Some fans choose their team, and some fans are chosen by their team. Which was it for you? Today, we want to hear your story from you: how you became a fan of the Ravens.
Baltimore quickly embraced the former Cleveland Browns franchise when it arrived in Baltimore. The new team name and mascot was inspired by an Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Raven’, an ironic choice considering the famed poet’s main connection with Baltimore is his death. Purple and black quickly spread through the city, and interest in the Ravens
surged during the 2000 season as the team neared its first playoff berth. Not only that, the 2000 Ravens went 12-4, won the Super Bowl, and established a legacy as one of the greatest defenses in NFL history.
That success – and the Bullies of Baltimore ethos – brought more non-locals into the fan base. Ray Lewis’ fiery personality and hard-hitting style of play was a major draw and inspired an entire generation of young linebackers. Consistent playoff contention under Brian Billick kept the Ravens popular, especially with Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs following in Lewis’ footsteps as incredible talents with personalities that made them easy to root for. Stagnation in the mid-2000’s ultimately led to Billick being fired after the 2007 season by Steve Bisciotti, who had taken full ownership of the franchise in 2004.
Then came John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco. In their debut season, the Ravens not only made the playoffs, but went all the way to the AFC Championship propelled by continued defensive dominance. The Harbaugh-Flacco era peaked with a Super Bowl victory in 2012 powered by Flacco’s legendary playoff run. But the fanbase was grew restless after zero AFC North Crowns and just one playoff appearance in the five years after the 2012 Super Bowl.
But with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 draft, the Ravens found the player who would bring them back into the national spotlight on par with the 2000’s: Lamar Jackson. His 2019 MVP as the most devastating dual-threat quarterback in league history had kids all over the world imitating Jackson in their backyards. Televsion roundtable held endless debates about Jackson – his talent, his contract, his attendance at OTAs, to name a few. He was everywhere. That continued to expand the fanbase, though lunatics, haters, and punk trash criticizing Jackson and the Ravens proliferated on social media.
Fans who grew tired of a longtime head coach – especially one who could not get over the hump with Jackson under center – now have a breath of fresh air in Jesse Minter. The young defensive guru intends to return the team to their physical, bully-bal identity. Those who became disillusioned by Harbaugh will, hopefully, reinvest in the Ravens as they attempt to finally win a Super Bowl with Jackson.
Now, we want to hear from you! When did you first become a fan? Were you born into it? Was there a specific game or season that pulled you in? What’s the earliest moment you remember as a fan?
Let’s hear your story.
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