Sometimes in the NFL, you need to try to spark a fire under your team in any way imaginable. Every now and then, that spark may come from an unconventional source. The Baltimore Ravens found that source on Thursday.
Following another excellent training camp practice, the Ravens had a different kind of football player speak to the team. Spain and FC Barcelona forward Ferran Torres came to Charm City as he visits the East Coast on a media tour, and he had a lot to share from his recent World Cup win.
Specifically, Torres reinforced the message that head coach Jesse Minter has emphasized since being hired: be at your best when your best is needed.
“[Torres] came off the bench in the finals of the World Cup, scored the game-winning goal. Talk about being ready when your number’s called…that’s the ultimate [example],” Minter said.
Baltimore Ravens’ central message under Jesse Minter reinforced by Ferran Torres
Jesse Minter is truly turning over every stone to shift the tone in Baltimore. And while Ferran Torres is an unlikely voice to help enforce what Minter is trying to teach, the recent trajectory of his career shows he has a good feeling for what it takes to succeed in the big moment now.
From the highest of highs to the lowest of lows, Torres has felt it all.
Several years ago, he was one of the fastest-rising stars in soccer, eventually landing with Barcelona in 2022. There’s been far too much inconsistency there, though, and in all honesty, his career with the club has been a bit disappointing. But he was able to ignore all that noise and achieve the biggest moment of his career with a World Cup-winning goal.
That mentality he showcased in the World Cup is exactly what the Ravens could use more of.
It’s no secret that Baltimore struggled in the big moments last year. It was clear that many players, and even some of their top guys, saw overwhelming miscues when their best was needed. From Derrick Henry’s fumbles, to Chidobe Awuzie slipping and allowing the game-winning touchdown in Week 18, to the culmination of their 2025 campaign by way of a Tyler Loop missed kick, it was clear that Baltimore needed a mental revival.
Those issues have also persisted over the last few years, most notably in the postseason. They haven’t been able to get over the playoff hump, and there’s nothing more agonizing than falling short in a win-or-go-home situation. Maybe they can learn to block out the noise, though.
Minter is bringing a boost there and so much more. From the first week of practices in the offseason program, the 42-year-old coach’s “be at your best when your best is needed” drills enforced a significant culture change. Those moments in practice, and Torres' appearance at camp, should have the team much more mentally prepared when the biggest moments of the season arrive.
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