Chris Horton is in his second season leading the Ravens' exceptional special teams units. Since joining the team in 2014, Horton has helped Baltimore's units perform outstandingly over the last several seasons. In 2019, the most accurate kicker in NFL history, Justin Tucker (a first-team All-Pro) made 28 of 29 FGAs (96.6%), scoring a franchise-record 141 points for the fourth-straight season. He is the NFL's only kicker to surpass the 140 mark in each of the past four years (2016-19). For many seasons, the Ravens have been near the top of special teams rankings. In the annual special teams report from senior NFL writer Rick Gosselin, Baltimore was ranked in the NFL's Top 6 for seven-straight seasons (from 2012-18), including first in 2015. (Gosselin's report is recognized by NFL teams as a special teams measuring stick.) No other NFL team was in the Top 6 (or even Top 10) in those seven seasons. In 2018, Tucker made 35 of 39 FGAs. (His misses were from 53 and 65 yards, and he had 2 kicks blocked.) In 2018, the Ravens also ranked fifth in the NFL in punt return average (11.5), with CB/RS Cyrus Jones posting the league's fourth-best mark (13.2).
ADDITIONAL COACHING HIGHLIGHTS: In 2014, Horton entered the NFL coaching ranks with the Ravens working with the team's OLBs. Horton played safety for four seasons in the NFL with the Redskins (2008-11) after being selected by Washington in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
2014-19: (with Baltimore) 2019: K Justin Tucker earned his third Pro Bowl nod after connecting on 28 of 29 FGAs...In Week 6, he became the fastest pure kicker in NFL history (118 games) to score 1,000 career points. 2018: Tucker (a Pro Bowl first alternate) made 35 of 39 FGAs (his misses were from 53 and 65 yards, and he had 2 kicks blocked)...Ravens were fifth in NFL punt return average (11.5) and sixth in the annual special teams report compiled by senior NFL writer Rick Gosselin. 2017: Football Outsiders tabbed Baltimore's special teams as the NFL's No. 1 overall unit...Ravens ranked No. 1 in KOR average (27.5), No. 5 in PR average (10.1) and No. 1 in opponent KOR average (18.6)...P Sam Koch posted NFL bests in both punts inside the 10 (16) and 20 (40). 2016: Tucker and LS Morgan Cox each earned their second Pro Bowl honors...Promoted to assistant special teams coach...Baltimore had an NFL-high 4 (tied, Mia.) blocked kicks. 2015: Horton worked as a staff assistant alongside Jerry Rosburg with the Ravens' special teams...Baltimore's units excelled, ranking No. 1 by Gosselin...Ravens also ranked No. 1 by Pro Football Focus...Baltimore was third in the NFL in punt return average (11.3), while allowing the second-fewest yards per punt return (5.0)...P Sam Koch and Cox each earned their first Pro Bowls...Ravens blocked a kick (2 PATs, 2 FGs and 1 punt) in five-straight contests, a feat that had not been accomplished since 1983 (Atlanta Falcons)...The 5 blocked kicks tied (Oak.) for most in 2015. 2014: Worked primarily with the Ravens' OLBs...Led by OLB Terrell Suggs and 2014 Pro Bowl selection OLB Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore racked up the NFL's second-most sacks (49, tied with Philly), boasted the No. 2 red zone defense and allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (88.3)...Dumervil (a franchise-record 17 sacks) and Suggs (12) combined to produce the most QB drops (29) among NFL duos.
2012-13: (with UCLA) 2013: Bruins earned a 10-3 record and defeated Virginia Tech in the Sun Bowl, 42-12. 2012: Joined his alma mater as a quality control coach, assisting with both the Bruins' defense and special teams unit under head coach Jim Mora Jr.
2013: (with Seattle) Spent training camp as a coaching intern.
NFL Player (2008-11): Played three full NFL seasons after being drafted in the seventh round by the Washington Redskins in 2008...As a rookie, Horton earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors following his Week 2 performance vs. New Orleans when he had 2 INTs and 1 fumble recovery in the Redskins' 29-24 victory over the Saints...Also earned NFC Defensive Rookie of the Month (September) honors...Played in 29 career NFL games, but was hampered by injuries in his final three seasons, eventually concluding his playing career after a training camp stint with the New York Giants in 2012.
COLLEGE: Earned a bachelor's degree in history from UCLA...Played safety for the Bruins, earning The Sporting News first-team All-America (2007), first-team All-Pac-10 (2007) and second-team All-Pac-10 honors (2006).
PERSONAL: Earned three varsity letters in football at De La Salle (New Orleans, LA) HS...Chris was inducted into his high school Hall of Fame on March 15, 2014...He and his wife, Jackie, have two daughters: Kristina (6) and Khloe (4) and a son, Kaden (2).