History of the Baltimore Ravens facts for kids
The history of the Baltimore Ravens tells the story of a professional American football team in the National Football League (NFL). The Ravens were created to fill the gap left when Baltimore's old team, the Colts, moved to Indianapolis. Interestingly, the Ravens' start meant that the Cleveland Browns' players and staff moved to Baltimore. Cleveland was then without a team until the Browns returned a few years later. Since then, the Ravens have been known for their strong defense and have won two Super Bowl championships.
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Origins of the Team
Years after the Colts left Baltimore, the city hoped to get a new NFL team. Baltimore offered a great financial plan. However, the league decided to give new teams to other cities, like Charlotte, North Carolina and Jacksonville, Florida. This made many people in Baltimore upset.
Baltimore then looked into getting an existing team. They focused on the Cleveland Browns, whose owner, Art Modell, was having financial problems. On November 6, 1995, Modell announced he would move his team to Baltimore. He said Cleveland's stadium was not good enough.
This decision led to legal discussions. On February 8, 1996, Cleveland and the NFL agreed that the Browns' name, colors, and history would stay in Cleveland. A new Cleveland Browns team would start playing in 1999. Modell's team, moving to Baltimore, would be a "new franchise," like an expansion team. The NFL teams approved this on February 9, 1996.
Before this, a Canadian Football League team, the Baltimore Stallions, had been very popular in Baltimore. Their success showed that Baltimore fans really wanted a football team. Art Modell noticed this. The Stallions, realizing they couldn't compete with a new NFL team, moved to Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
After moving his team, Art Modell kept the players and staff from the former Browns. He hired Ted Marchibroda as head coach. Marchibroda had coached the Baltimore Colts in the 1970s, making him the only person to coach both of Baltimore's NFL teams. Ozzie Newsome, a former Browns player, joined Modell in Baltimore and later became the team's General Manager.
To choose a name for the new team, surveys and a fan contest were held. From over 100 ideas, the list was narrowed down to three: Marauders, Americans, and Ravens. Finally, fans chose "Ravens." This name honors the famous poem The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe, who lived and is buried in Baltimore. The name was announced on March 29, 1996.
Some of the players who moved with the team to Baltimore included Anthony Pleasant, Vinny Testaverde, Michael Jackson, Matt Stover, Eric Turner, and Rob Burnett.
Due to ongoing financial challenges, the NFL asked Modell to sell his team. On March 27, 2000, NFL owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens to Steve Bisciotti. Bisciotti later bought the remaining 51% in 2004, becoming the team's main owner.
First Years (1996–1999)
1996: Inaugural Season
The 1996 season was the first for the Baltimore Ravens. They played their first home game at Memorial Stadium in 13 years. They won their first game against the Oakland Raiders. The team finished their first season with a record of 4 wins and 12 losses. Even though they didn't have a winning season, quarterback Vinny Testaverde was chosen for the Pro Bowl. Wide receivers Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander each gained over 1,000 receiving yards.
1997 Season
In 1997, the team played their last season at Memorial Stadium. They ended the season with 6 wins, 9 losses, and 1 tie. This was the lowest record in their division. Peter Boulware, a defensive player, had 11.5 sacks and was named AFC Defensive Rookie of the Year.
1998: New Stadium
Baltimore started the 1998 season in their new home, Ravens Stadium at Camden Yards. Vinny Testaverde had left, and Eric Zeier and later Jim Harbaugh took over as quarterbacks. Defensive player Rod Woodson joined the team. Running back Priest Holmes gained over 1,000 rushing yards. The Ravens finished with 6 wins and 10 losses. After three losing seasons, coach Ted Marchibroda was replaced by Brian Billick.
1999 Season
In the 1999 season, with their stadium renamed PSINet Stadium (now M&T Bank Stadium), the Ravens showed much improvement. Quarterback Tony Banks had his best season, and receiver Qadry Ismail gained over 1,000 yards. The Ravens started slowly but won four games in a row. They finished with an 8-8 record, just missing the playoffs.
First Super Bowl Championship (2000)
The 2000 season was amazing for the Ravens. Their defense, led by coordinator Marvin Lewis, became one of the best in NFL history. The Ravens' defense set a new NFL record by allowing only 165 points all season. Linebacker Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year. Two other defensive players, Sam Adams and Rod Woodson, also made the Pro Bowl.
The season started well with a 3-1 record. Quarterback Tony Banks was later replaced by Trent Dilfer. Rookie running back Jamal Lewis rushed for over 1,000 yards. The team won their last seven games, finishing with 12 wins and 4 losses. This was the first time the Ravens made the playoffs.
Because their division rival, the Tennessee Titans, had a better record, Baltimore played in the wild card round. They beat the Denver Broncos 21-3 in their first-ever playoff game. In the next round, they won against the Titans 24-10. A blocked field goal returned for a touchdown and a Ray Lewis interception return helped secure the win. The Ravens then defeated the Oakland Raiders 16-3 in the AFC Championship game.
Baltimore then went to Tampa for Super Bowl XXXV and easily beat the New York Giants 34-7. This was their first championship! The Ravens' defense was incredible, getting four sacks and forcing five turnovers. The Giants' only score came from a kickoff return. The 2000 Ravens became only the third wild-card team to win a Super Bowl.
This championship made the Ravens the fourth Baltimore-based pro football team to win a league title.
Years of Growth (2001–2011)
2001 Season
In 2001, the Ravens tried to defend their title with a new quarterback, Elvis Grbac. Injuries and a struggling offense made it tough. They finished 10-6 and earned a wild card spot. In the first playoff game, they beat the Miami Dolphins 20-3. However, they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-10 in the next round, ending their season.
2002: Team Changes
Baltimore faced salary cap problems in 2002 and had to let go of several players, including Sam Adams, Rod Woodson, and Shannon Sharpe. The Ravens drafted safety Ed Reed in the first round to replace Woodson. Longtime backup quarterback Chris Redman became the starter. The team finished with 7 wins and 9 losses, missing the playoffs.
2003 Season
The Ravens needed a quarterback but drafted defensive end Terrell Suggs with their first pick. They then traded to get the 19th pick, which they used to draft quarterback Kyle Boller. Boller started the 2003 season, but an injury led to Anthony Wright taking over.
The Ravens had a great comeback win against the Seattle Seahawks, overcoming a large deficit. They won five of their last six games, finishing 10-6 and winning their first AFC North division title. Running back Jamal Lewis had an amazing season, rushing for 2,066 yards. This was the second-highest total in NFL history at the time. He also set a single-game record with 295 yards against the Cleveland Browns.
In the playoffs, the Ravens lost a close game to the Tennessee Titans 20-17. For his incredible season, Jamal Lewis was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Linebacker Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year for the second time. This was the first time teammates won both awards in the same season. After the season, Art Modell officially transferred his ownership to Steve Bisciotti.
2004 Season
The Ravens tried to trade for Terrell Owens in 2004, but it was complicated. In the end, Owens went to another team. Kyle Boller remained the starting quarterback. Ed Reed became a star on defense with nine interceptions and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year. He also set an NFL record for the longest interception return, 106 yards. Baltimore stayed in playoff contention but finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
2005 Season
In 2005, the Ravens tried to improve their receiving players by signing Derrick Mason and drafting Mark Clayton. The 2005 season started with a game against the Indianapolis Colts, the team that used to play in Baltimore. The Ravens lost this game and struggled early in the season. They set a team record with 21 penalties in one game.
The Ravens finished the season with 6 wins and 10 losses.
2006 Season
The 2006 season started strong for the Ravens, who began with a 4-0 record under quarterback Steve McNair. They won key games against strong teams like San Diego and New Orleans. The Ravens finished the regular season with a team-best 13 wins and 3 losses. They won the AFC North title and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs.
In the second round of the playoffs, the Ravens faced the Indianapolis Colts. This was a big game for many fans, as it was the "new" Baltimore team against the "old" Baltimore team. In a strange game where both teams only scored field goals, the Colts won 15-6, ending Baltimore's season.
2007 Season
After a great 2006 season, the Ravens hoped to do even better in 2007. However, injuries and poor play led to a disappointing 5-11 record. Coach Brian Billick was let go after the season. He was replaced by John Harbaugh, who was the special teams coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.
2008: New Faces, New Success
With a new head coach, John Harbaugh, and a rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco, the Ravens faced many unknowns in 2008. They started 2-3 but then won eight of their last ten regular season games. They finished with 11 wins and 5 losses, earning a playoff spot. A big win came against the Dallas Cowboys in their final game at Texas Stadium.
In the playoffs, the Ravens first beat the Miami Dolphins 27-9. Six days later, they advanced to the AFC Championship game by beating the Titans 13-10. However, the Ravens lost to the Steelers 23-14 in the AFC Championship, just missing out on the Super Bowl.
2009 Season
The Ravens drafted Michael Oher in the first round of the 2009 NFL draft. His life story later became a movie called The Blind Side. The Ravens started the season with a strong 38-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. They also beat the San Diego Chargers and the Cleveland Browns.
They faced some tough losses against the Patriots, Bengals, and Vikings. However, they then crushed the undefeated Denver Broncos 30-7. The Ravens finished the season 9-7 and made the playoffs.
In the wild card round, they beat the Patriots 33-14. Running back Ray Rice had an 83-yard touchdown run on the first play of the game. They then played the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round. The Colts took a big lead, and the Ravens lost 20-3, ending their season.
2010 Season
During the 2009–2010 offseason, the Ravens added key players to their offense, including wide receivers Anquan Boldin and T. J. Houshmandzadeh. The Ravens finished the season with 12 wins and 4 losses. They defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 30-7 in the wild card round of the playoffs. Running back Ray Rice became the first Ravens running back to have a receiving touchdown in a playoff game.
However, the Ravens then lost to the Steelers 31-24 in the divisional playoffs. Baltimore had a 21-7 lead at halftime, but three turnovers in the third quarter allowed the Steelers to score 14 points. The Ravens' season ended with some dropped passes that could have been touchdowns.
2011 Season
After a labor dispute, the Ravens made some changes to their team, letting go of some veteran players and signing new ones like fullback Vonta Leach and wide receiver Lee Evans. They also signed left tackle Bryant McKinnie.
The 2011 season was one of the most successful in Ravens history. They started with a big 35-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Other important wins included beating the New York Jets and the Houston Texans. They also swept the Steelers in the AFC North division for the first time since 2006.
The Ravens had a big win over the San Francisco 49ers on Thanksgiving night. Coach John Harbaugh faced his brother Jim Harbaugh, who coached the 49ers. The Ravens won 16-6 and recorded a team record of nine sacks on the 49ers' quarterback.
The Ravens finished the regular season with 12 wins and 4 losses, winning the AFC North title and earning a first-round bye in the playoffs. They were 6-0 in their division and 8-0 at home.
In the divisional playoff game, the Ravens beat the Texans 20-13 in a tough defensive battle. Safety Ed Reed made a key interception in the fourth quarter. The Ravens then played the New England Patriots for a spot in the Super Bowl. It was a very close game. With seconds left, Billy Cundiff attempted a 32-yard field goal to tie the game, but he missed it. New England won and advanced to the Super Bowl.
At the first NFL Honors ceremony, Terrell Suggs was named Defensive Player of the Year, and Matt Birk was named Walter Payton Man of The Year.
Ray Lewis' Final Season and Second Super Bowl (2012)
Despite some early injuries, the Ravens started the 2012 season with a 9-2 record. They had a strong offense led by Joe Flacco. The team then had a three-game losing streak, which led to a change in offensive coordinators. However, the Ravens still clinched their fifth straight playoff spot. They finished the regular season with 10 wins and 6 losses, winning their division for the second year in a row.
The 2012 season was special because longtime linebacker Ray Lewis announced he would retire after the playoffs. Many people felt his announcement gave the team extra motivation. The Ravens defeated the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round at home. Ray Lewis celebrated his final home game with his famous dance.
Next, the Ravens faced the Denver Broncos in the AFC divisional round. Most people thought the Broncos would win. But the Ravens shocked everyone by winning 38-35 in double overtime. A crucial 70-yard touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Jacoby Jones, known as "The Mile High Miracle", tied the game. An interception by Corey Graham in overtime set up the winning field goal.
The Ravens then won the AFC Conference Championship against the New England Patriots 28-13. This sent them to Super Bowl XLVII to play the San Francisco 49ers on February 3, 2013. The Super Bowl started with a touchdown pass from Joe Flacco to Anquan Boldin. Flacco threw two more touchdowns, giving Baltimore a 21-6 lead at halftime. After halftime, Jacoby Jones returned the kickoff for a record-setting 108-yard touchdown.
Soon after, a power outage in the stadium stopped the game for 34 minutes. When power returned, the 49ers made a strong comeback, scoring 17 points in a row. The 49ers had a chance to take the lead late in the game, but the Ravens' defense stopped them near the goal line. The Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII 34-31! This Super Bowl was also called the "Harbaugh Bowl" because the 49ers were coached by Jim Harbaugh, the brother of Ravens coach John Harbaugh.
The Ravens returned to Baltimore for a huge celebration. Hundreds of thousands of fans lined the streets, and 80,000 packed M&T Bank Stadium to cheer for the team.
Recent Seasons (2013–Present)
2013 Season
After winning the Super Bowl, the Ravens were supposed to host the NFL's opening game. However, due to a conflict with the Baltimore Orioles, the game was moved. The Ravens were the first Super Bowl champions in 10 years not to host the next year's kickoff game.
The Ravens' team changed a lot in 2013. Key players like Ray Lewis and Matt Birk retired. Other important players left for different teams. The Ravens signed new players like Elvis Dumervil and drafted new talent. Unfortunately, tight end Dennis Pitta was injured for the entire season.
The season started with a loss to the Broncos. The Ravens struggled at times, including a game where Joe Flacco threw 5 interceptions. They had a three-game losing streak but then won against the Cincinnati Bengals in overtime. They also beat the Steelers on Thanksgiving. The Ravens finished the season with 8 wins and 8 losses, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007.
2014 Season
In 2014, the Ravens hired Gary Kubiak as their new offensive coordinator. They drafted linebacker C.J. Mosley and signed wide receiver Steve Smith. They also signed tight end Owen Daniels and running back Justin Forsett.
The season started with a loss to the Bengals. A serious personal conduct issue involving running back Ray Rice led to his contract being ended and his suspension from the NFL. Despite this, the Ravens rallied. They beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 26-6 and won a close game against the Browns. They also defeated the Carolina Panthers 38-10.
The Ravens had an impressive 48-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with Joe Flacco throwing 5 touchdown passes very quickly. They won against the Atlanta Falcons but then lost a close game to the Bengals due to a controversial penalty. They also lost to the Steelers.
The Ravens finished the season strong, winning their last game against the Browns to clinch a playoff spot. In the wild card playoff game, they won 30-17 against the Steelers. In the next round, they faced the New England Patriots. The Ravens had a 14-point lead twice but were defeated by the Patriots 35-31, ending their season.
2015 Season
The 2015 season marked 20 years for the Ravens team. Many key players, including Joe Flacco, Justin Forsett, Terrell Suggs, and Steve Smith Sr., suffered season-ending injuries. These injuries and losing close games led to the team's first losing season in the John Harbaugh-Flacco era.
2016 Season
The 2016 Ravens improved their record to 8 wins and 8 losses. However, they did not make the playoffs for the second year in a row. They were eliminated after losing to the Steelers in Week 16.
2017 Season
The Ravens were eliminated from playoff contention in the final week of the season. They lost to the Cincinnati Bengals on a game-winning touchdown pass in the last seconds. The Ravens finished with 9 wins and 7 losses, missing the wild card spots.
2018 Season
The Ravens started the 2018 season with 4 wins and 5 losses. When quarterback Joe Flacco was injured, rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson stepped in. Jackson led the Ravens to a strong finish, winning 6 of their last 7 games. They won their Week 17 game against the Cleveland Browns to win the division title. However, they lost to the Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round of the playoffs. After the season, Flacco was traded, making Jackson the starting quarterback.
2019: Lamar Jackson Leads the Way
With Lamar Jackson as quarterback, the Ravens started the 2019 season with two wins and two losses. But then, they went on an amazing run, winning 12 games in a row! They finished with a 14-2 record, which was the best in team history. The Ravens were also the only team to score at least 20 points in every regular season game. Lamar Jackson broke the record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season with 1,206 yards. However, their great season ended in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, where they lost to the Tennessee Titans 28-12.
2020 Season
After their excellent 2019 season, the Ravens added talented players like Patrick Queen and J. K. Dobbins in the 2020 draft. The 2020 season was a mix of ups and downs. They started 5-1 but then lost four of their next five games. One game against the Steelers was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak within the Ravens team.
After the outbreak cleared, the Ravens got back on track, winning their final five games. This included an exciting 47-42 win against the Browns on Monday Night Football. The Ravens finished with 11 wins and 5 losses, earning a wild card spot in the playoffs. They defeated the Titans 20-13 in the wild card round, getting revenge for the previous year's playoff loss. However, they then lost to the Bills 17-3 the following week.
