Forty Years After the Mayflowers

Baltimore, Johnny U, and Heritage Relocations in the NFL

KEY WORDS: Art Modell, Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Barry Levinson, Cleveland Browns, Franchise Relocations, Heritage Relocations, Homecomings, Jim Irsay, Johnny Unitas, National Football League, Rings of Honor, Robert Irsay, Steve Bisciotti
BALTIMORE lost the Colts in 1984 and acquired the Ravens in 1996. Along the way it mounted an extraordinary and complicated effort to protect Colts heritage and shape a successor franchise into a legitimate home team. Landmarks include the failure to regain Colts Colors but also the reacquisition of the Super Bowl V trophy, continuation of Colts institutions and homecomings at Memorial Stadium, Art Modell’s decision to leave the Browns nickname in Cleveland, the statue of Johnny Unitas outside the Ravens’ M&T Bank stadium, and inductions of Baltimore Colts to the Ravens Ring of Honor. Of most importance, the loyalty of Unitas and other alumni to the city vindicated ordinary fans who believed in their home team. These landmarks and their impact on other cities added a political dimension to Baltimore’s identity as a football town willing and able to challenge heritage relocations in the National Football League.