Owings Mills, Maryland - Chuck Pagano made a clear difference Thursday: He always wanted to return to coach, but he never wanted to be a head coach again.

Pagano, 64, ended his four-year retirement when he was hired as a senior coach for the Baltimore Ravens in late January. After Thursday's practice, Pagano insisted that he focused on his job in Baltimore and no other job.

"No, sir." He said when asked if he wanted to be the NFL head coach again. “Until you were in that seat, no one had any ideas.”

Pagano was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2012 to 2017, with a 56-46 record (.549) including the playoffs. In six seasons, he brought the Colts to two AFC Southern Championships and three playoff spots, including the New England Patriots’ losses in the 2014 AFC Championship.

“My best memories and coaching moments were my first time here (in Baltimore) and just being a second-tier coach,” Pagano said. “(as a head coach), you get rid of what you love to do, it’s in the coaching game. You have a lot of other things to do……………….”

Pagano's return to Baltimore starts with calling John Harbaugh about another coach. In January, Pagano and Harbaugh's defense may have solicited possible candidates. Harbaugh then asked Pagano if he wanted to coach again, which led to video calls and parties.

Pagano was the secondary coach of Harbaugh's first coaching staff in Baltimore in 2008. Three years later, Pagano became the Ravens' defensive coordinator, who allowed third in yards and third in scoring in 2011.

On Thursday, Pagano thought it would be effortless to return to the Ravens.

"It's probably just the only chance to get me off the couch," Pagano said. "A lot of my friends come home and say, 'Are you not in your mind? Why are you going back to grinding?' You can't copy you.

Pagano thought of returning to the day he retired.

“I never really stopped thinking about coaches and thinking games,” Pagano said. “My kids, my wife, my daughter – they didn’t know anything – but they all thought I was retired too young.”

Now, Pagano is back in Baltimore, where he can assist the Ravens' sophomore defensive coordinator Zach Orr. The Ravens allowed 4,150 yards in 2024, marking the second time in their history that they have given up a season of more than 4,000 yards.

Pagano will oversee a talented middle school that includes two Pro Bowl players - safety Kyle Hamilton and cornerback Marlon Humphrey - as well as a 2024 first-round draft pick.

Many players have been involved with Pagano with the work they can do. According to Orr, he gave a detailed response from everyone.

“He is a DB expert,” Orr said. "He'll be great. I fired him."