Ravens All-Time team features stars from record-setting defense
Ravens All-Time team features stars from record-setting defense
The Baltimore Ravens have won two Super Bowls (XXXV and XLVII) in their 23-year history, with the first coming on the backs of a defense that allowed the fewest points in NFL history. Many of the starters from that team are featured on the roster of the greatest Ravens players.
Coach: Baltimore has only had three head coaches. In 11 seasons, Jim Harbaugh (104-72) has led the Ravens to the playoffs seven times, including three AFC Championship Games. He also got the better of his brother, John, in a Super Bowl XLVII victory over the 49ers. Brian Billick finished with an 80-64 record, and Baltimore reached the playoffs four times in his nine seasons. Billick and coordinator Marvin Lewis produced possibly the greatest defense in the NFL during Super Bowl XXXV season. Ted Marchibroda took over the team that used to be known as the Browns after Bill Belichick was let go following the 1995 season. Although the Ravens went 16-31-1 in Marchibroda’s three years at the helm, he helped get the pieces in place for an eventual title run.
Quarterback: Joe Flacco passed for 38,245 yards and 212 touchdowns, which are both club records by considerable margins. He threw for 3,000 or more yards in eight of 11 seasons, including a team record 4,317 in 2016. Flacco appeared in the playoffs seven times and was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII. He was traded to the Broncos in the offseason. Vinny Testaverde went to the Pro Bowl in the franchise’s first season (1996) after throwing for 4,177 yards and 33 touchdowns. Kyle Boller led the Ravens to the playoffs twice, Trent Dilfer was under center for the Super Bowl XXXV victory and the late Steve McNair helped the team get to the postseason in 2006.
Running Back: Jamal Lewis tops Baltimore’s all-time list with 7,801 yards and 45 touchdowns and is one of only seven backs to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. His 2,006 yards and 14 scores in 2003 earned him Offensive Player of the Year honors, as well as All-Pro and Pro Bowl nods, and he was also in the backfield for Super Bowl XXXV. Before his domestic violence issues, Ray Rice was a stellar runner and receiver, rushing for 1,000 or more yards each year from 2009-12 and making three Pro Bowls. He also started Super Bowl XLVII. Willis McGahee made the Pro Bowl after running for 1,207 yards in the 2007 season. Priest Holmes ran for 1,008 yards in 1998 before his career took off in Kansas City. Justin Forsett ran for 1,266 yards and made the Pro Bowl in 2014, and Byron “Bam” Morris was the starter for the team’s first two years.
Fullback: Le’Ron McClain made two Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2008 after running for 902 yards and 10 touchdowns. Alan Ricard was an excellent blocker for five seasons.
Wide Receiver: Derrick Mason holds team records with 471 receptions and 5,777 yards to go along with 29 touchdowns. He had four seasons with 1,000 or more yards. Torrey Smith is second on the team’s all-time list with 30 touchdowns, third with 3,591 yards, and he was the starter in Super Bowl XLVII. He had 1,128 yards in 2013 and 11 scores the following year. Mark Clayton is third in receptions (234) and has 3,116 yards. He made the NFL’s All-Rookie Team in 2005. Other top receivers include three who played in Super Bowl XXXV (Travis Taylor, Qadry Ismail, and Jermaine Lewis), plus Super Bowl XLVII starter Anquan Boldin and former Panthers star Steve Smith in the final three years of his career.
Tight End: Two-time Pro Bowler Todd Heap ranks just behind Mason with 467 catches and 5,492 yards, and his 41 touchdowns are the most in team history. Dennis Pitta played in Super Bowl XLVII, scoring seven touchdowns that season. Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe played two seasons in Baltimore, making the Pro Bowl in 2001 and also playing in Super Bowl XXXV.
Tackle: Hall of Fame left tackle Jonathan Ogden was Baltimore’s first draft pick (taken 4th overall in 1996). He made the NFL All-Rookie Team, then reached the Pro Bowl in the next 11 seasons. He was a four-time All-Pro and started in Super Bowl XXXV. Michael Oher, the subject of the film “The Blind Side,” starts at right tackle. He made the 2009 All-Rookie Team and played in Super Bowl XLVII. Others include current starter at left tackle, Ronnie Stanley, and three-year starters Orlando Brown and Ricky Wagner.
Guard: Edwin Mulitalo started on the left side for six years, including the 2000 Super Bowl season. On the right is Marshal Yanda, who was a seven-time Pro Bowler, a two-time All-Pro and a starter in Super Bowl XLVII. The backups are 2011 Pro Bowler Ben Grubbs and four-year starter Jeff Blackshear.
Center: Mike Flynn started in Baltimore for seven years, including Super Bowl XXXV. Matt Birk was the starter in the Ravens’ other Super Bowl victory and was the 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award winner. Wally Williams started in the team’s first three seasons.
Defensive End: Haloti Ngata could play both end and tackle. He played in Super Bowl XLVII, as well as five straight Pro Bowls. He was also a two-time All-Pro and had 25½ sacks. On the right side, Michael McCrary was a Super Bowl starter and a two-time Pro Bowler. His 51 sacks rank third in team history. Behind them are Rob Burnett, who had 10½ sacks in the 2000 Super Bowl season, Trevor Pryce, who had 13 sacks in 2006, and 2018 Pro Bowl selection Brandon Williams.
Nose Tackle: Kelly Gregg started for eight seasons, amassing 19½ sacks. Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa started as part of a 4-3 front in Super Bowl XXXV. Adams was a two-time Pro Bowler. James Jones started the first three Ravens seasons.
Outside Linebacker: Terrell Suggs has 132½ career sacks, a mark that tops the team’s all-time list and is the 13th most in NFL history. He had 10 or more sacks seven times. He was an All-Pro and the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, in addition to making seven Pro Bowls and starting in Super Bowl XLVII. On the other side is Peter Boulware, the 1997 Defensive Rookie of the Year who started Super Bowl XXXV. He made four Pro Bowls and his 70 sacks include 15 in 2001. Jamie Sharper started a Super Bowl and had 108 tackles and six sacks in 2001. Adalius Thomas had 11 sacks in his 2006 All-Pro season and he also made two Pro Bowls. Elvis Dumervil made the Pro Bowl twice and was an All-Pro in 2014 after registering a team-record 17 sacks. Jarrett Johnson started for six years in the late 2000s.
Inside Linebacker: Hall of Famer Ray Lewis was the only player to appear in both Ravens championship seasons, and was MVP of Super Bowl XXXV. He was a 13-time Pro Bowler, a seven-time All-Pro and a two-time Defensive Player of the Year. He ranks second in team history with 31 interceptions, fourth with 41½ sacks, and he has 13 seasons with 100 or more tackles, leading the league three times. The other starter is C. J. Mosley, a four-time Pro Bowler who has four seasons with 100 or more tackles. Bart Scott had 9½ sacks and 103 tackles in his 2006 Pro Bowl season. Jameel McClain played in Super Bowl XLVII and Edgerton Hartwell started for three seasons.
Cornerback: Chris McAlister was an All-Pro, a three-time Pro Bowler and a Super Bowl starter. His 26 interceptions include five returned for touchdowns. Lardarius Webb split time between corner and safety. He also started a Super Bowl, and he had five of his 15 interceptions in 2011. Starting alongside Webb in Super Bowl XLVII was Jimmy Smith, who had 13 picks with Baltimore. Duane Starks had six of his 20 interceptions in the 2000 Super Bowl season. Samari Rolle had three interceptions each in 2006 and ’08.
Safety: Hall of Fame free safety Ed Reed made nine Pro Bowls, was selected as an All-Pro five times and was the 2004 Defensive Player of the Year. His 64 interceptions (61 with Baltimore) ranks seventh all-time, and he ran back seven for touchdowns. His last game with the Ravens was Super Bowl XLVII. Strong safety Dawan Landry was a member of the 2006 All-Rookie Team. He had nine interceptions with the team, including three returned for scores. Hall of Famer Rod Woodson had 20 interceptions and made the Pro Bowls three times in four years with Baltimore. Eric Weddle went to the Pro Bowl all three seasons with the Ravens. Stevon Moore had four interceptions in 1997 and Chad Williams returned three of his eight picks for scores.
Kicker: Matt Stover has 1,464 points as the team’s first kicker, including 10 seasons with 100 or more. He was an All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in the 2000 Super Bowl season. Justin Tucker has a big leg (38 of 54 from 50 yards and beyond). He is a three-time All-Pro, a two-time Pro Bowler and has seven seasons with 100 or more points.
Punter: Sam Koch is a 2015 Pro Bowler and has a 45.3-yard average over 14 seasons.
Returners: Four players have at least 2.950 kickoff return yards, but the most dangerous was 2012 Pro Bowler and All-Pro Jacoby Jones, who had four touchdowns. Jermaine Lewis was a two-time Pro Bowler and a 1998 All-Pro. He has 2,730 punt return yards and six touchdowns. Corey Harris and B. J. Sams are also capable runners.
Special Teams: Before becoming a defensive star, Thomas made the Pro Bowl in 2003 as a special teams player. Bennie Thompson and Brendan Ayanbadejo also were Pro Bowlers here, and Morgan Cox was a Pro Bowl long snapper in 2016 and ’17.
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-By: Kevin Rakas