Ravens Top 20: Art Modell announces he’s moving Browns to Baltimore.
November 6, 1995
How it happened: On November 6, 1995—after 12 years of licking our wounds and living in an NFL wasteland—Art Modell announced at Camden Yards that he would be bringing the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore.
The reason, of course, was money: The Indians had left Cleveland Stadium, which Modell operated, for Jacobs Field, leaving him with one less tenant in his aging stadium. He requested a new state-of-the-art football stadium to be built by the city, but couldn’t reach an agreement in time.
For a community that had watched helplessly as our own beloved Colts had moved to Indianapolis—bringing its colors, its mascot, and its storied history with it—Baltimoreans were heartened by the fact that we would not be taking those things from Cleveland. While the Browns and all its personnel would come to Baltimore, Cleveland would get to keep the Browns name, uniform, and traditions, like the Dawg Pound. (Baltimore held a fan vote and ultimately chose the name The Ravens.)
“I am happy for the people of Cleveland. I am happy for the people of Baltimore, and I am happy most of all for the Modell family,” Modell said at the time.
The Browns fans, however, were not that happy—and resented Modell for making them start from scratch and wait four years for their “new” Browns—an expansion team—to be activated. Lingering resentment over Modell’s move likely kept him out of the Football Hall of Fame, a shame as he was truly one of the architects of the modern NFL. Modell, who was a major philanthropist and a pillar of the Baltimore community, died September 6, 2012.
Since coming to Baltimore, the Ravens have won two Super Bowls and are one of the most successful franchises in the NFL. Since 1999, the Browns have only had two winnings seasons.
All season long, we’ll be counting down the Ravens top moments in franchise history to celebrate the team’s 20th season in Baltimore. Take a look back at what moments we’ve chronicled so far.
#20: Naming the Team
#19: Testaverde Throws for 429 Yards
#18: First Ring of Honor
#17: Terrell Suggs Becomes Thigh Master
#16: The Insane Final Minutes of the Vikings Snow Game
#15: Torrey Smith’s Emotional Win Over Patriots
#14: Peter Boulware Gets Four Sacks in a Single Game
#13: Justin Tucker Nails a 61-Yard Field Goal to Beat Detroit
#12: Flacco Connects With Ray Rice on Fourth and 29
#11: Ray Lewis Strips Eddie George in 2000 Playoffs
#10: Ed Reed’s 106-yard Interception Return Against the Browns
#9: Jamal Lewis Rushes For 295 Yards Against the Browns
#8: First Game in (New) Franchise History
#7: Ray Lewis’s Last Dance
#6: Ravens Beat Steelers in Playoffs For First Time in Franchise History
#5: Mile High Miracle
#4: Draft Day ’96