Memories: Pro Football Hall Of Fame Class of 2013, Jonathan Ogden

Chosen via the fourth overall pick in the 1996 NFL draft, UCLA tackle Jonathan Ogden was the first selection of the newly-formed Baltimore Ravens.

Now the former 6-9, 345-pound blocking machine will achieve another first on this initial weekend of August, 2013. Ogden will become the first primary member of the Ravens to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Here’s just a reminder for those not totally familiar with the history of the franchise. The Ravens were formerly the organization known as the Cleveland Browns, which left that city following the 1995 season under owner Art Modell. The Browns’ head coach at the time was Bill Belichick, but when the team moved to Baltimore it was taken over by head coach Ted Marchibroda.

Back to 1996 and Ogden, who would be joined that April in the first round by a linebacker named Ray Lewis, the 26th overall selection in the draft. The team struggle in those early years in the always-tough AFC Central but Ogden’s reputation was growing quickly as one of the league’s best tackles. He was equally adept at blocking for the run as he was stopping pass rushers from invading the pocket. And the latter was particularly important considering the aggressive defenses of the Pittsburgh Steelers under head coach Bill Cowher and Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans at the command of Jeff Fisher.

In 1997, in just his second season, he was named to what would be the first of 11 straight Pro Bowls. As for the team, it was getting better as well. In 1999, Brian Billick took over as head coach and the team went 8-8, its first non-losing campaign in four seasons. But them it all came together in 2000, when the Ravens won their first NFL championship.

While the defense proved to be legendary (including playoffs, Baltimore allowed 188 points in 20 games that season), the offense did its part. And when it came time to protecting a lead, Ogden and company controlled the football with the help of quarterback Trent Dilfer, tight end Shannon Sharpe and running backs Priest Holmes and rookie Jamal Lewis. Including playoffs, the Ravens won their final 11 games in 2000 and rolled to a 34-7 win over the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa.

Thanks to its strong nucleus of players led by Ogden, both Ray and Jamal Lewis and later others such as Terrell Suggs, Peter Boulware, Ed Reed and Todd Heap, the Ravens stayed in contention more times than not. In 2003, Ogden was a huge part of a special season turned in by Jamal Lewis, who ran for 2,066 yards that year. That single-season total now ranks third in NFL history behind Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (2,105 with the Rams in 1984) and Adrian Peterson (2,097 with the Vikings in 2012). Ogden’s 12-year career ended in 2007 with the last of his 11 Pro Bowl invites.

But this weekend, Ogden has been invited to a different kind of celebration. And perhaps he will run into Dickerson and discuss the merits of a 2,000-yard rushing season.

After all, they are now members of the same team.

This story is sponsored by EarQ