As the Baltimore Ravens celebrate their 30th season in the NFL, former wide receiver Derrick Alexander is looking back on the team’s shaky beginnings and how it built the foundation for future success.
Alexander, now the head football coach at NAIA Avila University in Kansas City, came over from Cleveland after the move in 1996. Despite only playing two seasons in Baltimore, Alexander said those early years left a lasting impression.
“It was very weird,” Alexander said in an interview on Glenn Clark Radio Sept. 22. “Our last season in Cleveland, that was also weird playing in a stadium with no advertisements, everything was gone, people weren’t showing up for games. We knew we were moving, but it didn’t hit me until I was actually driving to Baltimore, like, we’re going to be in a whole new city.”
The Ravens began without a name, logo or permanent practice facility. They practiced at the old Colts facility and wore plain white helmets during offseason workouts. But even during the uncertainty, Alexander saw signs of the future.
“We started drafting well,” he said. “Our first season, of course, we drafted Ray Lewis and Jonathan Ogden in our first round. You could tell it was going to get better. Didn’t realize it would become that good, winning a couple of Super Bowls, but I knew that we would have a good team coming up.”
During his time in Baltimore, Alexander teamed with quarterback Vinny Testaverde and fellow wide receiver Michael Jackson to form one of the NFL’s best passing attacks. The Ravens’ defense lagged behind in those years.
Still, Alexander said the city’s embrace of the team helped the team turn the corner.
“Once we made the move, I think the city really embraced us, really wanted a team that they could be proud of,” Alexander said. “… Guys felt that love from the fans. Players felt like, ‘This is home now. Let’s make the best of it.'”
Now, as Baltimore enjoys another era of offensive fireworks, Alexander keeps an eye on the team’s progress. He called quarterback Lamar Jackson “one of one,” praising his growth as both a passer and a leader.
“Obviously, he can run and do all those things,” Alexander said. “… The way he runs the offense, gets in and out of plays very well and just getting the ball to his playmakers, him being one of the playmakers. When they call his number, he makes the play. When he has to throw the ball, he makes the play.”
Though his playing days ended a while ago, Alexander still feels connected to the team. The Ravens regularly send former players gifts and memorabilia, something he proudly displays in his office.
“Coach [John] Harbaugh always says, ‘Once a Raven, always a Raven,'” Alexander said. “… I really feel like I’m part of the team still, even though I left [after two years]. There’s still a place in my heart for the Ravens.”
Today, Alexander channels his passion for football into coaching. While Avila University may not appear on ESPN’s “College GameDay,” he said the opportunity to mentor young athletes keeps him close to the game.
“Football is in my blood,” Alexander said. “I love just being around the game. I love being able to coach guys and teach guys things that I’ve learned throughout my career.”
For more from Alexander, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Issy Aguilar/Avila Athletics