The Ravens will look to a familiar face to help rebuild the NFL’s worst pass defense.
The team announced Thursday that it re-signed veteran safety Tony Jefferson, bringing back a beloved locker room presence whose play was an unexpected bright spot for an injury-riddled secondary late last season.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Jefferson, 30, was signed to Ravens’ practice squad Dec. 13 and was quickly elevated to the 53-man roster to help a secondary that lost starting safety DeShon Elliott and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters to season-ending injuries. He appeared in four games, playing 89 defensive snaps and recording 17 tackles, one sack and one pass breakup while also contributing on special teams.
Jefferson, who had played in just two NFL games since his previous stint with the Ravens ended in 2019, immersed himself in the team’s culture as if he had never left. He touted his love for Baltimore on social media and called the opportunity “kind of something I would probably dream about.”
In a recent interview, the veteran said he’s been watching more film “than I ever have in my career,” which helped him earn one of the Ravens’ top coverage grades according to Pro Football Focus at the end of last season.
“Just being able to be in the locker room and just being in the league so long and seeing different locker rooms and seeing how things have shook out in every type of situation off the field, I think it’s just an added bonus for GMs or front offices,” Jefferson told The Baltimore Sun earlier this month. “I think it helps them sleep better at night knowing that they’ve gotten somebody in the locker room that can kind of keep it tame and controlled and set a standard in there. I think that’s huge when you’re trying to build a roster for organizations.”
Jefferson will add to the Ravens’ depth at a position where the team could be looking for a new starter, with Elliott headed for free agency. Brandon Stephens, who improved throughout his rookie season, is also in the mix along with Geno Stone and returning starter Chuck Clark.
After four years with the Arizona Cardinals, Jefferson signed a four-year, $34 million contract with the Ravens before the 2017 season. He started 16 games in 2017, 14 in 2018 and five in 2019, when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The Ravens released Jefferson with a year remaining on his contract, and he sat out the 2020 season while recovering.
He appeared in two games for the San Francisco 49ers in November, his first game action since the 2019 season, before being cut from their practice squad in December.
The Ravens were in dire straits when Jefferson rejoined them and never pulled out of a tailspin that saw them fall from the AFC’s No. 1 seed to an 8-9 final record.
Coach John Harbaugh nonetheless expressed his appreciation for Jefferson’s contributions. “He’s one of our guys,” he said shortly after the veteran safety began practicing. “Tony is one of our guys. Having him back, I think it’s a good shot in the arm for all of us, and he can still play.”
Jefferson was delighted to feel wanted again.
“I don’t think front offices around the league probably thought I was healthy, or I don’t know what their circumstances were when it came to me, regardless of the amount of tape I’ve put out for seven years,” he said after the Ravens’ Week 16 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. “But I do know I got my opportunity here. They know me here. I just wanted to go out there and showcase that I am healthy and go and play football. That was kind of my mindset if I were to get in — just go out and show.”