Looking back to the early weeks of 2001, there was clearly all manner of celebrations that occurred following the Baltimore Ravens victory over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, bringing the city of Baltimore it’s first football championship since 1971. The wildest, and perhaps oddest, celebrations likely came in private with defensive tackle Tony Siragusa.
Speaking during a watch party of the game for the Baltimore Ravens’ official site, Siragusa revealed he got some quality time with the trophy, getting to take it home with him.
Following the AFC Championship victory over the Oakland Raiders, Siragusa “told” David Modell — son of the Ravens owner Art Modell and a front office executive — that once Baltimore won the Super Bowl, Siragusa wanted one week with the trophy.
“After we won the Super Bowl, I went right over on the sideline and told [David Modell] I want that thing for a week and he gave it to me! He had a limo bring it up to me in Jersey. There was some crazy stuff, man.”
Siragusa was well known for his personality and jokes, as he frequently displayed on the “Hard Knocks” program the following offseason. So it comes as no surprise that Siragusa took full advantage of having the trophy for a week and got up to some pretty interesting antics.
“I made a lot of money, guys wanting to sleep with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. I took it to a bar, we turned it upside down and we were taking shots out of it. It was quite a thing.”
The NFL has changed a bit in the last two decades, but I still can’t help but wonder if there is a member of the current roster who would follow in Siragusa’s footsteps and have the Vince Lombardi Trophy accompany them on a night out following a Ravens victory. Let’s hope we get a chance to find out.
