Jerry Rosburg, now in his 40th season coaching, has guided an exceptional special teams group over his 10 years (2008-17) with the Ravens. Specifically in the past six seasons (2012-17), the Ravens' special teams units have consistently been acknowledged as one of the league's best. In 2017, Football Outsiders named the Ravens' unit No. 1 overall. The ranking is the NFL's eighth highest in a season since 1986. Also, in the annual special teams report from senior NFL writer Rick Gosselin, Baltimore has ranked in the NFL's Top 5 for six-straight seasons, including first in 2015. (Gosselin's report is recognized by NFL teams as a special teams measuring stick.) Overall, no other NFL team has been in the Top 5 (or Top 10) in each of the past six seasons (see chart at right). During Rosburg's tenure in Baltimore, the Ravens have produced the NFL's No. 1 kickoff return average (25.4), once again leading the league (27.5) in 2017. In the past seven seasons (2011-17), Baltimore has produced 10 total kick return TDs (5 PR & 5 KOR), ranking as the NFL's second most (tied, KC). Under Rosburg's direction, six Ravens have earned Pro Bowl honors, including K Justin Tucker and LS Morgan Cox (twice each) and P Sam Koch.
additional coaching highlights: Baltimore's kickers have been exceptional under Rosburg's tutelage. Entering 2018, two-time Pro Bowl K Justin Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history with a 90.2% on field goal attempts (202 of 224). Tucker, who Rosburg scouted and helped sign as a rookie free agent, owns the most FGs (202) since entering the NFL in 2012. In 2016, Tucker produced perhaps the best season ever by an NFL kicker, recording a single-season franchise-record 141 points. His 10 FGs of 50+ yards tied (Blair Walsh, 2012) for the most such kicks in NFL single-season history. Pro Bowl P Sam Koch, who earned his first trip to Hawaii in 2015, is one of the league's most accurate and consistent punters. He set single-season franchise punting records in 2014 with a 47.4 gross average (third in NFL) and a 43.3 net average (No. 1 in NFL), also shattering career bests. Rosburg's return units have been outstanding, as well, leading the league in KOR average in 2017 (27.5), 2014 (28.3) and 2012 (27.3) and ranking third in the NFL in punt return average (11.3) in 2015. Also, since 2014, the Ravens have 13 blocked kicks, ranking second in the NFL. In Baltimore's Super Bowl XLVII championship season (2012), WR/RS Jacoby Jones was spectacular, earning a Pro Bowl berth as a return specialist. Jones, who became the first player ever to record dual KORs of at least 105 yards in a career, tied for a league-leading 3 kick return TDs (2 KORs & 1 PR) and averaged an NFL-best 30.7 yards per kickoff return. Jones also tied an NFL record for longest KOR in Super Bowl history with his 108-yard KOR-TD in Super Bowl XLVII. Prior to his arrival in Baltimore, Rosburg built a successful NFL special teams resume both with the Browns (2001-06) and Falcons (2007) after a solid 20-year collegiate coaching career. Also, under his leadership, Cleveland's special teams units were consistently ranked among the NFL's best.
2008-17: (with Baltimore) Over the last 10 seasons, Ravens special teams units have been outstanding under Rosburg's direction. 2017: Ravens ranked No. 1 both in KOR average (27.5) and opponent KOR average (18.6)...P Sam Koch posted NFL bests in both punts inside the 10 (16) and 20 (40)...Ravens ranked fourth in Rick Gosselin's annual special teams report, marking the sixth-straight season Baltimore has been in the Top 5, the only team to accomplish the feat. 2016: K Justin Tucker, who had perhaps the best season ever by an NFL kicker, earned his second Pro Bowl and was a unanimous All-Pro selection...He recorded a single-season franchise-record 141 points, connecting on 38 of 39 FGs (lone miss was a block)...His 38 FGs ranked first in the NFL, while he was 10-for-10 from 50+ yards, tying (Blair Walsh, 2012) for the most such kicks in NFL single-season history...An NFL single-season record 24 of Tucker's 38 FGs made came from 40 yards or beyond (he was 24-of-24 on such boots)...LS Morgan Cox also earned his second Pro Bowl. 2015: Gosselin ranked the Ravens as the NFL's top special teams unit, also ranking 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)...The 5 blocked kicks tied (Oak.) for most...Tucker became the fastest kicker in NFL history to reach 500 points (60 games) and make 100 FGs (50 games). 2014: Ravens led NFL in KOR average (28.3), the fourth time in seven seasons the team has finished in the Top 5...Koch, a Pro Bowl first alternate, produced single-season career highs: the NFL's No. 3 gross average (47.4) and No. 1 net average (43.3)...Promoted to special teams coordinator/associate head coach. 2013: Tucker, who earned his first Pro Bowl nod, totaled the then-second-best field goal success rate (92.7, 38-of-41) in Ravens single-season history and set a then-franchise record with 140 points...He also kicked 3 game-winning FGs, including a 61-yarder at Detroit...Ravens were second in kickoff return average (26.4) and third in punt return average (14.2). 2012: Ravens finished first in NFL with a then-team-record 27.3 kickoff return average...Jones tied for a league-leading 3 kick return TDs (2 KORs: 108 and 105 yards & 1 PR: 63 yards) and averaged an NFL-best 30.7 yards per kickoff return...In Super Bowl XLVII, Jones added a fourth special teams TD with his second 108-yard KOR-TD of the season...Jones became the only player in NFL history to have dual KOR-TDs of at least 105 yards in a career (108- & 105-yarders)...Koch set then-Ravens single-season punting records with a 47.1 gross average and 40.8 net average...Tucker (90.9%) produced the second-best success rate by a rookie kicker in NFL history...Tucker made 42 of 42 PATs, setting a single-season franchise record. 2009: Team set a then-franchise record, ranking second in the NFL, with a 26.2-yard KOR average...Coverage units ranked fourth in opponent kickoff return average (20.3) and limited foes to an average starting line of 26.9 (second best in NFL)...Promoted to assistant head coach/special teams coordinator. 2008: Koch led the league with 18 punts inside the 10-yard line and was second with 34 punts inside the 20.
2007: (with Atlanta) In one season with Atlanta, the Rosburg-led Falcons' special teams units held a number of Top 10 NFL rankings: Second in opponents' average starting field position (25.5) and sixth in KOR average (24.4)…Special teams allowed opponents an average of 7.5 yards per PR, ranking eighth in the NFL.
2001-06: (with Cleveland) Over a five-year span (2002-06), the Browns' special teams were ranked as the top NFL team in Rick Gosselin's report...Was instrumental in developing the successful career of WR/RS Dennis Northcutt, helping him set team records for career punt returns (202) and career punt return yardage (2,149)…K Phil Dawson became one of the NFL's most accurate kickers. 2006: Browns ranked fifth in Gosselin's poll…Rosburg guided Northcutt, who finished fourth with an 11.1 punt return average…RS Joshua Cribbs set a then-team record for most KOR yards in franchise history with 1,494…Browns were the only NFL team to finish the season in the Top 5, both in starting field position on kickoffs (31.4 – second in NFL) and opponent starting position (25.3 – fourth in NFL)…Former Ravens P Dave Zastudil finished sixth in the NFL in net punting average (38.4) and sixth with 28 punts inside the 20 in his first year under Rosburg. 2005: Browns led league in special teams scoring – only team to score a special teams TD three different ways: off a PR, off a KOR and off a blocked FGA…Northcutt ranked fourth in the league in punt return average (10.1)…Dawson ranked second in FG accuracy (27-of-29 for 93.1%)…Gosselin ranked the Browns sixth best for the second-straight year. 2002: Browns notched a fourth-place ranking by Gosselin. 2001: Named special teams coach.
1999-2000: (with Notre Dame) 2000: Fighting Irish played in the Fiesta Bowl after a Bowl Championship Series berth. 1999: Was named cornerbacks/special teams coordinator.
1997-98: (with Boston College) Was the Eagles' secondary coach for two seasons.
1996: (with University of Minnesota) Secondary coach.
1992-95: (with University of Cincinnati) Shared STs duties over the course of four years with John Harbaugh. 1995: Rosburg coached the secondary. 1992-94: Coached LBs, including former Raven Brad Jackson.
1987-91: (with Western Michigan) A year after John Harbaugh departed the school (1987), Rosburg coached LBs and special teams for the Broncos. 1988: Team won nine games and earned a California Bowl appearance.
1981-86: (with Northern Michigan University) 1986: Named defensive coordinator and coached the secondary. 1983-85: Spent three years coaching LBs. 1981: Launched college coaching career in a graduate assistant role.
1979-80 (with Fargo Shanley HS, Fargo, ND) Began career as an assistant coach before entering the collegiate ranks.
College: An All-America LB at North Dakota State...Team and conference MVP (1977)…Earned his bachelor's degree in social science education in 1978 and his master's in education administration (1983) from Northern Michigan.
Personal: Attended Fairmont (MN) HS…Jerry and his wife, Sherry, have three children: a daughter, Megan, a former captain volleyball player at American University, a son, Jerad, a hockey player for Michigan State University, and another daughter, Margaret, who is in her sophomore year at Saint Louis University, where she plays for the Billiken volleyball team.
