The Baltimore Ravens had a resurgent 2018 season that saw them get to the postseason for the first time since 2014. Baltimore saw the biggest improvement in their run game, which is why running back coach Thomas Hammock could be poached away.

Hammock is the frontrunner for the Northern Illinois University head-coaching position as John David Gallione first reported and Jeff Zrebiec confirmed.

My sources tell me that Thomas Hammock is the frontrunner for the #NIU coaching vacancy. Hammock spent last season as a running backs coach for the @Ravens and had both OC and assistant head coaching experience at the college level. — John David Gallione (@JDGWrites) January 11, 2019

Hammock has been with the Ravens since 2014 as their running back coach. He was formerly the assistant head coach and running backs coach at Wisconsin from 2011-2013 as well, making him an intriguing candidate to lead a team of his own.

Hammock has done wonders with Baltimore’s rushing attack and is well respected for it. Hammock helped then-journeyman running back Justin Forsett kickstart his career and earn his first Pro Bowl nomination. Hammock has also been a major driving force in the development of players like Gus Edwards and Alex Collins, both of whom were on the Ravens’ practice squad before being named starters.

For Hammock, this would be a homecoming for him. Hammock was a star running back for NIU, rushing for 2,432 yards and 25 touchdowns on 544 carries from 1999-2002. In 2000, Hammock had the third-most touchdowns in the MAC.