Baltimore Ravens Team History

There's a polite fiction that the Baltimore Ravens entered the NFL as a brand-new franchise in 1996. Actually, the Cleveland Browns moved to Baltimore and became known as the Ravens. However, the league and the Cleveland entered into an agreement that the team name and records would remain in the city for eventual use by another NFL franchise. So the "new" team had to find a new name. NFL properties came up with a list of more than 100 possible nicknames. That was eventually narrowed down to three and the Baltimore Sun conducted a poll of fans to select one. Of 33,288 who phoned in, 21,108 voted for Ravens.

Baltimore Ravens Franchise Information

Franchise Granted: 1996
First Season: 1996
Franchise History: 1996 - Present Baltimore Ravens

On March 29, 1996, Baltimore’s NFL team became the Ravens. The nickname was selected from among three finalists in a poll conducted by the Baltimore Sun. Baltimore fans selected the name in honor of Edgar Allan Poe, the American poet who penned his famous poem, “The Raven” while living in Baltimore.

Baltimore Ravens - Stadium

M&T Bank Stadium at Camden Yards 1101 Russell Street Baltimore, MD 21230 Capacity:68,400 Surface:Sport Grass Tenants:    Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens Chronological History

1995 - At the end of the regular NFL season, the Ravens franchise is founded when the Cleveland Browns relocate to Cleveland and change the team name to The Ravens.

1996 - The team suffers the typical franchise jinx and finishes at the bottom of their division in the 1996/97 seasons.

1998 - The Ravens and Minnesota Vikings set an NFL record with three kickoff returns for touchdowns, all in the first quarter. Ravens’ Corey Harris, Patrick Johnson and Minnesota’s David Palmer all scored TDs on returns in the Vikings’ 38-28 win. Gary Anderson set an NFL record when he kicked his 34th straight successful field goal, one of six three-pointers on the day for Minnesota.

1998 - The Ravens finish the season with 6 wins and 10 losses, a marked improvement from the previous 2 seasons.

1999 - The Ravens rebuild the team and construct an iron defensive line.

2001 - The Ravens defeated the New York Giants, 34-7, to capture their first-ever World Championship in Super Bowl XXXV played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. Ray Lewis was named Super Bowl MVP and only Ron Dixon’s 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown averted a shutout for the Giants. A Super Bowl record was set when three touchdowns were scored in a span of 36 seconds, including Duane Starks’ 49-yard interception return and Jermaine Lewis’ 84-yard kickoff return.

2000 - The Ravens’ defense set a 16-game record by allowing only 165 total points. Baltimore also set an NFL record by allowing only 970 yards rushing. The Ravens finished 12-4 after beating the New York Jets, 34-20 on Christmas Eve. Rookie RB Jamal Lewis rushed for a team-record 1,364 yards.

2000 - NFL owners approved the sale of 49% of the Ravens for $275 million to Anne Arundel County business executive Stephen Bisciotti. Bisciotti has an option to purchase the remaining 51% for $325 million in 2004.

2002 - Six Ravens were selected to play in the Pro Bowl, tying the team mark set in 1998. Selected were LB Ray Lewis, T Jonathan Ogden, DT Sam Adams, RS Jermaine Lewis, TE Shannon Sharpe and S Rod Woodson.

2004 - Tennessee with a field goal with seconds remaining defeat the Baltimore Ravens with a 20-17 victory in a Wild Card affair that was worthy of its name