Undrafted out of Southern Illinois in 2002, Bart Scott signed with Baltimore as a relative unknown, earning a spot on the roster strictly through his fiery, relentless motor on special teams. Over seven seasons in Maryland, "Can't Wait" transformed from an unheralded long shot into one of the most feared, high-octane linebackers in football.

Scott infused Baltimore's linebacking corps with raw violence, high energy, and effective pre-snap communication. Working alongside Ray Lewis within Rex Ryan's intricate "Organized Chaos" defense, he served as an ideal downhill hitter. He blended exceptional closing speed with brute strength, penetrating interior gaps to disrupt run plays at the line of scrimmage and occasionally blitzing through A- and B-gaps.

Scott spent his first three years proving himself as a strong special teams player and backup. In 2005, when Ray Lewis was injured for the season, Scott got his chance to start. He took full advantage, recording 119 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles, showing he was ready for a starting role.

His breakthrough campaign came in 2006, when he anchored a defense that allowed the fewest points in the NFL (12.6 per game) and finished with a 13–3 record. Partnering with Lewis to form the league's most formidable linebacking duo, Scott recorded 103 total tackles, 9.5 sacks, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. This outstanding season earned him his only career Pro Bowl selection and Second-Team All-Pro honors.

Scott maintained that reckless playing style over the next two seasons, amassing 131 tackles in 2007 and 82 tackles in 2008 while helping lead Baltimore to the AFC Championship Game.

After the 2008 season, Scott became one of the most sought-after defenders in free agency. In 2009, when Rex Ryan, his previous Ravens defensive coordinator, was hired as the head coach of the New York Jets, Scott followed him to New York on a lucrative multi-year contract, where he gained national television recognition while maintaining his aggressive playing style.

With Baltimore, Scott played in 109 regular-season games (53 starts), compiling 448 total tackles, 16.0 sacks, four interceptions, six forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries.