The Baltimore Ravens joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1996, following the controversial relocation of the Cleveland Browns. This marked the beginning of a new era for professional football in Baltimore, a city with a rich sports history that had been left wanting since the Colts departed for Indianapolis after the 1983 season. The franchise was awarded to businessman Art Modell, but the team’s identity, colors, and history were crafted to honor the legacy of the legendary Baltimore Colts.
The Death of the Colts and the Birth of a Legacy
To understand when the Ravens joined the NFL, one must first look back to 1953, when the Baltimore Colts were born as a franchise in the Western Conference. This original incarnation brought the city three NFL championships, including the iconic 1958 NFL Championship Game against the New York Giants, often cited as "The Greatest Game Ever Played." The emotional connection the city had with this franchise made the move to Indianapolis in 1984 a devastating blow that left Baltimore without an NFL team for over a decade.
The Modell Decision and the Formation of the Expansion Team
Art Modell, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his intention to move the franchise to Baltimore in 1995. This decision sparked outrage in Cleveland but was a cause for celebration in Baltimore. However, the NFL ownership did not want to simply move the Browns; they wanted to preserve the history of Cleveland while allowing Modell to create a new entity in Baltimore. The solution was an expansion draft in 1996, where the Ravens selected players from existing teams, effectively making them a brand new franchise rather than a direct continuation of the Browns.
Timeline of Key Events
Debunking the Common Misconception
A frequent point of confusion is whether the Ravens are the same team as the Browns. The answer is no. When the Ravens joined the NFL, they were a distinct organization. The Cleveland Browns were placed "on hiatus" for three years while Baltimore built their new team. The NFL retained the Browns' colors, history, and records, but the players on the 1996 Ravens were new acquisitions. The franchise counts its history from 1996, not 1953, though the legacy of the old Colts was deliberately woven into the fabric of the new organization.
The First Season and Identity
Under head coach Ted Marchibroda, the Ravens debuted in 1996 with a sense of purpose. They wore purple and black, colors that harkened back to the glory days of the Baltimore Colts, distinguishing them visually in the league. Their first home was Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Maryland, a temporary setup before moving into the newly built PSINet Stadium (now M&T Bank Stadium). That inaugural season resulted in a 4-12 record, a necessary growing pains phase for a brand-new franchise establishing its identity in the brutal AFC East.
