Former Ravens offensive lineman Matt Skura is grateful for his time in Baltimore as his NFL journey officially comes to an end.
Skura, who turns 32 in February, spent eight seasons in the NFL after joining the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He first cracked the active roster in 2017, starting 12 games at right guard before transitioning to center, the position he played in Baltimore from 2018-2020.
Skura then played left guard for the New York Giants in 2021 and Los Angeles Rams in 2022 before winding down his career on the Miami Dolphins’ practice squad in 2023. He announced his retirement on Nov. 18.
“It’s hard because you still want to show that you can play and be in the locker room with those guys, but at the same time it gives you the perspective to reflect of like, ‘Man, look at how much I was able to do and able to accomplish,'” Skura said on Glenn Clark Radio on Nov. 22. “I had this dream since I was a little kid and it turned out to be even better than I expected it would be.”
In recent years, some successful NFL players have decided to hang up the cleats quicker than ever, in part because of the toll injuries take on a player’s body. Skura suffered a brutal left knee injury that ended his 2019 season, but that knee feels great now.
“I think guys do think about their health and their future and they’re thinking about, ‘I don’t want to be not playing with my kids in the back yard because my knees hurt or my back’s messed up or I’ve got a shoulder [injury],'” Skura said. “Those things are real. I’m even seeing it now like, ‘Oh man, my shoulder is really hurting for no reason,’ but it’s probably from something that happened five years ago. I think that definitely is a factor for guys thinking about retiring a little bit early.”
Skura has a deep appreciation for the Ravens, stemming from the culture of the organization. The leadership in the facility fostered an environment where Skura felt genuinely valued, something he believes any player should experience.
“The first thing is from ownership to the front office to the coaching, staff, players, everyone involved in the organization, the message is all the same and the mission is the same — to win and to do it in a culture that breeds toughness, discipline and physicality,” Skura said. “That permeates throughout the entire organization and also within the locker room. … You have guys who truly care for one another and you have a structure of leadership that everyone feels part of the team.”
One of those leaders during Skura’s time in Baltimore was Ravens legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist Marshal Yanda. His time with Yanda (2016-2019) was crucial in shaping his professional approach and leadership skills at the highest level.
“Marshal was a huge factor in my career. When I first got to the Ravens he wasn’t in OTA’s, but everyone was like, ‘Hey, just wait until Marshal comes back and the intensity just ramps up,’ and it did,” Skura said. “In meetings, I just sat next to him and I wouldn’t even really talk to him, I would just see how focused and how intentional he was with his notes and preparation.”
Another one of those leaders was former Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, who died in August at the age of 70. Skura played for D’Alessandris from 2017-2020 and experienced the coach’s impact on an athlete and human level. D’Alessandris was a friend to everyone in the organization.
“Him and I were really close,” Skura said. “… Really, he was just someone who outside of the field became so close with me. We talked about family, things that were going on just in our lives, and he really kind of became like a pseudo-grandfather to my kids and really the kids in the offensive line room and on the team. He was just someone that everyone got along with. You could have a conversation with him no matter where you where, in the lunchroom. He was just someone who anyone could lean on.”
Skura’s time in Baltimore left a lasting impression on him. Now, he can reflect on an NFL career shaped by the Ravens’ culture of leadership and accountability.
“I’m just honestly grateful and thankful to have started my career with the Ravens,” Skura said. “I think even my first two years just the veterans that were on the team that provided such great leadership, guys who are up for the Hall of Fame now. It’s truly a blessing to have started my career in Baltimore. It fit my personality exactly — what they appreciate about guys working hard and preparation and being accountable and really taking care of the young guys, I think it was just awesome.”
For more from Skura, listen to the full interview here:
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