Chosen 23rd overall in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of Ole Miss, Michael Oher entered the league surrounded by immense public attention as the subject of the best-selling book and eventual Oscar-winning film The Blind Side. On the field, Oher quickly proved his worth as a durable starter, establishing himself as a reliable anchor along Baltimore’s offensive line.

Standing tall at 6 feet 4 inches and weighing 315 pounds, Oher brought impressive size, footwork, and core strength that made him a formidable opponent against top-tier edge rushers. Flexible in his role, he could switch between left and right tackle based on team needs. He was excellent at creating a solid, deep pocket for pass protection and used his lower-body strength to push defenders back in Baltimore's power-running game. His quick-kick slides combined with his strong hands made him a challenging matchup for defensive ends on either side.

Oher made his debut in the starting lineup as a rookie in 2009, showcasing impressive adaptability by starting 11 games at right tackle and five at left tackle because of injury-related changes. He maintained consistency, providing pass protection for Joe Flacco and creating running lanes for Ray Rice, which earned him PFWA All-Rookie Team recognition and a second-place finish for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. That rookie effort set the tone for an iron-man stretch in Charm City. Over his five seasons with the Ravens (2009–2013), Oher was a fixture on the field, starting all 80 regular-season games and 10 postseason games without missing a single contest.

Oher’s standout moment as a Raven came during the 2012 postseason. After playing all 16 regular-season games at left tackle, Oher moved to right tackle for the playoffs—a strategic reshuffling of the front line that helped unlock Baltimore's offense. Throughout the four postseason games, Oher offered solid pass protection, leading to a thrilling 34–31 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII.

After five seasons in Baltimore (2009–2013), Oher played three more NFL seasons—one with the Titans (2014) and two with the Panthers (2015–2016), starting in Super Bowl 50. Over his eight-year NFL career, he started all 110 games he played.