Ravens Legends: Michael McCrary

Michael McCrary was a great defensive end in the NFL for 10 years. He spent the last six of those years with the Baltimore Ravens. He racked up 51 of his 71 career sacks in Baltimore.

McCrary was one of the first great pass rushers in the Ravens history.  He was part of the 2000 Ravens defense that is considered one of the greatest defenses of all time. McCrary gave the Ravens defense toughness flying off the edge and he made running the football outside of him an impossibility.

McCrary was tough. He was one of the toughest football players that ever played the game. He was a leader on the field. The 6’4″ 260 pound defensive lineman had the perfect build for the job. He was a muscular force who had the quickness and length to make offensive linemen worry.

McCrary’s best season was in 1998 when he had 14.5 sacks. McCrary came to the team before Ravens and great defense were synonymous. When injuries forced the end of his career in 2002, the Ravens defense was the stuff of legends.

On the 2000 defense he had 6.5 sacks and a safety. He was clearly part of what made that defense great. Not only was he a steady pass rusher but he blew up the running game from the defensive end position. You could not run the football on the 2000 Ravens and McCrary was a big part of that.

McCrary and Peter Boulware and Rob Burnett were the original pass rushers for the Ravens. Before there was Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata and Elvis Dumervil there were three of the most special players in Ravens history.

There are three things I remember about McCrary. He may be the toughest football player I have ever seen. McCrary was a class act on and off the field. Finally if it weren’t for his knee injuries, McCrary would have had a chance to chase some really historical sack totals. There is a reason McCrary is in the Ravens ring of honor. He was a special player and is one of the great legends of Ravens history.