The Ravens unveiled the most extensive changes to their uniform sets on Thursday, with PSL holders getting the first look at “The Next Flight” collection.
“Evoking a raven primed to attack, the uniforms carry the Baltimore name, hints of the flag, and signature phrases, weaving in the team’s history while building a look for the future,” the Ravens said on their website. “The Ravens threaded the needle between maintaining their signature look while introducing new, eye-catching elements.”
The Ravens have two new helmets: A matte black helmet, the “Darkness Helmet,” features black talon stripes and a two-toned front-facing Ravens logo with piercing red eyes, also seen above the player tunnel at M&T Bank Stadium.
The team also changed its “Purple Rising” helmet, which the Ravens first introduced in 2024 with their alternate purple uniform. it now has the primary Ravens logo, which will allow it to be worn with additional uniform combinations. The helmet still features a metallic-purple-painted shell with gold talon stripes down the middle and a gold facemask.
Designed to emulate the iridescence of a raven’s feathers, this color-shifting material radiates purple in the light, revealing darkness when it fades. Each jersey number now includes a midnight purple stroke, while the iridescent color also appears in the shield patches on the sleeves, the back collar of three jerseys and along the talon stripes across all pant varieties.
The pattern featured on the collar depicts a raven’s wings spread wide in a threat display.
Instead of a straight line down the pants, the new pant design imitates the claws of a raven, comparable to the stripes on the top of the helmets. They also have a diagonal cut to represent the Calvert crest seen in both the Baltimore and Maryland flags.
The new collection has altered jersey numbers, with the drop shadow removed from all jerseys. The gold trim has been replaced with the midnight purple stroke in all three primary jersey colors.
The sleeve shields have evolved, with each of the three shield patches featuring midnight purple.
The team’s jersey has always had “Ravens” on the front of the jersey under the collar and above the number. Now the team’s white jerseys, usually worn for road games, will say “Baltimore” instead.
The back collars of the purple, black, and Purple Rising jerseys also include “Baltimore,” meaning every jersey the team wears will now showcase the name of the city.
“Play Like a Raven,” “Purple Rising” or “Darkness There and Nothing More” will be stitched into the inside of the collar.
The NFL has announced the names of the current and former players that will take part in next week’s draft by announcing second-round picks.
The list includes players associated with all 32 teams, including Cardinals running back James Conner. Conner has strong ties to the Pittsburgh area after playing for the Steelers and attending Pitt, which likely made him an easy choice as the Cardinals’ representative.
Former Bears tackle Jimbo Covert, former Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, former Chiefs defensive lineman Bill Maas, current Vikings tackle Brian O’Neill, former Jets running back Curtis Martin, and former 49ers punter Andy Lee are other Pitt alums who are set to take part.
The hometown team will be represented by four players. Former Steelers Jerome Bettis and John Stallworth will be joined by Joey Porter Sr. and Jr. next Friday.
The other players taking part and their team affiliations appear below:
Falcons: Michael Turner
Ravens: Mark Ingram
Bills: Shane Conlan
Panthers: Jake Delhomme
Bengals: Ken Anderson
Browns: Phil Dawson
Cowboys: Drew Pearson
Broncos: T.J. Ward
Lions: Calvin Johnson
Packers: John Kuhn
Texans: Billy Miller
Colts: Pat McAfee
Jaguars: Paul Posluszny
Raiders: Matt Millen
Chargers: Shawne Merriman
Rams: Tavon Austin
Dolphins: Dwight Stephenson
Patriots: Deion Branch
Saints: Marques Colston
Giants: Osi Umenyiora
Eagles: Brian Westbrook
Seahawks: Cliff Avril
Buccaneers: Ronde Barber
Titans: Jeffery Simmons
Commanders: Mark Rypien
Reports last month indicated that the Ravens have increased optimism about defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike will be able to return from the neck injury that kept him out for the final 15 games last season, but the team has offered no concrete word about his outlook for the coming season.
That didn’t change at Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta’s press conference on Wednesday. While DeCosta didn’t provide clarity about the veteran’s chances of playing this fall, he did say that any uncertainty will not be a major factor in how the team approaches the draft next week.
“I would say that Nnamdi’s status doesn’t really affect us that much in terms of like what we’re going to do in the draft at the defensive tackle position,” DeCosta said. “So, as you know, we just try to rank the board, and then whoever the best player is at that point in time. Certainly, we would love to get a young defensive lineman if we can. I think it’s important to try and do that every single year if we can. It’s an important position. We want to get better up front, certainly, on both sides, offense- and defensive-line-wise. It’s a priority for us, I think, and getting a younger player in there who’s a talented younger player would be ideal, and it just depends on how the board falls and who’s available at that time.”
Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles, C.J, Okoye, and David Olajiga are the other defensive linemen currently on the roster in Baltimore.
Ravens General Manager Eric DeCosta is heading into the 2026 NFL draft with his first pick coming at No. 14. Which is right around where DeCosta thinks the talent in this draft starts to drop off.
DeCosta said that when he evaluates the overall talent level available this year, he sees a strong first half of the first round, but a weaker second half.
“First round, there’s definitely a drop off probably midway through the round in terms of talent,” DeCosta said.
DeCosta said the overall talent level this year is “a little less than last year.”
“We have just under 200 players that we have ranked as draftable for us,” DeCosta said. “If the board came off exactly the same way as we have it, we’d have to go outside of that to finish our draft because there’s over 250 picks.”
DeCosta disputed the notion that his willingness to trade away his first-round pick for Maxx Crosby indicates he didn’t think the 14th pick in this year’s draft is particularly valuable.
“We’re excited to have the pick this year at 14,” DeCosta said. “We think we’re going to get a really good player.”
The Ravens traded cornerback Jaire Alexander to the Eagles on Nov. 1, and he stepped away from football on Nov. 12 without playing a game for his new team. The Eagles retain his rights, so if he ever decides to return, it will be with Philadelphia unless the team releases him or trades him.
Alexander, 29, posted about his mental health struggles on social media on Wednesday and made it sound as if his football career is over.
“As much as I loved Baltimore, I didn’t love the position I was in,” Alexander wrote. “I had a bunch of internal battles with myself. I didn’t have that confidence in my abilities I once did. At corner, you need ultimate confidence in your abilities, and I felt it slipping away. It was at this moment I contemplated if I was making the right decision for my career. What helped me get through these times was not only God & my family, but I had some really cool teammates who made it fun to be there. I felt as if I let the organization down. My family and friends would drive up to see me, and I wasn’t even playing in the games. I never questioned God, but why me? All this while having a smile on my face. Football is a true gladiator sport, and once the confidence has gone, it’s time to hang it up. Thank you Flock Nation for embracing me. Thank you EDC for believing in me & thank you for the unlimited therapy sessions I had to encounter to help me with my time there. I am so grateful for the experience.”
Alexander made two Pro Bowls in eight seasons. He played seven seasons in Green Bay before the Packers released him last summer, and he appeared in two games with the Ravens last season.
