1997 Baltimore Ravens season

The 1997 season was the Baltimore Ravens’ second season in the National Football League (NFL) and second under coach Ted Marchibroda. While Baltimore failed to finish above 5th in the AFC Central, they improved from 4–12 in 1996 to 6–9–1. It would be the final season they finished at the bottom of their division for 10 years.

1997 Baltimore Ravens season
Owner	Art Modell
Head coach	Ted Marchibroda
Defensive coordinator	Marvin Lewis
Home field	Memorial Stadium
Results
Record	6–9–1
Division place	5th AFC Central
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	LT Jonathan Ogden LB Ray Lewis

The Ravens updated their uniforms with a new style of numbers featuring a shadow in the back. White pants were introduced for use with home jerseys, while the black pants continued to be worn on the road.

This was the final NFL season played in Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium.

Offseason

NFL draft

Main article: 1997 NFL draft

1997 Baltimore Ravens draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	4	Peter Boulware *	Linebacker	Florida State
2	34	Jamie Sharper	Linebacker	Virginia
2	58	Kim Herring	Safety	Penn State
3	64	Jay Graham	Running back	Tennessee
4	118	Tyrus McCloud	Linebacker	Louisville
5	134	Jeff Mitchell	Center	Florida
6	167	Steve Lee	Running back	Indiana
6	194	Cornell Brown	Linebacker	Virginia Tech
7	205	Chris Ward	Defensive end	Kentucky
7	234	Wally Richardson	Quarterback	Penn State
7	236	Ralph Staten	Safety	Alabama
7	238	Leland Taylor	Defensive tackle	Louisville
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

1997 Undrafted Free Agents of note

Player	Position	College
Mike Flynn	Center	Maine
Priest Holmes	Running back	Texas

Staff

1997 Baltimore Ravens staff

Front office Owner and president – Art Modell Vice-president of player personnel – Ozzie Newsome Director of college scouting – Phil Savage Director of pro personnel – James Harris Head coaches Head coach – Ted Marchibroda Assistant head coach/offensive line – Kirk Ferentz Offensive coaches Quarterbacks – Don Strock Running backs – Al Lavan Wide receivers – Richard Mann Tight ends – Ken Whisenhunt Offensive assistant – John Settle Offensive quality control – Lester Erb

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Marvin Lewis Defensive line – Jacob Burney Linebackers – Maxie Baughan Secondary – Alvin Reynolds Defensive assistant/quality control – Jim Schwartz Special teams coaches Special teams – Scott O'Brien Strength and conditioning Head athletic trainer – Bill Tessendorf Strength and conditioning – Jerry Simmons

Roster

1997 Baltimore Ravens roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 14 Wally Richardson 12 Vinny Testaverde 10 Eric Zeier Running backs (RB) 21 Earnest Byner 40 Kenyon Cotton FB 34 Jay Graham 33 Priest Holmes 33 Bam Morris FB 44 Tony Vinson FB Wide receivers (WR) 82 Derrick Alexander 81 Michael Jackson 84 Jermaine Lewis 83 James Roe 80 Ryan Yarborough Tight ends (TE) 86 Eric Green 88 Brian Kinchen LS 89 A. J. Ofodile

Offensive linemen (OL) 76 Alex Bernstein G 69 Jeff Blackshear G 77 Orlando Brown T 65 Ben Cavil G 72 Mike Flynn G 71 Spencer Folau T 67 Quentin Neujahr C 75 Jonathan Ogden T 63 Wally Williams C Defensive linemen (DL) 90 Rob Burnett DE 94 Mike Frederick DE 97 James Jones DT 99 Michael McCrary DE 98 Tony Siragusa DT 95 Chris Ward DE 93 Keith Washington DE 79 Larry Webster DT

Linebackers (LB) 58 Peter Boulware OLB 51 Cornell Brown OLB 52 Ray Lewis MLB 54 Tyrus McCloud MLB 53 Tyrell Peters OLB 55 Jamie Sharper OLB Defensive backs (DB) 24 Donny Brady CB 30 Eugene Daniel CB 20 Kim Herring FS 25 DeRon Jenkins CB 31 Rondell Jones FS 38 Antonio Langham CB 29 Lamar Lyons S 27 Stevon Moore SS 41 Ralph Staten SS 37 Bennie Thompson SS 36 John Williams CB Special teams  9 Greg Montgomery P  3 Matt Stover K

Practice squad 13 Donald Richard WR -- Dwaine Robinson DT 74 Robert Walker DT 53 active, 7 inactive, 3 practice squad Reserve 16 Eddie Britton WR (IR) 85 Ray Ethridge WR (IR) 62 Leo Goeas G (IR) 64 Sale Isaia G (IR) 60 Jeff Mitchell C (IR) 87 Nate Singleton WR (IR) 92 Leland Taylor DT (IR) Rookies in italics

Preseason

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue
1	August 2	New York Giants	L 20–21	0–1	Memorial Stadium
2	August 8	at New York Jets	L 29–39	0–2	Giants Stadium
3	August 16	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 13–24	0–3	Veterans Stadium
4	August 22	Buffalo Bills	L 28–31	0–4	Memorial Stadium

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 31	Jacksonville Jaguars	L 27–28	0–1	Memorial Stadium	61,018
2	September 7	Cincinnati Bengals	W 23–10	1–1	Memorial Stadium	52,968
3	September 14	at New York Giants	W 24–23	2–1	Giants Stadium	69,768
4	September 21	at Tennessee Oilers	W 36–10	3–1	Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium	17,737
5	September 28	at San Diego Chargers	L 17–21	3–2	Qualcomm Stadium	54,094
6	October 5	Pittsburgh Steelers	L 34–42	3–3	Memorial Stadium	64,421
7	Bye
8	October 19	Miami Dolphins	L 13–24	3–4	Memorial Stadium	64,354
9	October 26	at Washington Redskins	W 20–17	4–4	Jack Kent Cooke Stadium	75,067
10	November 2	at New York Jets	L 16–19 (OT)	4–5	Giants Stadium	59,524
11	November 9	at Pittsburgh Steelers	L 0–37	4–6	Three Rivers Stadium	56,669
12	November 16	Philadelphia Eagles	T 10–10 (OT)	4–6–1	Memorial Stadium	63,546
13	November 23	Arizona Cardinals	L 13–16	4–7–1	Memorial Stadium	53,976
14	November 30	at Jacksonville Jaguars	L 27–29	4–8–1	Jacksonville Municipal Stadium	63,712
15	December 7	Seattle Seahawks	W 31–24	5–8–1	Memorial Stadium	54,395
16	December 14	Tennessee Oilers	W 21–19	6–8–1	Memorial Stadium	60,558
17	December 21	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 14–16	6–9–1	Cinergy Field	50,917

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC Central
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
(2) Pittsburgh Steelers	11	5	0	.688	372	307	L1
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars	11	5	0	.688	394	318	W2
Tennessee Oilers	8	8	0	.500	333	310	W1
Cincinnati Bengals	7	9	0	.438	355	405	W3
Baltimore Ravens	6	9	1	.406	326	345	L1