Where Does Joe Flacco Rank Among Ravens Legends?

Joe Flacco’s Place In Ravens History…

The Baltimore Ravens have two statues outside of M&T Bank Stadium. One is of Johnny Unitas, the other of Ray Lewis. Unitas was the greatest Baltimore Colts hero, and the statue serves as a connection to the rich past of Baltimore football. Lewis was the face of the Ravens franchise from 1996-2012, and no star will ever mean more to the Ravens than he did. When you talk about legacy with Baltimore football, it is important to note that Unitas and Lewis will always be at the top.

The Ravens have had some of the most incredible football players of all time in their 20 year history. The question today is where does Joe Flacco rank among the Ravens legends. I’ve tackled every other question concerning Flacco. Today we must decide if Flacco’s place in Ravens history is on par with some of the other Ravens legends.

More from Ravens All-Time Lists

Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates with Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (55) after their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. The Ravens won 30-17. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

If Ray Lewis is the best of the Ravens greats, Ed Reed and Jonathan Ogden have to be right under him. Reed was possibly the greatest ball-hawk the game has ever seen. Ogden was the perfect left tackle. Under the assumption that nobody will ever eclipse Lewis, we’re essentially asking if Flacco sits on the same tier as Reed and Ogden.

This isn’t a debate on whether Flacco is a great quarterback or not. He has won more road playoff games than any quarterback in NFL history. Whether you like it or not, this Super Bowl MVP is a Ravens legend. We’re debating the weight of his career and the overall impact it has had on the Ravens.

The biggest argument that Flacco has going for him is that Super Bowl XLVII doesn’t happen without him. He was the Super Bowl MVP. He tied a record of Joe Montana and Kurt Warner (11 TD, 0 interceptions in a playoff run) to help the Ravens win it all.

When Joe Flacco (and John Harbaugh) came to the Ravens, it sparked five consecutive playoff seasons. Flacco has been a Raven for 8 years, which is essentially the second half of the Ravens existence so far. Try telling the story of the Ravens without Flacco. Whether or not other legends contributed more, you cannot separate Flacco from the success. It’s not like the Ravens winning despite having Trent Dilfer as their quarterback. The Ravens won a lot of games because of Flacco.

More from Ebony Bird

Let’s make the argument concrete, by solving a practical problem. If the Ravens were going to have a Mount Rushmore, which four players would be on there. Lewis has to be on there because he meant everything to the Ravens. Reed has to be number two. Reed and Lewis were an unbelievable pairing and Reed’s accomplishments are historic. You can easily make the argument that Reed was the greatest free safety of all time. Ogden is going on that monument for sure. Many believe he was the greatest left tackle of all time. Ogden is the first Ravens draft pick and he has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

That leaves just one face for the Ravens Rushmore. Does Joe Flacco deserve it? It comes down to a battle between Terrell Suggs and Flacco. The argument could be made either way. Suggs is one of the best pass rushers of this generation and he has been a leader every step of the way. On the other hand though, Suggs wouldn’t have a Super Bowl ring if Flacco never came along.

Next: Baltimore Ravens Top 5 Draft Steals Of All Time

At the end of the day neither answer is incorrect. For me personally, it would be hard to leave Flacco out of the top ranks of Ravens legends. He is the only great quarterback the Ravens ever had. He steps up in the biggest moments and he sparked a whole new era of Ravens football. It doesn’t matter how Flacco ranks among other quarterbacks, for the Ravens he has been as important as a player can be.

Home/Ravens All-Time Lists