Even though the Baltimore Ravens have two Super Bowl wins and four AFC Championship Game appearances, they’ve never actually hosted the game. But after winning their Divisional Round game against the Houston Texans today, the city of Baltimore is going to see the Lamar Hunt Trophy handed out in their city for the first time in decades.
The last time the AFC Championship Game was contested in Baltimore was all the way back in January of 1971, when the legendary Johnny Unitas led the Baltimore Colts to a 27-17 win over John Madden’s Oakland Raiders. The Colts would go on to win the Super Bowl over the Dallas Cowboys
Lest we forget, the city of Baltimore was without football for over a decade after Bob Irsay moved the Baltimore Colts to Indianapolis in 1983.
It took the efforts of Art Modell to bring NFL football back to Baltimore in 1996, and thanks to superstars like Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis and Shannon Sharpe, they brought the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to Baltimore in 2000.
Last time there was an AFC title game in Baltimore, the QBs were Johnny Unitas and Daryle Lamonica. George Blanda came in after Bubba Smith knocked Lamonica out of the game, and Unitas hit Ray Perkins for a long TD to key a 27-17 Colts win.
The Colts went on to win Super Bowl V. pic.twitter.com/v2DrMDox6Q
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) January 21, 2024
The city of Baltimore has been able to enjoy two Super Bowl titles with the Ravens and enjoyed one more with the Colts back in 1971.
But to have the last home game before the Super Bowl in their city has to be special to some people.