12p 8025 baltimore ravens

The History of the Baltimore Ravens

  • The franchise moves from Cleveland to Baltimore

    The franchise moves from Cleveland to Baltimore
    The owner of Cleveland Browns, Art Modell, announces his intentions of moving the team, after unsuccessfully being able to to approve a new football stadium.
  • Period: to

    History of the Baltimore Ravens

  • The Browns finish their season

    The Browns finish their season
    The team lost 12 of their last 10 games.
  • NFL owner approves the move

    NFL owner approves the move
    The franchise is approved to move to Baltimore, Maryland.
  • Ted Marchibroda is named coach of the new franchise

    Ted Marchibroda is named coach of the new franchise
    Ted Marchibroda, the former coach of the Indianapolis Colts, is named the new coach of the franchise.
  • The team is named!

    The team is named!
    The team left it in the hands of the people of Baltimore to name the franchise. After a telephone vote, the city decided on the Baltimore Ravens, after Edgar Allen Poe who wrote "The Raven" and had lived a number of his years in the city.
  • First NFL draft for the Ravens

    First NFL draft for the Ravens
    Top selections are Jonathan Odgen and Ray Lewis.
  • Groundbreaking at new stadium location

    Groundbreaking at new stadium location
    Groundbreaking takes place for a new stadium with would seat 68,000.
  • Win first game

    Win first game
    The Ravens win their first game against the Oakland Raiders : 19 to 14.
  • Testaverde and the Pro Bowl

    Testaverde and the Pro Bowl
    Vinny Testaverde, the quarterback at the time, is named to his first Pro Bowl.
  • Ravens defeat Oilers

    The Ravens defeated the Tennessee Oilers, 36-10, to start the season 3-1.
  • Finishes second season

    Jonathan Ogden is named an All-Pro and is voted as a starter to the Pro Bowl. Ray Lewis led the NFL in tackles with 210, was voted 1st alt to the Pro Bowl.
  • Jim Harbaugh and the Ravens

    Jim Harbaugh and the Ravens
    The Ravens acquire quarterback Jim Harbaugh from the Indianapolis Colts.
  • New stadium is revealed

    New stadium is revealed
    The stadium is unveiled to the public for the first time, as a crowd of 36,016 shows up for an open house.
  • Duana Starks signs four year contract

    Duana Starks signs four year contract
    First-round pick Duane Starks, after a two-week holdout, signs a four year contract worth $7 million.
  • Opening of Ravens Stadium

    The Ravens opened their new NFL Stadium in downtown Baltimore. The game was against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens lost, 20-13.
  • Ray Lewis - Defensive Player of the Year

    Ray Lewis - Defensive Player of the Year
    Ray Lewis is awarded Defensive Player of the year in 2000.
  • Modell sells to Biscotti

    Modell sells to Biscotti
    Due to financial troubles, owner Art Modell sells 49% of the franchise to Steve Biscotti, after the NFL approved the sale.
  • Champs at Super Bowl 35

    Champs at Super Bowl 35
    The Ravens defeated the New York Giants, 34-7, to win their first-ever World Championship in Super Bowl XXXV played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Ray Lewis was named Super Bowl MVP.
  • Making history

    Making history
    The Baltimore Ravens become the first team in NFL history to win their first 5 playoff games when they defeat the Miami Dolphins 20-3 in the AFC Wild Card game.
  • The Ravens welcome new GM

    The Ravens welcome new GM
    On November 22, 2002, Ozzie Newsome was named general manager of the Baltimore Ravens, making him the first African-American to occupy that position in the NFL.
  • Ray Lewis - Defensive Player of the Year

    Ray Lewis - Defensive Player of the Year
    Again in 2003, Ray Lewis is awarded Defensive Player of the Year.
  • Ed Reed - Defensive Player of the Year

    Ed Reed - Defensive Player of the Year
    In 2004, for the second year in a row, a Baltimore Raven is awarded Defensive Player of the Year, this time, it was awarded to Ed Reed.
  • Bisciotti takes over

    Bisciotti takes over
    Steve Bisciotti buys the rest of Art Modell's percentage of the team in 2004, for $325 million.
  • New Special Teams Coach

    New Special Teams Coach
    In 2008, Jerry Rosburg was hired as assistant head coach / special teams coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
  • Introducing new coach, John Harbaugh

    Introducing new coach, John Harbaugh
    John Harbaugh becomes the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, only after the Dallas Cowboy's offensive coordinator, Jason Garrett, turned down the job.
  • Ray Rice joins the Ravens

    Ray Rice joins the Ravens
    In the 2008 NFL Draft, Ray Rice was drafted to the Ravens in the second round, and signed to a four-year contract worth $2.8 million with a $1.1 million signing bonus.
  • The arrival of Flacco

    The arrival of Flacco
    On July 16, Joe Flacco signed a five-year contract with a guaranteed $8.75 million.
  • Dennis Pitta drafted

    Dennis Pitta drafted
    In the 2010 NFL Draft, Dennis Pitta was selected by the Ravens in the fourth round and signed a three-year contract to the team.
  • Terrell Suggs - Defensive Player of the Year

    Terrell Suggs - Defensive Player of the Year
    In 2011, Terrell Suggs is awarded Defensive Player of the Year.
  • Jacoby Jones becomes a Raven

    Jacoby Jones becomes a Raven
    On May 8, 2012, Jones signed a two-year, $7 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens, after being released from the Texans
  • Justin Tucker becomes new placekicker

    Justin Tucker becomes new placekicker
    Although Justin Tucker was a free agent in the 2012 NFL Draft, he was not selected until later, to begin workouts with the team. He surpassed the Raven's placekicker at the time, Billy Cundiff, to which the Ravens released Cundiff from his contract on August 26, keeping Tucker.
  • Art Modell Passes

    Art Modell Passes
    On September 6, 2012, Art Modell, former owner of the Ravens, passes away at 87 due to natural causes. He still owned 1% of the team and worked in the offices as a team consultant. In memorium of Art, the uniforms were altered with a black patch that simply said "Art".
  • Baltimore Ravens win second Super Bowl

    Baltimore Ravens win second Super Bowl
    The Baltimore Ravens achieve their second Super Bowl win against the San Fransisco 49ers, 31 to 34, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Joe Flacco was pronounced the MVP.
  • Ray Lewis Begins Retirement

    Ray Lewis Begins Retirement
    Ray Lewis announced his intentions to retire during the Raven's season, fueling them to want to win big one last time for their fearless leader. Following the Super Bowl, Ray Lewis retired.