The Baltimore Ravens have only been in existence since 1996, making them the second youngest franchise in the NFL. Yet the Ravens haven’t lacked either great teams or great players.
Their two Super Bowl victories this century tie the Baltimore Ravens with five other franchises for the second-most behind the New England Patriots, who have six championships.
This season’s Baltimore Ravens will have an opportunity to play for their third Super Bowl appearance when they host the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday.
It takes star-quality players to lead championship teams, and the Baltimore Ravens have featured some of the best players in NFL history, including three inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a few others who might join them in Canton someday.
That said, here are the top 10 players in the history of the Baltimore Ravens, a list that includes two members of the 2023 Ravens.
Related: 5 best Baltimore Ravens teams of all-time: Where 2023 version stack up
10. Chris McAlister, cornerback
McAlister was among the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his 10 years with the Ravens (1999-2008). He was invited to three Pro Bowls, was selected to an All-Pro team on two occasions and was a key member of the Ravens’ defense on their first championship team. He intercepted a pass in the Ravens’ 34-7 Super Bowl XXXV victory over the New York Giants. For his career, he had 26 interceptions, five of them pick-sixes.
9. Peter Boulware, outside linebacker
Boulware was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1997 draft, and he lived up to his high draft ranking over the next seven seasons. Along with being a member of the Ravens’ first Super Bowl team, Boulware was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, went to four Pro Bowls, and retired as the franchise leader in sacks (70) before another player on this list broke it in 2011.
8. Haloti Ngata, defensive tackle
Ngata was among the NFL’s best defensive tackles during his nine seasons (2006-14) in Baltimore, a destructive 340-pound immovable force in the middle. He was selected to five Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams and had 10 solo tackles for the Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, which they won 34-31 for their second championship. Despite being a defensive tackle, Ngata had five interceptions to go with 32.5 sacks for his career.
7. Justin Tucker, kicker
Tucker is arguably the greatest kicker in NFL history, and he’s still going strong for the 2023 Ravens. Now in his 12th season, Tucker has an all-time best 90.2 percent field goal percentage. He’s also been to seven Pro Bowls, has been selected to five All-Pro teams, and was the kicker for the Ravens’ last Super Bowl victory. Tucker will be headed to Canton someday.
6. Lamar Jackson, quarterback
The second and final member of the 2023 Ravens on this list. While Jackson is currently at No. 6, he probably won’t stay here for long, especially if he finishes the season as both the NFL’s Most Valuable Player and a Super Bowl champion. Tack on a Super Bowl MVP award as well, and he could end up close to the top. Among the NFL’s most electrifying players ever, Jackson already has one MVP trophy from 2019.
5. Marshal Yanda, guard
All Yanda did in 13 NFL seasons in Baltimore was play with excellence. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls — six of them consecutively — and seven All-Pro teams overall, while also anchoring the Ravens’ line on their last Super Bowl championship team. Yanda was also a unanimous choice on the NFL 2010’s All-Decade Team.
4. Terrell Suggs, outside linebacker
Suggs pretty much did it all during his 16 seasons in Baltimore, a time that allowed him to be one of the few in franchise history to play for both Ravens’ Super Bowl championship teams. Among his accomplishments were Defensive Rookie of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and seven Pro Bowls. Plus, he’s the franchise leader with 139 sacks, reaching double-digit sack totals in seven different seasons.
3. Jonathan Ogden, offensive tackle
Ogden has the distinction of being the Ravens’ first draft choice in franchise history. And what a great pick he was, as one of the greatest left tackles of all time. In 12 seasons, Ogden made 11 Pro Bowls and was a nine-time All-Pro selection, along with being a Super Bowl champion. He was also named the NFL’s 100th anniversary all-time team and fittingly became the first Ravens’ player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.
2. Ed Reed, safety
It was a difficult choice between Reed and Ogden for No. 2 on this list, but we’ll go with the ball-hawking safety. Playing 11 seasons for the Ravens, he made nine Pro Bowls, won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award (2004), and was a defensive star on their Super Bowl XLVII title team. He finished his career with 64 interceptions and holds the NFL record for interception return yards. One of the greatest safeties in NFL history, Reed was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
1. Ray Lewis, inside linebacker
On a list of the greatest players in Baltimore Ravens history, there could be no other choice for the No. 1 spot than Lewis, one of the most feared defensive players in NFL history. Lewis not only starred on both Ravens’ Super Bowl championship teams; he was named the Super Bowl MVP of Super Bowl XXXV. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, Lewis was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, made 13 Pro Bowls, was selected to 10 All-Pro teams, etc. The list goes on for Lewis — the undisputed Baltimore Ravens’ GOAT.