Mornhinweg's tenure on the staff as the team looks to build on quarterback Lamar Jackson's rookie season.
The move, which comes on Eric DeCosta's first day as Ravens general manager, is expected to solidify Harbaugh's future in Baltimore. Mornhinweg had the option of remaining on a reorganized staff but declined, Harbaugh said in a release.
"Increasing Greg's responsibilities will help us get where we're going on offense," Harbaugh said. "His role with our offense has already been significant and substantial. His understanding of the run game we are building _ which we saw some of in the second half of the season _ and how it integrates with a consistent and big-play passing game is exciting."
Roman, 47, joined the Ravens in 2017 as a senior offensive assistant and tight ends coach and was promoted to assistant head coach before this past season. He was widely credited with helping to rejuvenate the Ravens' running game last year with running back Alex Collins and this season after Jackson took over for Joe Flacco in Week 11.
With a variety of quarterback-designed runs, zone-read-option plays and misdirection, the Ravens took advantage of Jackson's athleticism in ways that resembled Roman's deployment of quarterback Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco. After four years as 49ers offensive coordinator, Roman served at the same position for a little over a year with the Buffalo Bills before being fired in September 2016.
The Ravens finished the regular season No. 9 overall in yards per game and No. 2 in rushing offense. But their AFC wild-card-round loss Sunday to the Los Angeles Chargers was marred by perhaps Jackson's worst performance as a starter.
The Athletic first reported news of Roman's promotion.
