Terrell Suggs, a stalwart with the Baltimore Ravens for 16 seasons, shocked fans by signing with the Arizona Cardinals in 2019. He did it again to the Cards when he bolted away that same December to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs, who ultimately clinched the Super Bowl, adding a second one to his resume.
Despite securing his second Super Bowl ring, Suggs expressed that the conclusion of his career was not really on his terms.
In an exclusive interview with Rick Ritter of WJZ at T-Sizzle's home, Suggs disclosed that the decision to not re-sign with the Ravens had nothing to do with football. Instead, it was a deeply personal matter involving his terminally ill mother, who lived in Arizona.
Terrell Suggs opens up to @RickRitterWJZ on why he left the Ravens in 2019
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) October 10, 2023
Suggs said it wasn’t how he wanted it to end pic.twitter.com/pfm30SzDwu
"I'll tell you all now because it's been enough time," Suggs revealed. "My mom was terminally ill. No one knows this; we're a pretty private family. I couldn't be in both places at once, both Arizona and Baltimore. I just couldn't do both."
Suggs elaborated on the emotional struggle, stating, "If something happened to my mom while I was gone, I would've never forgiven myself."
Ravens' then-Executive Vice President, Ozzie Newsome attempted to persuade Suggs to reconsider his decision emphasizing his ties to Baltimore, the defender revealed. However, Suggs made the difficult choice to prioritize his ailing mother, which is reasonable and heartbreaking all at once.
Reflecting on his time with the Ravens, Suggs (who will soon be inducted into the Ravens Ring of Honor in Week 7 this season) expressed deep sentiment.
"Raven for life, Raven for life," he stated while recounting his tenure and highlighting the privilege of playing alongside football legends like Jonathan Ogden, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed.
Suggs admitted missing the Baltimore community more than anything. "I miss the people, miss the tailgating, driving up to the stadium, everyone going crazy knowing it's me," he said.
Despite wearing different uniforms in his final season in the NFL, you can rest assured Suggs remains (and will always be) connected to the Ravens and the city that embraced him. Peace, Suggs!