Baltimore Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris has passed away at the age of 70, the team announced Sunday.

D’Alessandris was recently hospitalized for what the Baltimore Ravens said was “an acute illness that was going to require ongoing treatment for an extended period of time.” He had been the Ravens’ offensive line coach since 2017.

Head coach John Harbaugh gave the following statement on “Coach D’s” tragic passing:

“Coach ‘Joe D.’ was a man of integrity and a man of faith. He made us all better. He was our reader at team mass, and he was loved by all here. He was a great coach and a good man – the kind of person who you are honored to have as a friend. He raised three incredible, beautiful daughters, and he was a most loving husband. His grandkids also adored him. I admired him, loved him and am going to miss him, because ‘Joe D.’ was a joy. Toni has him back now. May God bless ‘Joe D.’ forever.”

After finishing school at Western Carolina, Joe D’Alessandris began his coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Catamounts in 1977. Coach D held that role for two years before moving on to Livingston to take over as the offensive line coach.

D’Alessandris made the jump to the NFL in 2008, accepting their assistant offensive line coach position. He was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach from 2010 to 2012 and took on the same role for the San Diego Chargers from 2013 to 2015.

Harbaugh hired D’Alessandris to take over as the Baltimore Ravens’ offensive line coach in 2017. He oversaw the development of star offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley, Orlando Brown Jr. and Tyler Linderbaum.

D’Alessandris was predeceased by his wife, Toni, in 2022. He is survived by daughters Anna, Emily and Kelly and five grandchildren. Our thoughts and prayers are with D’Alessandris’ family and friends and the Baltimore Ravens organization.

Coach D Was Vital In Baltimore Ravens’ Resurgence

The Ravens had to rebuild their offense around dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson in 2018. Harbaugh, D’Alessandris and then-offensive coordinator Greg Roman did just that, creating the league’s best-rushing offense that saw Jackson exceed 1,000 yards rushing in 2019 and 2020.

Since Jackson’s 2018 rookie year, the Ravens have made the playoffs five times, with three AFC North division titles and a trip to the 2023 AFC Championship Game. Their resurgence as an AFC powerhouse would not be possible without the juggernaut of an offensive line that Coach D developed.

The Ravens open their 2024 season with a road game against the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5.

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Source: The Wall Street Journal