Top 5 Best Players In Baltimore Ravens History, NFL List
One of the newest franchises is the Baltimore Ravens, which debuted in 1996. After the Colts moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis prior to the start of the 1984 NFL season, the Ravens became Baltimore's second NFL team. The Cleveland Browns' players and franchise were acquired by the Ravens after they were suspended prior to the 1996 campaign. The team initially had trouble, going four years without posting a winning season. The Ravens have had two Super Bowl victories and six first-place division finishes since 2000.
Six of the outstanding Ravens players have been honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Several of these names have only recently been retired, given how new the brand is.
#5. Joe Flacco
Joe Flacco was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL Draft in 2008 with the 18th overall pick. Despite being third in line for the quarterback job, Flacco would start the first game of the season after Kyle Boller, the original starter, and backup Troy Smith were both out due to illness and injury. With a 38-yard rush for the game-winning touchdown, Flacco would lead the Ravens to a 17-3 victory. After the Ravens selected Lamar Jackson in 2018, Flacco was eventually demoted to the position of backup. Following his departure from the Ravens, Flacco would play quarterback for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Philadelphia Eagles before making a comeback in 2021 for the Jets.
Flacco won the Super Bowl XLVII MVP award after leading the Ravens to victory. Eight NFL records and 17 Ravens franchise records are presently held by Flacco.
#4. Jamal Lewis
Before relocating to Cleveland to play for the Browns for an additional three seasons before retiring in 2009, Jamal Lewis was a great running back with the Baltimore Ravens from 2000 to 2006. Lewis won the Super Bowl in his rookie season after being selected by the Ravens with the fifth overall choice in the 2000 NFL Draft. Lewis went on to win the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award in 2003, the same year he was selected for his first Pro Bowl and led the league in running yards.
Lewis had a total of 45 rushing touchdowns and 2 receiving touchdowns while playing for the Ravens. Lewis was also selected for the 2000s All-Decade team, and in 2012, when the Baltimore Ravens hosted the Cleveland Browns, Lewis was inducted into the team's Ring of Honor.
#3. Ed Reed
Before temporarily playing for the Houston Texans and the New York Jets and retiring after the 2014 season, Ed Reed played with the Ravens for 11 seasons. Reed was a member of the 2012 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens squad. In addition, Reed won the 2004 NFL Defensive Player of the Year award and made the Pro Bowl nine times in one season. In addition, Reed would tie Everson Walls for first place in the NFL in interceptions in 2004, 2008, and 2010. In addition, Reed has the two longest interceptions and the longest return interception yardage in the NFL.
Unsurprisingly, Reed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019 as well as the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor in 2015.
#2. Jonathan Ogden
From the Ravens' first season in 1996 until his retirement in 2007, Jonathan Ogden was a player for them. From 1997 to 2007, he was in the Pro Bowl every year for 11 seasons. Ogden was the offensive lineman of the year in 2002 and a member of the NFL team of the decade for the 2000s. At pick four in the 1996 NFL Draft, Ogden was selected by the Ravens as their first ever pick. Ogden's primary duty was to safeguard Baltimore's quarterback.
Ogden founded the Jonathan Ogden Foundation after his playing days were over to support local inner-city schools. Marques Ogden, Ogden's younger brother, was also temporarily recruited to the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.
#1. Ray Lewis
Simply said, Ray Lewis is the embodiment of the Baltimore Ravens organization. From the team's first season in 1996 until his retirement in 2012, Lewis played for them for 17 seasons. Lewis was a member of the team for both of its Super Bowl triumphs and was named the game's MVP in Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis has already been inducted into the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He had a remarkable career as a Raven, setting three NFL records and appearing in 13 Pro Bowls.
Lewis, who was 37 years old and in his final season with the Ravens, had two tackles for loss and a pass deflection in the team's 34-31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Lewis had 1,568 solo tackles and 2.059 combined tackles during his career, which currently stands as the NFL record. Lewis was not just a gifted football player, but he was also a brilliant amateur wrestler who won a state championship before enrolling in college.
