Originally drafted in the seventh round of the 1993 NFL Draft by Seattle, Michael McCrary joined the Ravens in 1997 as a free agent. Playing with a nonstop motor and violent, high-energy effort, he became the ultimate edge-setting motor for Baltimore's burgeoning defense, establishing a template for how a Ravens pass rusher should play.
McCrary did not possess the extensive length typical of conventional pass rushers; however, he compensated through effective leverage, a rapid initial burst, and an indefatigable motor. He employed a swift, forceful bull rush—transitioning from speed to power—to drive offensive tackle pads directly into the pocket. In the rushing game, he established a firm, unrelenting edge, sacrificing his body to disrupt pull blocks and redirect interior cutbacks toward Baltimore's linebackers.
Following a strong 9.0-sack season in his rookie year at Maryland in 1997, McCrary had a remarkable 1998. He recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks and 72 total tackles, leading Baltimore's defensive line and earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He maintained this level in 1999, recording 11.5 sacks and earning his second straight Pro Bowl appearance.
McCrary was a cornerstone of the historic 2000 defense, starting all 16 regular-season games and tallying 6.5 sacks for a unit that allowed an NFL-record low of 165 points. He elevated his play in the postseason, adding 6.0 playoff sacks—including 2.0 sacks in a dominant 34–7 victory in Super Bowl XXXV.
In 2001, his off-field leadership and extensive charitable contributions earned him the prestigious Byron "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Award (now the Alan Page Community Award).
Battling severe knee injuries, McCrary gut-checked his way through his final games before retiring prior to the 2003 season. Across six seasons in Baltimore (1997–2002), he played in 78 regular-season games, compiling 51.0 sacks, 288 tackles, seven forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries.
Selected in the sixth round (186th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft out of Southern Miss, Adalius Thomas arrived in Baltimore as a raw, multi-sport athlete who had played both football and basketball in college. Over seven seasons in Baltimore, he evolved into the ultimate defensive chameleon—a matchup nightmare whose rare athleticism allowed Rex Ryan and Brian Billick to deploy him virtually anywhere on the field.
Thomas possessed an unheard-of combination of size, speed, and spatial intelligence. He ran a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, giving him the burst to bend the edge as a traditional defensive end or drop into boundary coverage as a slot corner. Thomas famously lined up at five distinct positions in a single game—defensive end, outside linebacker, inside linebacker, safety, and cornerback—making him the original blueprint for modern positionless defense.
Thomas began his career primarily as a special teams force while buried on a depth chart stacked with veteran edge rushers. His incredible motor on kick and punt coverage paid off in 2003, when he earned his first career Pro Bowl selection as a special teams specialist after leading Baltimore with 23 special teams tackles while adding 4.0 sacks.
By 2004, Thomas proudly took his place in the starting lineup full-time, bringing energy and skill with 8.0 sacks, 72 total tackles, and four forced fumbles. His performance soared even further in 2005, when he truly became a game-changing player, earning a reputation as a turnover machine. That year, Thomas racked up 9.0 sacks, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles, returning three non-offensive turnovers for touchdowns and leading the NFL in non-offensive scores. His growth and dedication make for an inspiring story of perseverance and excellence.
His absolute peak came during Baltimore's memorable 2006 defense, which allowed just 12.6 points per game—the best in the league—and led to a 13–3 season. As a key player in the unit, Thomas achieved a career-high 11.0 sacks, 83 tackles, 24 quarterback hits, and even scored a fumble return touchdown. This outstanding season earned him his second Pro Bowl nod and his first Collection of First-Team All-Pro honors.
After his All-Pro year, Thomas signed a high-profile free-agent contract with the New England Patriots in 2007, ending his tenure in Maryland. He played in 96 regular-season games, recording 38.5 sacks, 377 tackles, six interceptions, 13 forced fumbles, and four defensive touchdowns. He also earned a Super Bowl ring as a rookie on the legendary 2000 championship roster.
Kelly Gregg was selected in the sixth round of the 1999 NFL Draft by Cincinnati but was released before playing any regular-season games in Ohio. After brief stints with Philadelphia and on Baltimore's practice squad, he proved his resilience by competing in NFL Europe with the Rhein Fire, eventually becoming a regular in Maryland. At 6 feet tall and 320 pounds, Gregg didn’t have long limbs, but he compensated with wrestling leverage, toughness, and relentless energy as a nose tackle.
Gregg was the quintessential gritty interior lineman. Positioned directly over the center, his low center of gravity made him nearly immovable by single blocks. In Baltimore's 3-4 system, his primary role was to handle double-teams from guards and centers, taking the hits so linebackers like Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs could attack the ball. Despite facing double-teams on almost every snap, Gregg had the lateral quickness to disengage and make tackles in the run gap.
Gregg joined the Ravens' practice squad during their landmark 2000 season and earned a Super Bowl XXXV ring behind the scenes. He made his first rotational appearance in 2001 and became the full-time starting nose tackle in 2002. That breakout year, he recorded 56 total tackles and two sacks, demonstrating he could lead a defense on his own terms.
His best statistical season came in 2003, when he recorded 80 total tackles and 3.0 sacks—unusually high production for a 0-technique nose tackle. Year in and year out, Gregg served as the silent engine of run defenses that routinely ranked near the top of the NFL. In 2007, he posted a career-high 83 total tackles while starting all 16 games.
Though he never earned Pro Bowl recognition—a common fate for non-flashy interior nose tackles—Gregg earned immense respect across the locker room and throughout the league for his durability and toughness. After missing 2008 due to microfracture knee surgery, he returned to start every game in 2009 and 2010, anchoring Baltimore's front five through his age-34 season.
Salary-cap constraints resulted in his release in July 2011, along with veteran teammates Todd Heap and Derrick Mason. He concluded his career with a single season in Kansas City. During his decade with Baltimore (2001–2010), Gregg appeared in 134 regular-season games, starting 124, and recorded 512 tackles, 19.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.