Zach Orr facts for kids

Zachary "Zach" Orr (born June 9, 1992) is an American football coach and former player. He used to play as a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). Now, he is the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. This means he helps lead the team's defense. He also coached for the Ravens from 2017 to 2020 and from 2022 to 2023. In 2021, he coached for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Orr played college football at North Texas. He joined the Ravens in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. This means he was not chosen in the NFL draft but was signed by a team afterward. He played in the NFL for three seasons.

Playing Career

Zach Orr joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2014. Even though he wasn't drafted, he made it onto the team's main roster. In his first year, he was great at special teams, helping the team with 7 tackles.

In 2016, Orr became a starting linebacker for the Ravens. He played in 15 games that season. He made 132 tackles, which means he stopped the opposing team's players many times. He also defended 5 passes and caught 3 interceptions. An interception is when a defensive player catches a pass meant for an offensive player. He even forced one fumble, which is when a player drops the ball.

One exciting moment was in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Zach Orr made an interception in the final seconds of the game, which helped the Ravens win! After this great season, he was named second-team All-Pro. This is a big honor for NFL players.

Retirement from Playing

On January 20, 2017, Zach Orr announced he was retiring from the NFL. This was because of a health issue with his neck and spine. It was a condition he was born with.

Later, in June 2017, Orr thought he might be able to play again. He had received some hopeful news from doctors. However, after visiting many teams, no team would sign him. They were concerned about his spinal condition. Because of this, he officially retired for a second time on August 18, 2017.

Coaching Career

First Time with the Baltimore Ravens

Just 12 days after his second retirement from playing, Zach Orr started his coaching career. On August 30, 2017, the Baltimore Ravens hired him as a defensive analyst. In this role, he helped the coaching staff study opponents and plan defensive strategies. He worked under head coach John Harbaugh.

Jacksonville Jaguars

On February 11, 2021, Orr moved to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He became their outside linebackers coach. He worked under head coach Urban Meyer.

Second Time with the Baltimore Ravens

On February 23, 2022, Zach Orr returned to the Ravens. He was hired as their inside linebackers coach, again working with head coach John Harbaugh.

Then, on February 1, 2024, Orr received a big promotion. He was named the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. This happened after the previous defensive coordinator, Mike Macdonald, left to become a head coach for another team. As defensive coordinator, Zach Orr is now in charge of the entire defense for the Ravens.

Personal Life

Zach Orr comes from a family of football players. His father, Terry Orr, used to play tight end for the Washington Redskins.

Zach also has three brothers who played college football. His older brother, Terrance, played at Texas State. His younger brother, Nick, played at TCU. His youngest brother, Chris, played at Wisconsin and also played in the NFL and USFL before becoming a coach.

Zach Orr was born with a rare condition affecting his neck. His C-1 vertebrae, which is a bone at the very top of his neck, was not fully developed. Doctors found that if he took a bad hit, it could cause serious health risks. This condition was why he had to stop playing professional football. It was a difficult decision, especially after he had such a great season in 2016, leading the Ravens in tackles and earning All-Pro honors.