The Baltimore Ravens might not have the longest history in the NFL, having been created in 1996, but they’ve seen a lot of talent come into their locker room. The Ravens created their Ring of Honor to showcase players that have been magnificent on the field as well as off it.
But I feel like there are a few players that have been left off the list. So I went through Baltimore’s history and found four players who should be in the Ring of Honor.
DT Haloti Ngata
We start off with a man who is set to officially retire with the team today. Ngata was the epitome of what it means to “Play like a Raven.” He put it all out on the field on every play, had a downright nasty streak as a defensive lineman but was a gentle giant off the field.
Ngata played in Baltimore for nine seasons, collecting 25.5 sacks, 449 combined tackles, 74 quarterback hits, five interceptions and five fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown. A two-time All-Pro, Ngata also earned four Pro Bowl trips and was considered the most dominant defensive tackle in the game for quite some time.
Ngata might not have a Hall of Fame-worthy resume since defensive tackles tend to be ignored for gold jackets, but he’s done plenty enough to warrant enshrinement in the Ring of Honor.
CB Chris McAlister
McAlister is arguably the best cornerback the Ravens have ever had, even if he was underappreciated by the rest of the NFL. McAlister played in Baltimore for 10 years and had some truly dominant seasons.
McAlister finished his career with the Ravens with 26 interceptions, including five being returned for touchdowns. McAlister also had seven fumble recoveries, with one being returned for a touchdown as well. Add to it his 138 passes defensed and 427 combined tackles, and you have a player who was among the best in the league for a long time.
Though McAlister’s career came to an abrupt stop once released by the Ravens following the 2008 season, he’s a player who helped create one of the best defenses the NFL has ever seen. While his off-field issues are certainly an easy excuse to keep him out of the Ring of Honor, I think it would be a shame to ignore what McAlister meant to this team.
OL Mike Flynn
Now we’re getting to the players who most fans might have forgotten about. And it’s easy for a guy like Flynn to get lost in the shuffle with a player like Jonathan Ogden earning the spotlight for obvious reasons. But it would be a crime for Flynn to continue to be ignored.
Flynn was a cornerstone of Baltimore’s offensive line after being signed as an undrafted free agent. Flynn started at right guard during the Ravens’ Super Bowl run in the 2000 season before being moved to center for the rest of his career.
When Baltimore released Flynn after the 2007 season, then-general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a press release, “Flynn represents everything good about the Ravens.”
Newsome continued by practically putting Flynn in the Ring of Honor himself: “When we list the true Ravens in our history — and there is a Ravens way that includes respect for your teammates and opponents, toughness, intelligence on the field, passion for the game — Mike will be high on that list.”
While the bar for offensive linemen was set high in Baltimore with Ogden, Flynn is one of the few that deserves to be recognized.
DL Kelly Gregg
Gregg is the epitome of a player so often forgotten but absolutely beloved. That matches his time in the NFL as well, underrated by the rest of the league even though those in Baltimore loved the short nose tackle.
Originally drafted in the sixth round by the Cincinnati Bengals, Gregg made his way to the Ravens in 2001 and proceeded to hold on to his role for nearly a decade. Gregg played nine years in Baltimore, starting all but five games over his final eight years with the team.
In nine years with Baltimore, Gregg had 509 combined tackles, 19.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries.
At 6 feet and 320 pounds, Gregg was well known for being shorter and squatter than typical defensive linemen. But the former wrestler used his size to his advantage, making it nearly impossible to beat Gregg for leverage. Add to it an unstoppable hustle on every play and you have a player that should be the definition of “Play like a Raven.”
