History of Baltimore Ravens in Timeline

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They compete in the NFL as part of the AFC North division. Their home games are played at M&T Bank Stadium, and their headquarters are located in Owings Mills, Maryland. Key aspects include their presence in Baltimore, participation in the NFL, and location of their stadium and headquarters.

September 7, 1947: Baltimore's Marching Ravens Continuity

On September 7, 1947, Baltimore's Marching Ravens, originally the Colts' marching band, began operating continuously, contributing to Baltimore's football culture.

1972: Baltimore Ravens Wheelchair Basketball Team Founded

In 1972, the Baltimore Ravens wheelchair basketball team was founded by Ralph Smith, a prominent figure in the National Wheelchair Basketball Association (NWBA).

1976: Tampa Bay and Seattle Set Penalty Record

In 1976, Tampa Bay and Seattle set a record for the number of penalties committed in a game.

1984: Controversial Colts Relocation

After the controversial 1984 relocation of the Colts to Indianapolis, several attempts were made to bring an NFL team back to Baltimore.

1984: Former Baltimore Colts Left Baltimore

In 1984, the Baltimore Colts left Baltimore under questionable circumstances.

1984: Commanders block return of NFL team to Baltimore

The Washington Commanders had long blocked the return of an NFL team to Baltimore since the Colts franchise relocated to Indianapolis in 1984.

1985: 1985 Chicago Bears

The 1985 Chicago Bears are often mentioned alongside the 2000 Ravens as one of the greatest NFL defenses of all time.

1986: Previous NFL Record Set by Chicago Bears

In 1986, the Chicago Bears set the NFL record for fewest points allowed in a 16-game season, a record which the 2000 Ravens broke.

1993: Baltimore Considered for NFL Expansion

In 1993, Baltimore was considered a favorite to be granted one of two new franchises ahead of the 1995 league expansion.

May 1994: Angelos Assembles Investors to Bid on Relocating Teams

In May 1994, Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos gathered a group of investors to bid on relocating teams, facing opposition from Washington Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke.

November 6, 1995: Modell Announces Relocation Intentions

On November 6, 1995, Art Modell announced his intention to relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, sparking controversy.

1995: Ravens colors inspired by Northwestern Wildcats

Art Modell admitted that the Ravens' colors, introduced in early 1996, were inspired by the Northwestern Wildcats 1995 dream season.

1995: Art Modell announces Browns relocation

In 1995, Art Modell, then-owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his intention to relocate the franchise to Baltimore, leading to the establishment of the Baltimore Ravens.

1995: Baltimore Passed Over for NFL Franchise

In 1995, Baltimore was unexpectedly passed over in favor of Jacksonville, Florida, despite offering a substantial financial package for a franchise.

February 8, 1996: Settlement Reached Between Cleveland and NFL

On February 8, 1996, a settlement was reached between Cleveland and the NFL, promising Cleveland an NFL team by 1999 and stipulating that the Browns' name, colors, and records would remain in Cleveland.

1996: First helmet logo used

From 1996 through the 1999 Pro Bowl, the team's first helmet logo, featured raven wings outspread from a shield displaying a letter B framed by the word Ravens overhead and a cross bottony underneath.

1996: Ozzie Newsome Becomes General Manager

From 1996, the Ravens organization was led by general manager Ozzie Newsome until his retirement following the 2018 season.

1996: Ravens' First NFL Draft

In 1996, the Baltimore Ravens participated in their first NFL draft, selecting Jonathan Ogden fourth overall and Ray Lewis 24th overall.

1996: Baltimore Ravens Established

In 1996, the Baltimore Ravens were officially established after Art Modell's decision in 1995 to move the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore. As part of a settlement with Cleveland, the Browns' history remained in Cleveland.

1996: Inaugural Season

In 1996, the Ravens won their opening game against the Oakland Raiders, but finished the season 4–12.

1996: NFL Draft Picks: Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis

In the 1996 NFL draft, the Ravens drafted Jonathan Ogden at No. 4 overall and Ray Lewis at No. 26 overall.

1996: Inaugural season uniform design

Since the team's inaugural season in 1996, the design of the Ravens uniform has remained essentially unchanged. Helmets are black with purple "talon" stripes, players normally wear purple jerseys at home and white jerseys on the road, and the team wore black pants with a single large white stripe for all games.

1996: Browns relocate to Baltimore

The Cleveland Browns relocated to Baltimore in 1996, prompting Cooke to put the Redskins' then-new stadium in Landover, Maryland.

1996: Ravens First Year of Existence

The Ravens first year of existence was in 1996.

December 14, 1997: Final Sporting Event at Memorial Stadium

On December 14, 1997, the Ravens played the final professional sporting event at Baltimore's historic Memorial Stadium, winning 21–19 over the Tennessee Oilers.

1997: Ravens opt for classic NFL look

In 1997, the Ravens opted for a more classic NFL look with white pants sporting stripes in purple and black, along with the jerseys sporting a different font for the uniform numbers. The white pants were worn with both home and road jerseys.

1998: Opening of PSINet Stadium

1998 marked the opening of a new stadium for the Ravens, originally named "PSINet Stadium" after the now-defunct internet service provider. The Ravens finished the 1998 season with a 6–10 record.

1998: Jim Harbaugh Played Quarterback

In 1998, Jim Harbaugh was the Quarterback for the Ravens. He is the brother of John Harbaugh, who replaced Billick in 2007.

1998: Ravens Missed the Playoffs

In 1998, the Ravens missed the playoffs.

1999: Brian Billick Hired as Head Coach

In 1999, Brian Billick took over as head coach for the Ravens. The Ravens finished the 1999 season with an 8–8 record.

1999: Cleveland to resume play

In 1999, a replacement team and replacement personnel would resume play in Cleveland, taking on the Browns' history, team colors, and records, as per the settlement.

1999: Scott Mitchell wears #19

In 1999, quarterback Scott Mitchell wore number 19 in his only season in Baltimore, breaking the unofficial retirement of the number out of respect for Johnny Unitas.

1999: Browns resume operations

In 1999, the Cleveland Browns resumed operations in the AFC North, after suspending operations for three seasons after the original Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens.

1999: Copyright verdict affirmed

In 1999, the US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a jury verdict that the logo infringed on a copyright retained by Frederick E. Bouchat, an amateur artist and security guard in Maryland.

1999: New Ravens logo introduced

In 1999, the new Ravens logo was introduced, featuring a raven's head in profile with the letter B superimposed. The secondary logo is a shield that honors Baltimore's history of heraldry.

1999: Promise of NFL Team in Cleveland

In 1999, the settlement between Cleveland and the NFL ensured that Cleveland would have an NFL team, either through relocation or expansion.

March 27, 2000: NFL Approves Sale of 49% of Ravens to Steve Bisciotti

On March 27, 2000, NFL owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens to Steve Bisciotti, initiating a transition in ownership.

2000: Ravens wear white pants with white jerseys in Super Bowl XXXV

At the end of the 2000 NFL season, the road uniform (white pants with white jerseys) was worn by the Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV.

2000: Ray Lewis Named Defensive Player of the Year

During the 2000 regular season, Ray Lewis was named Defensive Player of the Year. The Ravens finished the 2000 season with a 12-4 record, making the playoffs for the first time.

2000: Ravens Defense Sets NFL Record

During the 2000 season, the Ravens' defense set a new NFL record by holding opposing teams to 165 total points, surpassing the 1986 Chicago Bears' mark. The 2000 Ravens remain in the discussion as one of the greatest NFL defenses of all time, most notably alongside the 1985 Chicago Bears defense.

2000: Ravens Have Two First-Round Draft Picks

In 2000, the Baltimore Ravens had two first-round draft picks.

2000: Ravens give Titans first loss at new stadium, eliminate Titans from playoffs

In the 2000 season, the Ravens gave the Tennessee Titans their first ever loss at the new Adelphia Coliseum. The Ravens also eliminated Tennessee during the playoffs later on.

2000: Super Bowl XXXV Title and AFC Championship

Since 2000, the Ravens have achieved significant success, qualifying for the NFL playoffs 16 times, securing two Super Bowl titles (Super Bowl XXXV) and two AFC Championship titles in 2000.

2001: Ravens Clinch Wild Card Berth

In 2001, the Ravens clinched a wild card berth at 10–6. They won against the Miami Dolphins in the first round of the playoffs but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the divisional playoff.

2002: Ravens Select Ed Reed in NFL Draft

In 2002, Baltimore ran into salary cap problems and was forced to part with a number of impactful players. In the NFL Draft, the team selected Ed Reed with the 24th overall pick. The Ravens finished the 2002 season with a 7-9 record.

2002: Ravens begin wearing white jerseys for home opener

In the 2002 season, the Ravens began the practice of wearing white jerseys for the home opener that has a 1:00 kickoff.

April 2003: Art Modell Sells Stake to Steve Bisciotti

In April 2003, Art Modell sold 49% of the Baltimore Ravens to Steve Bisciotti. Bisciotti made his fortune in the temporary staffing field.

2003: Ravens Have Two First-Round Draft Picks

In 2003, the Baltimore Ravens had two first-round draft picks.

2003: AFC North Division Title

In 2003, the Ravens won the AFC North division title.

April 9, 2004: NFL Approves Bisciotti's Purchase of Majority Stake

On April 9, 2004, the NFL approved Steve Bisciotti's purchase of the majority stake in the Baltimore Ravens, completing the ownership transition.

November 2004: Alternate uniform design introduced

In November 2004, the team introduced an alternate uniform design featuring black jerseys and solid black pants with black socks. The all-black uniform was first worn for a home game against the Cleveland Browns, entitled "Pitch Black" night, that resulted in a Ravens win.

2004: Steve Bisciotti Becomes Majority Owner

In 2004, Steve Bisciotti became the majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens.

2004: Ravens Have No First-Round Draft Picks

In 2004, the Baltimore Ravens had no first-round draft picks.

2004: Ravens Miss Playoffs, Reed Wins Defensive Player of the Year

In 2004, the Ravens did not make the playoffs, finishing with a 9–7 record with Kyle Boller as quarterback. Ed Reed won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2004. They were also the only team to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season.

2004: Ravens Missed the Playoffs

The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2004.

2005: Ravens Draft Clayton, Finish Season 6-10

In 2005, the Ravens signed Derrick Mason and drafted Mark Clayton in the first round of the NFL draft. However, the Ravens ended their 2005 season with a 6–10 record.

2005: Ravens Missed the Playoffs

The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2005.

2006: Ravens wear white cleats

From their inaugural season until 2006, the Ravens wore white cleats with their uniforms.

2006: Billick Fires Fassel, Ravens Clinch AFC North

In 2006, offensive troubles led coach Billick to fire offensive coordinator Jim Fassel during their week seven bye. After the bye, Baltimore recorded a five-game win streak. The Ravens defeated the Kansas City Chiefs and held the Pittsburgh Steelers to one touchdown, allowing the Ravens to clinch the AFC North in 2006.

2006: Ravens Start Season 4-0

In 2006, the Baltimore Ravens began the season aiming to improve upon their 6–10 record from 2005. Led by quarterback Steve McNair, the Ravens started 4–0 for the first time in franchise history in 2006.

2006: AFC North Division Title

In 2006, the Ravens won the AFC North division title.

2007: Ravens Missed the Playoffs

In 2007 the Ravens missed the playoffs for the first time since 2007.

2007: Ravens Finish Season 5-11, Billick Dismissed

In 2007, the Ravens finished the season with a 5–11 record. A loss to the Miami Dolphins led to Brian Billick's dismissal after the 2007 season.

2007: Ravens suffer bitter loss to the Patriots

In 2007, the Ravens suffered a bitter 27–24 loss to the New England Patriots in the Patriots' quest for perfection.

2007: Ravens switch to black cleats

In 2007, the Ravens switched to black cleats.

December 7, 2008: New uniform combination introduced

On December 7, 2008, during a Sunday Night Football game against the Washington Redskins, the Ravens introduced a new combination of black jersey with white pants.

2008: AFC Championship Game Appearance

In 2008, the Ravens made an appearance in the AFC Championship game.

2008: Ravens Achieve Wild Card Spot

In 2008, the Ravens recovered, winning eleven games and achieving a wild card spot in the postseason.

2008: Ravens wear white jerseys at home for preseason games

Since John Harbaugh became the head coach in 2008, the Ravens have also worn their white jerseys at home for preseason games.

January 4, 2009: Ravens Win Wild Card Game Against Miami

On January 4, 2009, the Ravens won a rematch over Miami 27–9 at Dolphin Stadium in a wild-card game.

January 18, 2009: Ravens Lose to Steelers in AFC Championship Game

On January 18, 2009, the Ravens lost to the Steelers 23–14 at Heinz Field in the AFC Championship Game.

2009: Confrontation between Brady and Suggs

In 2009, the Patriots beat the Ravens 27–21 in a game that involved a confrontation between Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs. Both players would go on to take verbal shots at each other through the media after the game.

2009: Ravens Finish Season 9-7, Gain Wild Card

In 2009, the Ravens had an uneven string of wins and losses, finishing the season with a 9–7 record and gaining another wild card.

2009: Ravens win Wild Card Round

The Ravens won the 2009 Wild Card Round against the Patriots, 33–14.

December 5, 2010: Ravens wear black pants with purple jerseys

On December 5, 2010, the Ravens reverted to the black pants with the purple jerseys versus the Pittsburgh Steelers during NBC's Sunday Night Football telecast. The Ravens lost to the Steelers 13–10.

December 19, 2010: Ravens wear black jerseys and black pants

On December 19, 2010, the Ravens wore their black jerseys and black pants in a 30–24 victory over the New Orleans Saints.

2010: Tom Brady Won MVP

In 2010, Tom Brady won MVP.

2010: Ravens Finish Season 12-4, Earn Wild Card Spot

In 2010, the Baltimore Ravens finished the season with a 12-4 record. Due to a tiebreaker with Pittsburgh, they finished second in the division, earning a wild card spot.

2010: Ravens Have No First-Round Draft Picks

In 2010, the Baltimore Ravens had no first-round draft picks.

2010: Ravens wear black jerseys at least twice each season

Since 2010, the Ravens have worn their black jerseys at least twice each season.

December 24, 2011: Ravens wear black pants with purple jerseys

On December 24, 2011, the Ravens wore the black pants with the purple jerseys again for their game against the Cleveland Browns, and they won, 20–14.

2011: Alternating uniform combinations

From 2011 to 2013 and again in 2015, the Ravens wore the all blacks once and the black on white once.

2011: AFC Championship Game Appearance and AFC North Division Title

In 2011, the Ravens made an appearance in the AFC Championship game and won the AFC North division title.

2011: Ravens Beat Steelers in Week 1

In Week 1 of the 2011 season, the Ravens defeated the Steelers 35–7.

2011: Patriots win AFC Championship Game

The Patriots won the 2011 AFC Championship Game against the Ravens 23–20.

January 15, 2012: Ravens wear black pants with purple jerseys in AFC Divisional playoff

On January 15, 2012, the Ravens wore this combination a third time against the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional playoff. They won 20–13.

2012: Ravens Have No First-Round Draft Picks

In 2012, the Baltimore Ravens had no first-round draft picks.

2012: Ravens Route Cincinnati in Opener

In 2012, the Ravens routed Cincinnati 44–13 in the opener.

2012: Super Bowl XLVII Title and AFC Championship

In 2012, the Ravens secured a Super Bowl title (Super Bowl XLVII) and an AFC Championship title.

2012: Ravens First Division Title Since 2012

In 2018, the Ravens won their first division title since 2012.

2012: Ravens win AFC Championship game

The Ravens won the 2012 AFC Championship game against the Patriots, 28–13.

January 6, 2013: Ravens wear black pants with purple jerseys in AFC Wild Card playoff

On January 6, 2013, the Ravens wore this combination again during the AFC Wild Card playoff and what turned out to be Ray Lewis' final home game, where they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 24–9.

2013: Alternating uniform combinations

From 2011 to 2013 and again in 2015, the Ravens wore the all blacks once and the black on white once.

2013: Ed Reed Leaves Ravens

In 2013, Ed Reed left the Ravens to join the Houston Texans after a successful career with the team.

January 27, 2014: Ravens Hire Gary Kubiak

On January 27, 2014, the Ravens hired Gary Kubiak to be their new offensive coordinator.

February 15, 2014: Ray Rice Arrested for Assault

On February 15, 2014, Ray Rice and his fiancée Janay Palmer were arrested and charged with assault after a physical altercation.

July 25, 2014: Ray Rice Suspended

On July 25, 2014, Ray Rice was initially suspended for the first two games of the 2014 NFL season, leading to criticism of the NFL.

September 8, 2014: Ravens Terminate Rice's Contract After Video Release

On September 8, 2014, TMZ released footage of Ray Rice punching Janay Palmer. As a result, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Rice's contract.

2014: All black uniform worn twice

In 2014 and 2016, the Ravens wore all black both times they wore alternate uniforms.

2014: Ravens First Playoff Appearance Since 2014

In 2018, the Ravens made their first playoff appearance since 2014.

2014: Patriots win Divisional Round

The Patriots won the 2014 Divisional Round against the Ravens, 35–31.

December 20, 2015: Team debuts gold pants

On December 20, 2015, the team unexpectedly debuted gold pants for the first time, wearing them with their regular purple jerseys against the Kansas City Chiefs. The pants received an overwhelmingly negative response.

2015: NFL announces Color Rush jersey promotion

During the 2015 season, the NFL announced a jersey promotion called Color Rush in which teams would wear uniforms typically of one color head-to-toe during select prime-time games. The promotion was used three times that season.

2015: Alternating uniform combinations

From 2011 to 2013 and again in 2015, the Ravens wore the all blacks once and the black on white once.

2015: Ravens Recognize 20th Season

In the 2015 season, the Baltimore Ravens franchise recognized 20 seasons of the franchise's existence competing in the NFL. They wore a special badge on their uniforms during the 2015 NFL season.

2016: All black uniform worn twice

In 2014 and 2016, the Ravens wore all black both times they wore alternate uniforms.

2016: Ravens Miss Playoffs

In 2016, The Ravens finished 8-8, failing to qualify the playoffs for the second straight year. They were eliminated from playoff contention after their Week 16 loss to their division rivals, the Steelers.

2016: Ravens Had an 8-8 Record

In 2016, the Ravens had an 8-8 record.

2016: League releases uniforms for all 32 teams

In the 2016 season, the league released uniforms for all 32 teams and announced they would be worn during all Thursday Night games that year, as well as on Christmas.

2017: Ravens Miss Playoffs for Third Straight Year

In 2017, the Ravens finished the season 9–7 and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row.

2017: Ravens wear alternate jerseys multiple times

In 2017, the Ravens wore all black twice and black on white once, exceeding the league's limit for wearing alternate jerseys.

September 13, 2018: Ravens debut new uniform combination

On September 13, 2018, the Baltimore Ravens debuted a new uniform combination featuring white jerseys and purple pants with black and white side stripes during a road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

2018: Ravens Have Two First-Round Draft Picks

In 2018, the Baltimore Ravens had two first-round draft picks.

2018: Ravens Draft Lamar Jackson, Win AFC North

In 2018, the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson and he took over as starting quarterback in Week 11. The team finished the 2018 season with a 10–6 record and winning the AFC North.

2018: AFC North Division Title

In 2018, the Ravens won the AFC North division title.

March 13, 2019: Ravens Trade Joe Flacco to Denver Broncos

On March 13, 2019, the Ravens traded Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft.

2019: AFC North Division Title

In 2019, the Ravens won the AFC North division title.

2020: Ravens finish season 11-5, earn playoff berth

In 2020, the Ravens finished the season with an 11-5 record, securing second place in the AFC North and earning a Wild Card playoff berth as the fifth seed. They also led the NFL in rushing yards for the second consecutive year. During the playoffs, they defeated the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card round but lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round.

October 11, 2021: Ravens wear black uniforms with purple pants in overtime win

On October 11, 2021, the Baltimore Ravens wore their black uniforms with purple pants against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, resulting in a 31–25 overtime win.

2021: Ravens Have Two First-Round Draft Picks

In 2021, the Baltimore Ravens had two first-round draft picks.

2021: Ravens set record for consecutive preseason wins, Tucker kicks longest field goal

In 2021, the Ravens set a new record with 20 consecutive preseason wins, surpassing the Green Bay Packers' previous record. During Week 3 of the 2021 season, Justin Tucker kicked a 66-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions, setting a new NFL record for the longest field goal in league history. Despite a strong start, the Ravens finished the season with an 8-9 record and missed the playoffs.

2021: White hosiery worn with all-white uniform

Starting in 2021, the Ravens began wearing white hosiery with the all-white uniform.

January 2, 2022: Ravens wore purple socks with all-purple uniform

On January 2, 2022, the Baltimore Ravens wore purple socks with their regular all-purple uniform combination against the Los Angeles Rams, effectively replicating their Color Rush uniforms with minimal gold elements.

2022: Bengals win playoff meeting vs Ravens

As of the 2024 season, the Ravens lead the all-time series with the Cincinnati Bengals 32-27. The Bengals won the only playoff meeting in the 2022 AFC Wild Card round.

2022: Ravens Have Two First-Round Draft Picks

In 2022, the Baltimore Ravens had two first-round draft picks.

2022: Ravens lose in Wild Card Round to the Bengals

In the 2022 season, the Ravens finished with a 10-7 record, finishing second in the AFC North and ultimately losing in the Wild Card Round 24-17 to the Cincinnati Bengals.

2023: Patriots lead series vs Ravens

As of the 2023 season, the New England Patriots lead the overall series with the Ravens, 11–5. The two teams have split four postseason meetings, 2–2.

2023: Ravens Franchise Value

In 2023, the Baltimore Ravens franchise was valued at $4.63 billion, making it the 28th-most valuable sports franchise in the world.

2023: AFC Championship Game Appearance and AFC North Division Title

In 2023, the Ravens made an appearance in the AFC Championship game and won the AFC North division title.

2023: Ravens win AFC North, lose to Chiefs in AFC Championship

In the 2023 season, the Ravens finished with a 13-4 record, winning the AFC North title and securing the #1 overall seed in the AFC playoffs. They defeated the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game with a score of 17-10.

January 13, 2024: Baltimore Ravens head-to-head franchise record

As of January 13, 2024, here is the Baltimore Ravens head-to-head franchise record.

2024: Ravens-Bengals rivalry series lead

As of the 2024 season, the Ravens lead the all-time series with the Cincinnati Bengals 32-27.

2024: Ravens hold series lead over Browns

As of the end of the 2024 season, the Ravens hold a 37-15 series lead over the Cleveland Browns. The two teams have not met in the playoffs.

2024: AFC North Division Title

In 2024, the Ravens won the AFC North division title.

2024: Ravens acquire Derrick Henry, achieve six straight games milestone, and win AFC North.

Prior to the start of the 2024 season, the Ravens acquired All-Pro running back Derrick Henry. By week 6, the team became the first NFL team to post six straight games with at least 150 yards and one touchdown through the air and one on the ground. In the 2024 season, the Ravens finished with a 12–5 record and won the AFC North title. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 28–14 in the Wild Card Round before falling to the Bills 27–25 in the Divisional Round.

2024: Ravens to wear alternate purple helmets with Color Rush uniform

Starting in 2024, the Ravens would wear alternate purple helmets with the Color Rush uniform, featuring a new front-facing Ravens logo as the helmet decals. The full set was rebranded as the "Purple Rising" uniforms.