Orr’s Next Chapter

January 1, 2017

The Ravens had just completed another disappointing season of underachievement, finishing (8-8) after losing to the Cincinnati Bengals by the score of 27-10. They would pack their bags and head home to Baltimore and clean out their lockers. A premature ending to a season that started (3-0) and initially offered promise.

There were however, a few bright spots. Among them was 24-year-old, previously undrafted linebacker Zach Orr who would become an unrestricted free agent, a little more than two months out. Orr finished the 2016 season with a team-leading 133 tackles (C.J. Mosley was 2nd with 92), was second with 3 interceptions and third in tackles-for-loss with six. He was named a Second-Team All Pro.

Welcome home, Zach Orr!

Another familiar face in the defensive coaching department! #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/4qB4tzeeug

— Nic Mason (@British_Raven19) February 7, 2022

The Ravens had exclusive rights to negotiate a new deal with Orr during that two-month window before the new league year commenced. Both sides seemed committed to working out a fair deal. Nineteen days later the Ravens scheduled a press conference and Orr was the guest of honor.

Hearing Ravens made considerable progress with LB Zach Orr on a new contract. They have a press conference scheduled for Fri. May be related

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 20, 2017

January 20, 2017

The day was not the happy one that alleged insider Jason LaCanfora predicted for Orr. It was quite the opposite. The presser was set up to announce Orr’s forced retirement, due to medical reasons.

Zach talked about the next chapter in his life and you got the feeling that he would attack it, whatever it was, with gusto. He left no one in that room feeling like his life still couldn’t be a success. Scanning the room of those in attendance, Orr was the least solemn person.

The young linebacker explained that his early retirement was forced upon him after the results of a CAT scan revealed that his C1 vertebrae, the one closest to his skull and the smallest of all human vertebrae, had never completely formed – a birth defect. Exposure to the wrong kind of collision could result in permanent paralysis or death.

June 28, 2017

Six months later, perhaps driven in part by ambition, partly by frustration, partly by the prognosis of Dr. Sanford Emery, a West Virginia spine specialist, Orr announced that he planned to return to the NFL. But somewhere between this announcement and actually taking the field, encouraged by reasonability, desire stepped aside. This likable, pleasant guy who had so much to give to the world, reached the sensible conclusion once and for all, to make his mark in the world via another, albeit unidentified path.

Orr remained in Baltimore as a defensive analyst from 2017-2020. He then moved on to Jacksonville where he would join former Ravens D-Line coach Joe Cullen and his defensive staff under Urban Meyer’s guidance. The gig was short-lived. Orr returned to Baltimore as the inside linebackers coach, replacing Rob Ryan.

As a player, Orr gleaned all he could from his innate physical skills. He was smart, tough, focused, passionate and respected. He overachieved. And now, the Ravens will hope that those qualities can rub off on their young, physically gifted ILB’s so the likes of Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison can fulfill on the field, what the Ravens personnel group once envisioned.

Maybe, this is that successful “next chapter” that Orr alluded on that January afternoon back in 2017.

[Related Article: Zach Orr Comeback]

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