In one revelatory season, Zachary Orr morphed from an unheralded special-teams player to a starting weak-side linebacker and the Ravens' top tackler. Given little chance to make the team in 2014 as an undrafted free agent from North Texas, Orr became one of the defense's most impactful players and put himself in position to earn a lucrative restricted free-agent contract tender this offseason.
But in a cruel development, Orr is now dealing with a congenital neck condition that will end his career.
Orr, 24, announced his decision at a news conference Friday morning at the Under Armour Performance Center. Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh were also on hand, as were other coaches and teammates.
"I got a CAT scan done, and the CAT scan revealed that I had a condition I was born with that less than one percent of the world has," Orr said at the news conference. "Pretty much at the top of my C1, at the top of my spinal cord, I don't know the exact term, but it was never formed completely, and that puts me at a really increased risk than anybody else _ an already increased risk than we're already at _ for a fatality or being paralyzed.
"Pretty much this disqualifies me from playing collision sports, which obviously includes football. It's really just a blessing that I've been able to play the game _ I've been playing the game since I was nine years old _ so long without any major injury happening."
The discovery of the condition came after the season when Orr saw doctors about a neck injury that forced him to go on injured reserve just a day before the Ravens' season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
"You often hear that football builds character, and that's definitely true. ... It also shines a light on character, and it shows people kind of who they are, and to me, a shining example of that is Zach Orr," Harbaugh said. "Coming in here and what he accomplished most definitely, but even beyond that, how he conducts himself every day, how hard he works. He's highly intelligent, as hard a worker as you're ever going to see, never, ever has a negative or disparaging word for anything or anybody.
"All he does is come in and just work as hard as he can and be his best and take care of his teammates and do everything he can to help the team, and to see that rewarded with the kind of success that he's had, I think it's something for young people to take a look at."
NFL Network first reported the news.
Orr appeared to hurt his shoulder in the Ravens' victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 18, although he was able to finish the game. He then sustained a neck injury early in the team's AFC North showdown the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He returned and finished that game as well, but that was his last action in a breakthrough 2016 campaign.
At locker cleanout the day after the season-ending loss, Orr expressed hope that his injury wasn't anything serious.
"Right now, I'm feeling pretty good," he said. "I'm going to see doctors and stuff like that, but I'm feeling pretty good. I don't think it will be anything that will slow me down."
Orr learned differently after taking extensive tests and consulting with doctors.
"When I first found out the news, it was shocking. I was sad, disappointed, upset because football is something I've done pretty much my whole life. It's something I love, that I still love to this day," Orr said. "I can't thank my family enough _ my mom, my dad, my brothers _ for being a support system for me. Just being happy that I was able to make it this far and happy that I was able to walk away from the game in good health.
"I can't thank the Baltimore Ravens enough because I couldn't have come to a better organization."
The news is a significant blow to the Ravens who benefitted from Orr recording 130 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defended, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in his first season as a starter.
With significant defensive needs already at pass rusher and cornerback, the Ravens now may need to add an inside linebacker this offseason to play alongside C.J. Mosley, a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
"When he told me the news, it was sad, definitely," Mosley said. "As a football player, I selfishly want him to be lined up next to me for a long time, but he was thankful that he was able to walk away healthy and he had a great year.
"He left on a high note, so as a friend, I'm very proud of him and I'm happy for him."
The Ravens' internal options to replace Orr are 2016 second-round pick Kamalei Correa, who played sparingly in a disappointing rookie season; 2016 undrafted free agent Patrick Onwuasor, who started the season finale with Orr out; and veteran Albert McClellan who primarily played outside linebacker this past season.
But the disappointment goes beyond potentially losing Orr as a football player. The linebacker had become the latest symbol of the Ravens' success in unearthing undrafted free agent gems, having them earn their roster spot on special teams and then thrusting them into key roles on either offense or defense.
Orr, who won the Ravens' "Good Guy" award following the season for his cooperation and patience with the local media, was extremely proud of defying the odds and following in the footsteps of other undrafted Ravens' free agents turned defensive starters, a list that includes McClellan, Bart Scott, Jameel McClain and Dannell Ellerbe.
He also took great pride in his football lineage. Orr's father, Terry, played eight seasons as an NFL tight end, spending the majority of his career with the Washington Redskins. The oldest of Terry and Rita Orr's four sons, Terrance, is an assistant coach at DeSoto High in Texas, after playing as a walk-on at Texas State University. Zachary Orr's two younger brothers, Nick and Chris, are playing at Texas Christian and Wisconsin, respectively.
Zachary Orr said several times over the years that the boys all talked about playing in the NFL together. However, he'll now be forced to the sidelines just as his career was really starting to take flight.
Orr made a base salary of $420,000 as a rookie in 2014. He made $511,000 in 2015 and $601,000 last year. He was headed to restricted free agency this offseason and it was expected that the Ravens would use a second-round tender on him, which would have guaranteed the Ravens a second-round draft pick if another team signed Orr and they opted not to match the offer sheet. It also would have meant Orr likely making a salary in excess of $2.5 million for 2017.
Primarily a special-teams contributor his first two seasons, Orr won the starting weak-side linebacker job during training camp and quickly became one of the defense's top performers.
Despite not playing in the regular-season finale, Orr finished tied for eighth in the NFL with his 132 tackles. That was 40 more tackles than Mosley, who finished second on the Ravens in that category. He had 10 or more tackles seven different games for the Ravens. He also had interceptions in his final two games, picking off both Eagles rookie Carson Wentz and the Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger.
"I've received nothing but support from the Baltimore Ravens from Day One, and it starts from the top with the owner, Mr. (Steve) Bisciotti, (general manager) Ozzie (Newsome), Coach Harbs (John Harbaugh), all the way throughout the building," Orr said. "I'm just thankful that I was able to come here and grow as a player and, most importantly, grow as a man because in life, that's what's most important. As far as what's next, I still have love for the game.
"I don't know exactly what I'm going to do next. I know I want to get into coaching and things like that. But I'm ready to take whatever's next 110 percent. My brother said it best. He said, 'Instead of asking, "Why me?", ask, "What's next?".' And that's what I'm looking forward to and whatever that is, I'm ready to give it 110 percent."
