Ravens defensive lineman Brent Urban, who re-signed with the team on a one-year deal earlier this month, says returning to Baltimore last year after beginning his career with the Ravens made him realize how far he’s come in his career and gave him a chance to appreciate his football journey.
Urban, who turns 32 in May, was selected by the Ravens in the fourth round of 2014 NFL Draft. He spent the first five years of his career in Baltimore, suffering three separate season-ending injuries but flashing his ability when he was on the field. He bounced around the next three seasons before landing back in Baltimore last year.
Urban played 16 regular-season games for the Ravens in 2022, posting 21 tackles, one sack and a career-high three passes defensed. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound lineman played in 29 percent of the Ravens’ defensive snaps and 21 percent of special teams snaps.
Urban has a little different perspective at this stage of his career than he did first starting out in Baltimore.
“When you’re young, you’re not really realizing what’s going on so much. You’re just kind of in the moment,” Urban said on Glenn Clark Radio March 22. “But at this age I can look back and kind of be appreciative of my time here. Last season when they brought me back it was kind of like a walk through memory lane where I was really just taking everything in and just kind of realizing how far I’ve come, I guess. So it just kind of brought back those memories and really did make me appreciate things more, for sure.”
Urban explained that when he was a young player in Baltimore, he was “pretty quiet” and “kept his head down.” Now, the veteran understands the importance of leadership within each position room, building cohesion and getting younger teammates involved.
In 2022, veteran interior linemen Calais Campbell, Michael Pierce and Urban had a chance to work with talented youngsters Travis Jones, Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington.
“I think that aspect of the game, off the field, developed a lot over my years going to different teams, just going to new places and trying to fit in there and seeing what the dynamic is and that sort of thing,” Urban said. “It kind of helped me mature in sort of a social aspect and also just like a leadership role, I think.”
However, Campbell was released by the Ravens earlier this month in a cap-saving move. The team is leaving the door open for his return, but the six-time Pro Bowl lineman is currently a free agent. Campbell has racked up 809 tackles and 99 sacks during a 15-year career.
Campbell is also one of the most respected veterans in the game, having won the 2019 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and 2022 Art Rooney Sportsmanship awards. Campbell “knows we all want him back,” according to Urban, who continues to be amazed by the work of the 36-year-old.
“It’s insane, man — not even the age but just the position he’s playing,” Urban said. “It takes so much physically up front in the trenches — playing that long, it’s crazy. It’s unfathomable what he’s done, obviously playing at such a high level still. It’s crazy, man. It’s fun to watch every single day. I had a blast playing with him, obviously, but he’s a marvel.”
One player who will definitely be back in Baltimore is linebacker Roquan Smith, whom the Ravens acquired via trade last season and extended before the end of the season. Smith was named team MVP by local media despite playing in just nine games, but he spearheaded Baltimore’s defensive turnaround last season.
The 6-foot-1, 232-pound linebacker posted 169 tackles — 86 with the Ravens — in 17 regular-season games last year as part of a third consecutive first-team All-Pro campaign. Baltimore allowed 22.9 points per game in eight games without Smith and 14.7 points per game in the final nine. The Ravens rewarded Smith with a record five-year deal in January.
Urban knew all about Smith before the Ravens acquired him, considering the two were teammates with the Chicago Bears from 2019-2020.
“I went to Chicago and this guy’s flying around, making 12 tackles a game and made it really easy for me up front when a guy’s coming downhill like that,” Urban said. “His athletic ability, great leader, great dude, he would be a fit with any team. When we signed him, I was just ecstatic and knew how much he would really help our team because there are very few players who can run and hit like Roquan.”
For more from Urban, listen to the full interview here:
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