In 2012, the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl. Ray Lewis got to take his John Elway like walk off into the sunset. The Ravens finally had climbed the mountain; for five straight years they got so close. How did the Ravens reach the top? How was the team built.
One theory is that the Ravens were hardened and shaped by their biannual battles with the Pittsburgh Steelers. After the Billick era, you saw a concerted effort to build a championship team that reflected their rivals’ championship teams.
It started with the hiring of John Harbaugh. Harbaugh was hired to be a Bill Cowher type coach.