Baltimore Ravens

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. 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.

In Their Own Story

The humid air of Raymond James Stadium hung heavy with anticipation as the Ravens' defense lined up against the Bucs' offense in the fourth quarter. The crowd roared, a sea of red and pewter clashing with purple and gold. A single play, a desperate fourth-down conversion attempt, echoed through the stadium, deciding not just the game but the trajectory of an entire season.

Reader's Guide

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.

Did You Know?

• The Ravens' name was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's poem The Raven, chosen in a fan contest with 33,288 voters.
• Before the football team, the original Baltimore Ravens were a wheelchair basketball team founded in 1972 by Ralph Smith.
• The Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only teams undefeated in multiple Super Bowl appearances.