Building the ultimate 53-man roster for 25 years of Ravens football

CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens talks to his wide receivers Derrick Mason #85 and Anquan Boldin #81 during a timeout against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 21: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens talks to his wide receivers Derrick Mason #85 and Anquan Boldin #81 during a timeout against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 21, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 13: Haloti Ngata runs through smoke as he is introduced before playing the Green Bay Packers at M&T Bank Stadium on October 13, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 13: Haloti Ngata runs through smoke as he is introduced before playing the Green Bay Packers at M&T Bank Stadium on October 13, 2013 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Here is the all time 53 man roster of Baltimore Ravens history:

We have seen a ton of all-time Ravens lineups this year, with the 25th anniversary begging for nostalgic pieces and the global pandemic creating a screaming need for anything even slightly resembling entertainment. Well, strap in, ladies and gentlemen, for I present to you something that slightly resembles entertainment.

Today we are building an all-time Ravens 53-man roster. The team has shifted over the years, as teams are wont to do, and we have seen the Ravens line up in 4-3 and 3-4 base defenses, with the offense lining up with three tight ends, three wide receivers and, for some years during their 25-year-run, a competent starting quarterback.

We had to get creative for some of the position assignments here because we didn’t want good players left out due to an imaginary numbers game. So, without further fanfare, I present to you a list that will surely cause many of you to fire expletives at me when you are not sticking pins in a tiny voodoo doll with my name taped to its forehead.

Head coach: John Harbaugh

Brian Billick did a nice job in Baltimore, and combined with Ozzie Newsome to transform the entire culture of the organization. But Harbaugh has built a consistent winner, beating teams with Billick’s players and his own. He has shown maybe too much loyalty to some coaches over the years, and stuck players in his doghouse a bit too long, but the man wins and does so with a scrappy mentality that the people of Baltimore admire.

Offensive coordinator: Greg Roman

The only other one I would even consider is Gary Kubiak, but that was only one season, so I’m giving the edge to Roman for his ability to build around star quarterback Lamar Jackson and the enthusiasm surrounding him going into his second season as the play-caller.

Defensive coordinator: Rex Ryan

Don “Wink” Martindale also gets a ton of consideration here, and they could be flipped without much argument from me. But Ryan created a swagger-filled bully that reflected his personality, and did a great job working with the defensive linemen before getting the promotion. His influence is still seen in the Ravens’ confusing defense today.

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