Steelers' AFC North Rival Ravens Hit With Big Distraction As Coach Set To Leave For College Ranks

As the Pittsburgh Steelers make their finishing touches in preparation for the AFC North Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday Night at Acrisure Stadium, the Ravens received big news in regards to one of their coaches. Baltimore tight ends coach, George Godsey has accepted the offensive coordinator job at Georgia Tech. While the move makes sense for Godsey and his career, the timing is less than ideal for the Ravens with the AFC North title on the line.

Godsey has been a key piece of Baltimore’s offensive staff, especially when it comes to getting the most out of the tight end room. Under his watch, Mark Andrews has continued to cement himself as one of the best tight ends in football. Not only has Andrews has been a reliable safety blanket for Lamar Jackson year after year, but he often times has been his number one receiver. 

Beyond Andrews, Godsey’s biggest stamp might be what he helped do with Isaiah Likely. When Likely entered the league, he was viewed as an athletic project with upside but not necessarily a polished player. Over the last couple of seasons, that perception has changed. 

Likely has developed into a legitimate weapon who can step into a bigger role whenever Andrews is banged up or drawing extra attention from defenses. Godsey helped turn Baltimore’s tight end group into one of the deepest and most dangerous in the NFL.

That success is a big reason Georgia Tech came calling. Godsey brings NFL experience, creativity, and a track record of developing talent. Not to mention Godsey played quarterback for the Yellow Jackets during his collegiate career. 

For Godsey, the move is a chance to run his own offense again and put his stamp on a program in a competitive conference. It’s an opportunity that doesn’t come around often, and it’s easy to see why he jumped at it. However, from the Ravens’ point of view, this couldn’t come at a more awkward time. 

Baltimore is staring down a Week 18 matchup against the Steelers that will decide who wins the AFC North. Games against Pittsburgh are always intense, physical, and emotional; and preparation matters. Even if Godsey remains professional and focused until the season wraps up, it’s fair to wonder how much this news becomes a background distraction for the team.

There’s also the question of how this impacts game planning. Godsey and the Ravens' tight ends have always found ways to slice up the Steelers' defense. Losing even a small edge in preparation or focus could be costly in a game where one mistake often swings the outcome. Pittsburgh has built a reputation on capitalizing on opponents’ errors, and Baltimore can’t afford to give its rival any other extra help.

Steelers Also Facing Coaching Departure For College Football

The Steelers are dealing with a bit of coaching turnover themselves, as news broke that assistant secondaries coach Anthony Midget is leaving Pittsburgh to take on a larger role at Virginia Tech, his alma mater. Midget will now serve as the cornerbacks coach, giving him the opportunity to lead a position group independently while returning to the school where his football journey progressed.

Midget has already made a noticeable impact on Pittsburgh’s secondary in just his second year with the team. Players like Joey Porter Jr., Brandin Echols, and James Pierre have all shown improvement under his guidance. 

Losing a coach like Midget is never easy, but much like the Ravens with Godsey, Pittsburgh must ensure this departure doesn’t become a distraction heading into Sunday’s critical matchup. 

The winner of Sunday Night's matchup takes the AFC North crown. For the Ravens, they're looking for their third consecutive AFC North title, and their fifth in the last eight seasons. For the Steelers, this would be their first AFC North championship since 2020. 

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