Baltimore Ravens

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Lore & Background

The Baltimore Ravens were established in 1996 after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced plans in 1995 to move the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore. As part of a settlement between the league and the city of Cleveland, Modell was required to leave the Browns' history, team colors, and records in Cleveland for a replacement team and replacement personnel that would resume play in 1999. In return, he was allowed to take his own personnel and team to Baltimore, where such personnel would form an expansion team. On March 27, 2000, Modell sold a 49 percent stake in the team to tech investor Steve Bisciotti of Aerotek for $275 million. The agreement included an option for Bisciotti to purchase an additional 50 percent for $325 million in 2004, while Modell retained a 1 percent stake until his death in 2012. Bisciotti became the Ravens’ majority owner on April 9, 2004, completing a total purchase valued at $600 million. In 2023, the franchise was valued at $4.63 billion, the world's 28th-most valuable sports franchise. As of the 2025 season, the Ravens have a regular season record of , the third-highest winning percentage among active franchises, and the fourth-highest playoff winning percentage at . The team has qualified for the NFL playoffs 16 times since 2000 with two Super Bowl titles (XXXV and XLVII), two AFC Championship titles (2000 and 2012), five AFC Championship game appearances (2000, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2023), and eight AFC North division titles (2003, 2006, 2011, 2012, 2018, 2019, 2023, and 2024). They and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams undefeated in multiple Super Bowl appearances. The Ravens organization was led by general manager Ozzie Newsome from 1996 until he retired after the 2018 season; it has had four head coaches: Ted Marchibroda, Brian Billick, John Harbaugh and Jesse Minter. Starting with a record-breaking defensive performance in their 2000 season, the Ravens have established a reputation for strong defensive play. Former players such as middle linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Ed Reed, and offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In Their Own Story

The Ravens' season was a rollercoaster. After a 1–5 start, their worst since 2015, they won five straight games to reach 6–5 and briefly hold first place in the AFC North. Key wins included a 30–16 victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 8 to snap the losing streak, a 28–6 rout of the Miami Dolphins in Week 9 with Lamar Jackson's return, and a 23–10 win over the New York Jets in Week 12. However, the team faltered down the stretch, winning only two of their final six games. A Week 13 Thanksgiving loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, 32–14, was their first on Thanksgiving. A controversial overturned touchdown catch by Isaiah Likely in a 27–22 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14 proved costly. The Ravens were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2021 after a Week 18 loss to the Steelers.

Reader's Guide

The name 'Ravens' was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven. Chosen in a fan contest that drew 33,288 voters, the allusion honors Poe who spent the early part of his career in Baltimore and is buried there. Other names polled included 'Marauders', 'Americans', and 'Bombers', among others. Before the football team, there was the Baltimore Ravens wheelchair basketball team — the original Baltimore Ravens. In 1972, the Ravens wheelchair basketball team was founded by Ralph Smith. The name 'Ravens' was inspired by Bob Ardinger, a member of the Ravens wheelchair basketball team. In the 1990s, the naming rights were later sold to the football team when they came to the city and the wheelchair basketball team became known as the Maryland Ravens. After the Colts moved in 1984 to Indianapolis, several attempts were made to bring an NFL team back to Baltimore. In 1993, ahead of the 1995 league expansion, the city was considered a favorite, behind only St. Louis, to be granted one of two new franchises. Baltimore, however, was unexpectedly passed over in favor of Jacksonville, Florida. By May 1994, Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos had gathered a new group of investors, including author Tom Clancy, to bid on teams whose owners had expressed interest in moving. Having failed to obtain a franchise via the expansion, the city turned to the possibility of obtaining the Cleveland Browns, whose owner Art Modell was financially struggling and at odds with the city of Cleveland over desired improvements to the team's stadium. Enticed by Baltimore's available funds for a first-class stadium and a promised yearly operating subsidy of $25 million, Modell announced on November 6, 1995, his intention to move the team from Cleveland to Baltimore the following year. The resulting controversy ended when representatives of Cleveland and the NFL reached a settlement on February 8, 1996. The agreement stipulated that the Browns' name, colors, uniform design and franchise records would remain in Cleveland. Modell's Baltimore team, while retaining all current player contracts, would, for purposes of team history, appear as an expansion team. As the team prepared to open the 1996 season in Baltimore, Modell hired a new head coach: Ted Marchibroda. Ozzie Newsome joined Modell in Baltimore as director of football operations. The home stadium for the Ravens first two seasons was Bal

Did You Know?

• The name 'Ravens' was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven.
• Before the football team, there was the Baltimore Ravens wheelchair basketball team, founded in 1972.
• The Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams undefeated in multiple Super Bowl appearances.
• The Ravens have had four head coaches: Ted Marchibroda, Brian Billick, John Harbaugh and Jesse Minter.