Special teams coaches share a common bond, but a past history of friendship helped bring Jerry Rosburg to the Ravens as special teams coordinator under John Harbaugh.

Rosburg coached in Michigan (Northern Michigan University) in the 1980s and at Western Michigan after John had coached there. Then the two coaches worked together at the University of Cincinnati for five years in the early 1990s.

“Our families became close [at Cincinnati] and our wives are close,” Rosburg said after special teams practice today. “This is a special situation for me working with John.”

Rosburg elevated the Cleveland Browns’ special teams to the upper tier from 2001-06 and spent last year in Atlanta before joining the Ravens. Under Rosburg, Browns’ kicker Phil Dawson hit 27 of 29 field goals (2005) and later made 27 consecutive kicks (2003-04).