Anquan Boldin announces he’ll retire a Baltimore Raven

Despite the drama that ended his time with the Baltimore Ravens, Anquan Boldin has decided to retire with the team and be a Baltimore Raven for life.

The Baltimore Ravens have never been a storied franchise when it comes to having wide receiver talent. The team has swung and missed repeatedly through the draft. The Ravens best luck at the position has been in signing veterans at the position, and that was always true about Anquan Boldin.

Boldin spent much of his career with the Arizona Cardinals before getting traded to Baltimore. The moment he arrived in Maryland, it felt like everything was beginning to change for the better. Suddenly, the Ravens had a great duo at wide receiver between Boldin and Derrick Mason. It seemed that the offense got the missing piece of the puzzle and was ready to compete.

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While that wasn’t true at first, it did eventually lead to a Super Bowl XLVII title. Anquan Boldin was unstoppable in that game, recording the first touchdown of a remarkable performance. I’ll always remember the way he posterized San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver down the sideline early in the game…

The whole 2012 season’s playoffs was magical for Boldin. He scored four of Joe Flacco post-season record-tying 11 touchdown passes and was undoubtedly the best player on offense.

Still, Anquan Boldin’s entire career with the Baltimore Ravens was special. Boldin was, and still is, a one-of-a-kind individual, both on and off the field the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year is as charitable as the come; a true philanthropist who cared deeply about his community. Boldin was everything the city of Baltimore, Maryland needed and desired in a leader.

As a teammate, you’d be hard-pressed to find one who cared deeper about his team than himself. Boldin was always there for his guys and would fight tooth and nail for them. It was true throughout his career, and for the Ravens he would put his body on the line if it meant making the big-play.

All in all, Anquan Boldin is, and always will be, an ideal role-model for anyone to look up to and strive to be. Anquan Boldin is one of the best examples of what it means to play like a Raven.

Thank you, Anquan Boldin, for everything you did for the city of Baltimore. The countless hours you spent in the community and the effort you always gave on the field is unforgettable. You were never supposed to play for another team after you got to Charm City, but you found it in your heart to come back anyways. We love you, Anquan, and we couldn’t be happier to see you retire a Baltimore Raven.