Ravens: Haloti Ngata left an undeniable legacy in Baltimore
By CJ Errickson
The legend of Haloti Ngata and the Baltimore Ravens begins with the organization taking chances in the 2006 NFL Draft. During the first round of the draft, Ngata was actively on the phone with Cleveland Browns (and former Ravens executive) general manager Phil Savage.
The Browns held the 13th overall selection and were highly interested in the Oregon star. But, instead, Baltimore swooped in and traded up with their AFC North division rival and acquired one of the most dominant defensive tackles in NFL history.
Haloti Ngata transformed the Ravens defense from good to great
The Ravens defense in 2005 allowed 299 points. However, when they acquired Ngata in 2006, the Ravens led the NFL in the least amount of points (201) allowed.
His athleticism and strength at the nose tackle position made him one of the formidable and unique players in the NFL for years to come.
Haloti Ngata wasn’t just a beast on the interior for the Ravens
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) April 3, 2021
He was also a ball hawk pic.twitter.com/PeamJt3nHi
More importantly, in the team’s Super Bowl run in 2012, Ngata led the team in sacks with five during the regular season. Ngata was the glue that held together a defensive unit that was relatively weaker than what it was in years past.
Nevertheless, his efforts of generating five or more sacks from 2010-2012 as a defensive tackle set him apart from all other players at the nose tackle position. As a result, the organization has recently given him well-deserved recognition.
Haloti Ngata officially joined the Ravens Ring of Honor earlier this month
The Ravens’ Ring of Honor is truly one of the more iconic groups of all NFL franchises. On October 11th, 2021, the Ravens officially inducted Haloti Ngata as the 10th member of the elite group.
Haloti Ngata’s ring of honor ceremony
In addition, he is the first player to be inducted into the elite entourage since Ed Reed in 2015. Above all, Ngata is one of the all-time greats of the organization.
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There may never be another player like him, not just in Baltimore, but in the NFL ever again. The next stop for Haloti should be the Pro Football Hall of Fame.