It’s that time of year when summer is at its hottest and training camps around the NFL is underway. It’s also that time when teams announce honorees for their respective Hall of Fames and recognize their contributions. The Cincinnati Bengals recently announced Boomer Esiason and Chad Johnson for their Ring of Honor this year. The Baltimore Ravens should be making their inductee or inductees into their Ring of Honor soon, so let’s take a look at some of the candidates for this season. Last year, the Ravens honored Marshal Yanda, who is one of the two greatest offensive linemen in team history alongside Jonathan Ogden. Let’s start it off with the man they called T-Sizzle.
Baltimore Ravens 2023 Ring of Honor Candidates
Terrell Suggs
There were two players the Ravens selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Two guys that went in completely opposite career directions. Baltimore drafted quarterback Kyle Boller, who ended up being one of the biggest busts in team history. The other pick turned out to be one of the greatest players in team history, Terrell Suggs.
Suggs left his mark in Ravens history on some great defenses as well as his incredible personality. When you think of the Ravens defense, Suggs’s name is always brought up in the conversation along with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. A guy Ravens fans loved and opposing fanbases hated. In 2003, he won Defensive Rookie of the Year with 12 sacks and 2011 saw him win Defensive Player of the Year with 14 sacks.
When Terrell Suggs won Defensive Player of the Year. @untouchablejay4 (2011)
His cousin @JalenSuggs2020 plays in the National Championship tonight
pic.twitter.com/KicGuf0piT
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) April 5, 2021
He is the franchise leader in sacks (132.5) and forced fumbles (35), second in tackles (600) and finished with one All-Pro selection and seven Pro Bowls. As well as helping the team win Super Bowl XLVII.
Joe Flacco
Maybe the most polarizing player in team history, Ravens fans’ opinions on Flacco are all over the map. Love or hate him, the fact remains he is the guy that stopped Baltimore’s quarterback carousel. From 1996-2007, the Ravens couldn’t find any stability at quarterback until they drafted Flacco in 2008. In the turn of the millennium alone, Baltimore saw 10 different quarterbacks line up under center, which include Trent Dilfer who helped them to a victory in Super Bowl XXXV behind a legendary defense, Steve McNair, Elvis Grbac, Anthony Wright, and the previously mentioned Boller.
In 11 years as the team’s first franchise quarterback, Flacco earned Pepsi Rookie of The Year honors, won 106 games overall, including 10 playoff games, and is the franchise all-time leader in passing yards (38,245) and touchdown passes (212). He excelled in the postseason throwing 25 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 15 playoff games. In Baltimore’s run to their second Lombardi trophy, Flacco led the way with 11 touchdowns and no interceptions.
11 touchdowns and no interceptions with a 117.2 passer rating in four games.@JoeFlacco’s run in the 2012 playoffs was incredible. (via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/YzsTje0Gjq
— NFL (@NFL) May 25, 2020
Derrick Mason
The fact that the greatest wide receiver in franchise history is still not in the team’s Ring of Honor is astounding. Mason brought a tough style of receiver play to Baltimore after the Ravens signed him as a free agent in 2005. In six seasons, Mason excelled with multiple quarterbacks and was even reunited with McNair from 2006-2007 after their days in Tennessee. Mason was also a key figure in Flacco’s development, being his go-to guy from 2008-2010 thanks to their phenomenal chemisty. Mason is the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving yards (5,777) and fourth all-time in receiving touchdowns (29).
Most receiving yards in NFL, 2000-09:
1. Torry Holt 12,594
2. Randy Moss 11,739
3. Terrell Owens 11,644
4. DERRICK MASON 10,481
5. Marvin Harrison 10,439@deemason85 is unequivocally one of the most underrated WRs of the modern era. pic.twitter.com/Po2U1MgXOl— NFL on CBS
(@NFLonCBS) April 7, 2021
Chris McCallister
Like Mason, the fact that McCallister, the greatest cornerback in Ravens history, isn’t in the Ring of Honor is baffling. It’s long overdue. McCallister was a key player in the Ravens 2000 defense and being a big piece to arguably the greatest defense of all-time is no small feat. The Ravens drafted him in the first round in 1999, in 10 seasons he notched 26 interceptions. Returning five of them for touchdowns.
In the playoffs, McCallister grabbed three interceptions in eight games. In Super Bowl XXXV, he got one of the Ravens four interceptions off New York Giants quarterback Kerry Collins. McCallister is third on the franchise all-time list in interceptions and third in interception return yards with 486. In 2002, he set a record for the longest play in NFL history by returning a missed Jason Elam field goal 107 yards for a touchdown.
Main Photo: Sam Greene – USA Today Sports
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