History of Baltimore Ravens in Timeline
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. They compete in the NFL as part of the AFC North division. Their home games are played at M&T Bank Stadium, and the team headquarters are located in Owings Mills, Maryland.
September 7, 1947: Baltimore's Marching Ravens Began
On September 7, 1947, the Baltimore's Marching Ravens, then known as the Colts' marching band, began continuous operation.
1972: Baltimore Ravens Wheelchair Basketball Team Founded
In 1972, the original Baltimore Ravens, a wheelchair basketball team, was founded by Ralph Smith.
1984: Colts Relocation to Indianapolis
After the controversial relocation of the Colts to Indianapolis in 1984, multiple attempts were made to bring an NFL team back to Baltimore.
1985: Comparison to 1985 Chicago Bears Defense
The 2000 Ravens defense is often compared to the dominant 1985 Chicago Bears defense due to its exceptional performance.
1986: Chicago Bears' Previous Defensive Record
In 1986, the Chicago Bears held the previous NFL record for the fewest points allowed in a 16-game season, with 187 points.
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 Bids on Relocating Teams
In May 1994, Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos gathered investors to bid on teams interested in relocating to Baltimore.
November 6, 1995: Modell Announces Relocation to Baltimore
On November 6, 1995, Art Modell announced his intention to relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore, enticed by the city's financial offers.
1995: Art Modell Announces Relocation Plans
In 1995, Art Modell, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his plans to relocate the franchise from Cleveland to Baltimore.
1995: Inspiration for Ravens' Colors
In 1995, The Ravens' colors, introduced in early 1996, were inspired by the Northwestern Wildcats 1995 dream season.
1995: Baltimore Passed Over for NFL Franchise
In 1995, despite a strong bid, Baltimore was passed over in favor of Jacksonville, Florida, for an NFL franchise, leading to public outrage.
February 8, 1996: Settlement Reached Between Cleveland and NFL
On February 8, 1996, a settlement was reached between Cleveland and the NFL, ensuring Cleveland would receive a new team by 1999 and retaining the Browns' history and identity.
1996: Ozzie Newsome becomes General Manager
In 1996, Ozzie Newsome became the general manager of the Ravens, leading the organization until his retirement after the 2018 season.
1996: Baltimore Ravens Established
In 1996, the Baltimore Ravens were established after Art Modell announced plans to relocate the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore.
1996: Browns Relocation to Baltimore
In 1996, the Cleveland Browns relocated to Baltimore, prompting the Washington Commanders to put their stadium in Landover, Maryland.
1996: Inaugural Helmet Logo
In 1996, the Ravens used their first helmet logo, featuring raven wings outspread from a shield displaying a letter B.
1996: Ravens Inaugural Season
In 1996, the Ravens won their opening game, but finished the season with a 4-12 record.
1996: Ravens Inaugural Season Uniform Design
In 1996, the Ravens' uniform design has remained essentially unchanged since the team's inaugural season. Helmets are black with purple "talon" stripes. Players normally wear purple jerseys at home and white jerseys on the road.
December 14, 1997: Final Sporting Event at Memorial Stadium
On December 14, 1997, the Ravens won the final professional sporting event at Baltimore's historic Memorial Stadium, defeating the Tennessee Oilers 21-19.
1997: Introduction of White Pants
In 1997, the Ravens opted for a more classic NFL look with white pants sporting stripes in purple and black.
1998: Inaugural Season at PSINet Stadium
1998 marked the opening of the new stadium for the Ravens, originally named "PSINet Stadium".
1998: Move to M&T Bank Stadium
In 1998, the Ravens moved to their new stadium, now known as M&T Bank Stadium.
1999: Brian Billick Hired as Head Coach
In 1999, Brian Billick became the head coach of the Ravens, replacing Ted Marchibroda.
1999: Scott Mitchell wears #19
In 1999, Scott Mitchell wore the number 19 in his lone season in Baltimore, a number that was otherwise unissued out of respect for Johnny Unitas.
1999: Lawsuit regarding the Inaugural Helmet Logo
In 1999, The US Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a jury verdict that the Ravens' first helmet logo infringed on a copyright.
1999: Cleveland Browns Resume Play
In 1999, a replacement Cleveland Browns team with replacement personnel resumed play, retaining the Browns' history, team colors, and records, as part of a settlement regarding the relocation.
1999: New NFL Team Promised to Cleveland
In 1999, as part of the settlement, the NFL promised the city of Cleveland that an NFL team would be located there, either through relocation or expansion, no later than 1999.
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.
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 due to the financial challenges of the organization.
2000: Super Bowl XXXV Uniform
At the end of the 2000 NFL season, the Ravens wore the road uniform (white pants with white jerseys) in Super Bowl XXXV.
2000: Ravens' Dominating Defense Breaks NFL Record
During the 2000 season, the Ravens' defense broke an NFL record, holding opposing teams to only 165 total points, surpassing the 1986 Chicago Bears.
2000: First round draft picks
In 2000, the Ravens had two first-round draft picks.
2000: Playoff Berth and Defensive Prowess
In the 2000 regular season, the Ravens made the playoffs for the first time and finished 12-4, with a strong defense and Ray Lewis being named Defensive Player of the Year.
2000: Ravens Give Titans First Loss at Adelphia Coliseum and Eliminate Them in Playoffs
In the 2000 season, the Ravens gave the Titans their first ever loss at the new Adelphia Coliseum and eliminated Tennessee during the playoffs.
2000: Super Bowl XXXV and AFC Championship Titles
Since 2000, the Ravens have qualified for the NFL playoffs 16 times, winning Super Bowl XXXV, an AFC Championship title in 2000, and making five AFC Championship game appearances.
2001: Playoff Loss to Steelers
In 2001, the Ravens attempted to defend their title, but their season ended with a 27-10 divisional playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, despite a wild card berth.
2002: Ed Reed Drafted
In 2002, the Ravens drafted Ed Reed, who became one of the best safeties in NFL history, however, the team faced salary cap issues and finished with a 7-9 record.
2002: 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 49% of Team to Steve Bisciotti
In April 2003, Art Modell sold 49% of the team to Steve Bisciotti, a local businessman.
2003: AFC North Division Title and Playoff Loss
In 2003, the Ravens drafted Kyle Boller, won their first AFC North division title with a 10-6 record, but lost their first playoff game against the Tennessee Titans 20-17.
2003: First round draft picks
In 2003, the Ravens had two first-round draft picks.
2003: AFC North Division Title
In 2003, the Ravens won an AFC North division title, one of eight such titles since 2000.
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.
November 2004: Introduction of All-Black Alternate Uniform
In November 2004 the Ravens introduced an alternate uniform design featuring black jerseys and solid black pants with black socks.
2004: Steve Bisciotti Becomes Majority Owner
In 2004, Steve Bisciotti became the majority owner of the Baltimore Ravens.
2004: Ravens finish 9-7, Ed Reed wins Defensive Player of the Year
In 2004, the Ravens finished the season with a 9–7 record, missing the playoffs. Ed Reed won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. The Ravens were also the only team to defeat the 15–1 Pittsburgh Steelers during the regular season.
2004: No first round draft pick
In 2004, the Ravens had no first-round draft pick.
2005: Ravens draft Mark Clayton, finish 6-10
In 2005, the Ravens drafted Mark Clayton and finished the season with a 6-10 record.
2005: Ravens finish 6-10
In 2005, the Ravens finished the season with a 6-10 record.
2006: Ravens start 4-0 for the first time
In 2006, the Baltimore Ravens started the season 4-0 for the first time in franchise history, led by quarterback Steve McNair.
2006: Ravens fire offensive coordinator, clinch AFC North
In 2006, the Ravens fired their offensive coordinator Jim Fassel mid-season. They later clinched the AFC North title after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs and holding the Pittsburgh Steelers to one touchdown.
2006: AFC North Division Title
In 2006, the Ravens secured an AFC North division title, adding to their achievements since 2000.
2007: Ravens finish 5-11, Billick fired
In 2007, the Ravens finished the season with a 5–11 record. Brian Billick was fired as head coach after a loss to the Miami Dolphins.
2007: Ravens Suffer Bitter Loss to Patriots
In 2007, the Ravens suffered a bitter 27–24 loss to the Patriots during the Patriots' quest for a perfect season.
2007: Switch to Black Cleats
In 2007, the Ravens switched to black cleats after wearing white cleats from their inaugural season until 2006.
2007: Ravens miss playoffs for the first time since 2007
The Ravens missed the playoffs in 2007 for the first time since 2007.
December 7, 2008: Debut of Black Jersey with White Pants Combination
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, contributing to their total of five appearances since 2000.
2008: Ravens make playoffs with rookie coach and QB
In 2008, the Ravens, with a rookie head coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco, achieved a wild card spot in the postseason after winning eleven games.
2008: Harbaugh's Preference for White Jerseys in 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 defeat Dolphins in Wild Card game
On January 4, 2009, the Ravens defeated the Miami Dolphins 27–9 in a wild-card game.
January 18, 2009: Ravens lose to Steelers in AFC Championship
On January 18, 2009, the Ravens lost to the Steelers 23–14 in the AFC Championship game.
2009: Confrontation Between Brady and Suggs
In 2009, the Patriots beat the Ravens 27–21 in a game that included a confrontation between Tom Brady and Terrell Suggs, leading to verbal exchanges through the media.
2009: Ravens finish 9-7, lose in Divisional Round
In 2009, the Ravens finished with a 9–7 record, earning a wild card spot. They were eliminated by the Colts in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.
2009: Ravens Win Wild Card Round Against Patriots
In 2009, the Ravens won the Wild Card Round against the Patriots with a score of 33–14.
December 5, 2010: Ravens Revert to 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, resulting in a loss.
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: Ravens finish 12-4, lose to Steelers in playoffs
In 2010, the Ravens finished the season with a 12–4 record, earning a wild card spot. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs.
2010: No first round draft pick
In 2010, the Ravens had no first-round draft pick.
2010: Frequent Use of Black Jerseys
Since 2010, the Ravens have worn their black jerseys at least twice each season.
December 24, 2011: Black Pants with Purple Jerseys Against Browns
On December 24, 2011, the Ravens wore black pants with purple jerseys again for their game against the Cleveland Browns, and they won.
2011: Patriots Win AFC Championship Game Against Ravens
In 2011, the Patriots won the AFC Championship Game against the Ravens with a score of 23–20.
2011: Ravens defeat Steelers 35-7 in Week 1
In 2011, the Ravens defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 35–7 in Week 1 of the season.
2011: AFC Championship Game Appearance and AFC North Division Title
In 2011, the Ravens made an appearance in the AFC Championship game, also winning an AFC North division title, adding to their accolades since 2000.
January 15, 2012: Black Pants with Purple Jerseys Against Texans in Playoffs
On January 15, 2012, the Ravens wore the combination of black pants with purple jerseys a third time against the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional playoff, securing a win.
2012: No first round draft pick
In 2012, the Ravens had no first-round draft pick.
2012: Ravens route Cincinnati 44-13 in opener
In 2012, the Ravens routed the Cincinnati Bengals 44–13 in the season opener.
2012: Super Bowl XLVII and AFC Championship Titles
In 2012, the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII and an AFC Championship title, adding to their list of achievements since 2000.
2012: Ravens Win AFC Championship Game Against Patriots
In 2012, the Ravens won the AFC Championship game against the Patriots with a score of 28–13.
January 6, 2013: Black Pants with Purple Jerseys in Ray Lewis' Final Home Game
On January 6, 2013, the Ravens wore black pants with purple jerseys during the AFC Wild Card playoff, which was Ray Lewis' final home game, and they defeated the Indianapolis Colts.
2013: Ed Reed Leaves Ravens
In 2013, Ed Reed left the Ravens to join the Houston Texans after a successful career with Baltimore.
January 27, 2014: Ravens hire Gary Kubiak as offensive coordinator
On January 27, 2014, the Ravens hired Gary Kubiak as 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.
July 25, 2014: Ray Rice suspended for two games
On July 25, 2014, Ray Rice was initially suspended for the first two games of the 2014 NFL season.
September 8, 2014: Ravens release Ray Rice after video release
On September 8, 2014, the Baltimore Ravens terminated Ray Rice's contract after a video surfaced showing him punching Janay Palmer. Rice was later indefinitely suspended by the NFL.
2014: Patriots Win Divisional Round Against Ravens
In 2014, the Patriots won the Divisional Round against the Ravens with a score of 35–31.
2014: All Black Alternate Uniforms
In 2014, the Ravens wore all black alternate uniforms.
December 20, 2015: Debut of Gold Pants
On December 20, 2015, the Ravens unexpectedly debuted gold pants for the first time, wearing them with their regular purple jerseys against the Kansas City Chiefs.
2015: Announcement of Color Rush 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.
2015: Ravens suffer losing season due to injuries
The 2015 season marked the franchise's 20th season in the NFL. The Ravens lost key players to season-ending injuries, leading to a 5–11 record and the first losing season in the Harbaugh-Flacco era.
2016: Ravens finish 8-8, miss playoffs
In 2016, the Ravens finished with an 8–8 record and failed to qualify for the playoffs for the second straight year.
2016: Ravens Win Wearing All-Purple Color Rush Uniforms
In 2016, the Ravens wore their all-purple Color Rush uniforms and won 28–7 over the division rival Cleveland Browns.
2017: Ravens finish 9-7, miss playoffs for third straight year
In 2017, the Ravens finished with a 9–7 record, missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year.
2017: Multiple Alternate Uniforms
In 2017, the Ravens wore all black twice and black on white once.
2018: Lamar Jackson takes over as QB, Ravens win AFC North
In 2018, Lamar Jackson became the starting quarterback, and the Ravens finished the season with a 10–6 record, winning the AFC North.
2018: First round draft picks
In 2018, the Ravens had two first-round draft picks.
2018: AFC North Division Title
In 2018, the Ravens won an AFC North division title, contributing to their total of eight titles since 2000.
March 13, 2019: Ravens trade Joe Flacco to Broncos
On March 13, 2019, the Ravens traded Joe Flacco to the Denver Broncos.
2019: AFC North Division Title
In 2019, the Ravens won an AFC North division title, continuing their success since 2000.
2020: Ravens finish 11-5, lose in Divisional Round
In 2020, the Ravens finished with an 11–5 record, earning a Wild Card playoff berth. They lost to the Buffalo Bills in the Divisional Round.
October 11, 2021: Black Uniforms with Purple Pants Against Colts
On October 11, 2021, the Ravens wore their black uniforms with purple pants against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in a 31–25 overtime win.
2021: Consecutive Preseason Wins Record and Tucker's Record-Breaking Field Goal
In 2021, the Ravens achieved a record of 20 consecutive preseason wins and Justin Tucker kicked a record-breaking 66-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions, the longest in NFL history.
2021: First round draft picks
In 2021, the Ravens had two first-round draft picks.
2021: Change to White Hosiery with All-White Uniform
Starting in 2021, the Ravens began wearing white hosiery with the all-white uniform.
January 2, 2022: Ravens Wear Purple Socks
On January 2, 2022, the Ravens wore purple socks with the regular all-purple combination against the Los Angeles Rams, essentially replicating their Color Rush uniforms but with minimal gold elements.
2022: Bengals Win Playoff Meeting
In 2022, The Bengals won the only playoff meeting against the Ravens in the AFC Wild Card round.
2022: First round draft picks
In 2022, the Ravens had two first-round draft picks.
2022: Ravens 2022 Season and Wild Card Loss
In the 2022 season, the Ravens finished with a 10–7 record and lost in the Wild Card Round 24–17 to the Cincinnati Bengals.
2023: Patriots-Ravens Overall Series Lead as of 2023
As of the 2023 season, the Patriots lead the overall series against the Ravens with a record of 11–5.
2023: Ravens-Titans All-Time Series Lead as of 2023
As of the 2023 season, the Ravens lead the all-time series against the Tennessee Titans with a record of 14–13.
2023: Ravens Franchise Value
In 2023, the Baltimore Ravens franchise was valued at $4.63 billion, ranking it as 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 an AFC North division title, marking continued success since 2000.
2023: 2023 Season, AFC North Title, and Playoff Results
In the 2023 season, the Ravens secured a 13–4 record, clinching the AFC North title and the #1 overall seed for the AFC playoffs. They won against the Houston Texans but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship.
January 13, 2024: Ravens Head-to-Head Franchise Record
As of January 13, 2024, Below is a table of the Baltimore Ravens head-to-head franchise record.
2024: Ravens-Bengals Rivalry Record as of 2024
As of the 2024 season, The Ravens lead the all-time series against the Cincinnati Bengals 32–27.
2024: AFC North Division Title
In 2024, the Ravens secured another AFC North division title, adding to their impressive record since 2000.
2024: 2024 Season, Derrick Henry Acquisition, and Playoff Outcome
In the 2024 season, The Ravens acquired Derrick Henry, finished with a 12–5 record and won the AFC North title. They defeated the Steelers in the Wild Card Round but lost to the Bills in the Divisional Round.
2024: Purple Rising Uniforms
Starting in 2024, the Ravens would wear alternate purple helmets with the Color Rush uniform, rebranded as the "Purple Rising" uniforms.
