OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens stayed with tradition in promoting linebackers coach Don "Wink" Martindale to defensive coordinator on Tuesday.
Long considered the top in-house candidate, Martindale replaces Dean Pees, who retired after six years as defensive coordinator. Martindale's only coordinator experience in the NFL came in 2010, when he oversaw the Denver Broncos defense.
"'Wink' has earned the promotion to defensive coordinator," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in a statement. "His aggressive mentality will serve to take our defense to new levels.
"He is obviously respected by players, many of whom have already benefited from his direct coaching at the linebacker position. He knows the ins and outs of what we have been about on defense and has been an important contributor to our success on that side of the ball. This is an exciting day for Wink and his family, and also one for the Ravens."
The Ravens were also in contact with former Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano for the position.
Going with Martindale continues a trend for the Ravens. Every defensive coordinator since Marvin Lewis left in 2002 -- Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan, Greg Mattison, Pagano and Pees -- was promoted from being a position coach on staff.
Martindale, 54, takes over a Baltimore defense that recorded three shutouts in 2017, led the NFL with 34 takeaways, ranked No. 12 in total yards allowed and will return virtually intact next season. The only starter on defense who's scheduled to be a free agent is defensive end Brent Urban, who only played three games before suffering a season-ending foot injury.
In Martindale's only season as an NFL defensive coordinator, the Broncos ranked last in the league in yards (390.8) and points allowed (29.4) per game.
Martindale, who has been on the Ravens' staff since 2011, has the support of the locker room.
"He always talked about wanting to be a coordinator," linebacker C.J. Mosley said a day after the Ravens' season ended. "I'm a little biased, because I've been with him my whole career and I know what kind of a person he is and what kind of a coach he is. But you never know how things will work out. There's always a business [side], [but] as long as he's here with us, I'll be happy."
At his season-ending news conference last Thursday, Harbaugh said continuity was a priority when choosing a defensive coordinator.
"I'm a believer in this system," Harbaugh said. "I think this system has been something that's been developed over a long period of time, and we have worked really hard every single year to make it better. We've evolved it and grown it and I think you see the results."