In the end, Ravens coach John Harbaugh chose his mentor over his best friend.

The Ravens hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron as their offensive coordinator Wednesday.

“We’re excited to get Cam, because he’s a fine coach and a good person,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “He had other options. We’re going to be tough, we’re going to be exciting, we’re going to be disciplined, and we’re going to play really hard. If we do those things on offense, and we take care of one another, good things will happen.”

Cameron was fired after one season with the Dolphins, a disastrous 1-15 campaign. Cameron’s lone win came against the Ravens Dec. 16 after his team had lost its first 13 games. But Miami’s 22-16 overtime victory was not enough to save Cameron’s job, as Bill Parcells, the team’s recently hired vice president of football operations, fired him on Jan. 3.

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During a conference call with the Baltimore media, Cameron said he anticipated calling plays.

The hire brings Cameron and Harbaugh’s relationship full circle.

When Cameron was the head coach of Indiana University in 1997, he hired Harbaugh to coach special teams and defensive backs. A year later, Harbaugh left for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he spent 10 years before becoming Harbaugh’s first hire as coach of the Ravens.

Cameron, a quarterback specialist, will look to revitalize a stagnant offense that ranked 22nd in the NFL this past season. The Ravens were plagued by injuries, turnovers and ineffective quarterback play during their 5-11 season.

“The first thing we’ll do is look at a lot of video of the Ravens’ offense and assess each player,” Cameron said. “I’m excited to get going.”

Before being hired by the Miami, Cameron was the offensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers. He worked with some of the biggest talents in the NFL, including LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees and Antonio Gates.

It appeared Harbaugh was going to hire his long-time friend and fellow Eagles’ coach Pat Shurmur earlier this week. Shurmur has been with Philadelphia nine years, including the past six as quarterbacks coach.

The Ravens also are waiting to hear on the future of former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who was turned down by the Atlanta Falcons for their head coaching job Wednesday.

The Falcons hired Jacksonville Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith, who was an assistant with the Ravens from 1999 through 2001.

Ryan, who also interviewed for the Ravens’ head coaching position, said he was open to returning to the team, which would welcome him back.

Ryan is under contract with the Ravens next season, but could be courted by the Washington Redskins and New York Jets. Ryan denied being contacted by the Redskins, who are expected to hire former Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel as their head coach.

“I’ll be coaching defense somewhere,” Ryan said. “I’m in a holding pattern. I’ll coach somewhere and I’ll be happy to do it.”

mpalmer@baltimoreexaminer.com