Art Modell
The visionary owner who ended football's drought in Baltimore, reshaping the city's sports destiny.
Art Modell stands as the foundational figure in the Baltimore Ravens' existence, serving as the original owner who brought professional football back to Maryland after a single decade-long absence. While he began his tenure with a Cleveland franchise that won a championship, his legacy is forever intertwined with the controversial yet transformative decision to launch an expansion team in Baltimore in 1996.
- Role
- Original Franchise Owner
- Affiliation
- Baltimore Ravens (1996-2004)
- Previous Team
- Cleveland Browns
- Status
- Deceased
- Key Action
- Relocation of the franchise to Baltimore
Lore & Background
Upon arriving in Baltimore, Modell oversaw the creation of an entirely new identity as an official NFL expansion franchise, distinct from the Cleveland Browns whose name and history remained in Cleveland until their return in 1999. He hired Ted Marchibroda as head coach and orchestrated a draft that would soon yield Hall of Fame talent like Ray Lewis. Although he sold the team to Steve Bisciotti in 2004, his initial gamble laid the groundwork for the dynasty that would follow, ensuring Baltimore had a permanent place on the NFL map.
In Their Own Story
The rain slicked the streets of downtown Baltimore as Art Modell gazed out from his office window, watching the city he now called home. The weight of the decision to leave Ohio still hung heavy in the air, but before him lay a blank canvas waiting for a new story. He signed the final papers that would birth the Ravens, knowing that while history might judge the move harshly, the future belonged to this vibrant city ready to roar.
Reader's Guide
Art Modell's journey with the Baltimore Ravens is defined by a singular, pivotal transition from Cleveland to Maryland. His tenure began not as a founder of a new expansion team, but as the operator of an existing franchise that was relocated due to stadium disputes.
Once in Baltimore, Modell focused on establishing a fresh culture and identity for the organization. He prioritized building a competitive roster immediately, setting the stage for the team's rapid rise to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Although he was not present during the Ravens' Super Bowl XXXV victory, his initial vision and leadership were crucial in securing the franchise's future. His departure marked the end of an era, handing the torch to a new ownership group that would continue the legacy he started.
Did You Know?
- Art Modell founded the Baltimore Ravens as an expansion franchise in 1996, while the Cleveland Browns' name and history remained in Cleveland to return in 1999.
- He hired Ted Marchibroda as the first head coach of the newly established expansion team.
- Modell sold the team in 2004, ending his eight-year ownership period in Baltimore.
- The Ravens began play after a roughly 12-year gap since the Colts left Baltimore, filling a single decade-long void rather than multiple decades.