Since the team’s inception, the Baltimore Ravens have been known as the NFL’s resident defensive-minded team. The theme fits in with the city of Baltimore well. The Ravens work hard, play hard, and will do whatever it takes to win. The Holy Trinity of Ravens defensive players, if you will, consists of three legendary players who wore the purple and black uniforms. The first is Ray Lewis, the second Raven ever drafted, and one of the best linebackers of all time. Lewis was the second Raven to ever be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as he celebrated his induction this past August. The second member of the trio is Ed Reed. The prolific safety is widely considered to be the best ball-hawking safety of all time. He will soon end up in Canton, as his first year of eligibility comes this year. Finally, there is Terrell Suggs.
Suggs is the only remaining member of Baltimore’s Holy Trinity of defensive players to remain on the team. Suggs is an outstanding outside linebacker, who specializes as a pass rusher. In his career so far, Suggs has recorded 576 tackles, 125.5 sacks, 32 forced fumbles, and seven interceptions. Suggs is entering his sixteenth NFL season, all of which he played with the Ravens. To give context to that number, Ray Lewis played seventeen seasons with the Ravens. If Suggs was to stick around for two more years, he would surpass Lewis as the longest-tenured Raven in history.
While the Ravens would love to have Suggs on the roster, as he is still producing late in his career, it will be up to Suggs on how long he stays with the team. Suggs is now 35 and will be 36 this October. While “T-Sizzle” may be a superhuman on the football field, he is not immortal. Eventually, father time will catch up to the seemingly ageless wonder. Suggs will have to retire sooner than later, and that could come any time within the next year or two. Sugg’s career is obviously in its twilight years, but which year will be his final? It may be after this year, but perhaps Suggs would aim to stick around just one more to tie his friend, Ray Lewis, as the longest-tenured Raven.
