An Ode to Trent Dilfer

Trent Dilfer retired yesterday, and while it might barely be a blip on the NFL radar, it’s pretty important around these parts. He played a significant role in the Baltimore Ravens first Super Bowl championship, and despite the interceptions, despite the inconsistency, Dilfer himself best summarized his time here in Baltimore.

“We all know I’m not Joe Montana,” Dilfer said after the Ravens’ 34-7 title win over the Giants. “But we’ll recognize that for an eight-month period, we did something pretty special.”

Dilfer holds the dubious distinction of being the only quarterback to start for a Super Bowl winning team, only to lose his spot the next season. If you look at who preceded him, and who has followed him, you realize that Dilfer was a good fit for the team under the Billick system. Every QB under Brian Billick’s tutelage struggled. Dilfer was the only one to navigate playoff success.

So dare I say it, Trent Dilfer is the greatest quarterback in Ravens history.

He had a hard luck career throughout his entire tenure in the NFL, but Baltimore was certainly lucky to have Trent Dilfer.