The Ravens bookended the beginning and end of Josh Bynes‘ long NFL career. The linebacker officially retired, Friday, and he’ll spend Sunday at The Bank in Baltimore.
Bynes spent three separate stints with the Ravens. And Baltimore will honor the former Auburn linebacker at M&T Bank Stadium. He’s the team’s Legend of the Game as the Ravens with dynamic quarterback Lamar Jackson take on the Rams. Bynes went from undrafted free agent off a national championship team to a 12-year NFL veteran. Bynes also played for the Lions, Cardinals and Bengals. But Baltimore always will be his professional home.
“The way they treat me, my family, there’s no place like it,” Bynes said in an interview with the Ravens team web site.
After cutting Bynes, Ravens GM called him back in 2011
Bynes appeared in 138 games, with 82 starts. Playing as an inside linebacker, he received lots of opportunities to tackle a running back trying to test the middle. Plus, he knew every detail of the oppoing team’s offense.
And the NFL did test his will to play the game. The Ravens waived him during his first training camp. He didn’t stick with other teams after several tryouts. Then Baltimore GM Ozzie Newsome called. Bynes said he was back home with his parents in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He still had on his interview suit when Newsome called. Bynes had decided to try a career in academic counseling at the local college.
“You want to be a Raven again? You been working out?” Newsome asked. The call sent Bynes back on the football track. He made his official NFL and Ravens debut on Thanksgiving, 2011. There’s probably still a lot of symbollism with the holiday. Bynes wants fans to remember how he played, how he shrugged off disappointment and moved forward.
“The thing I’m most proud of is perseverance,” Bynes told the Ravens team reporter. “I’ve been released, cut. I’ve been told I wasn’t good enough, not fast enough to play in the league, wouldn’t be in the league long at all even if I had the opportunity to play.
“I can show my peers that regardless of what anybody says, you can do anything. You just go out there and prove it every single day. I feel like I proved that for my entire 12 years.”
Linebacker earned Super Bowl, BCS rings in his football career
The last time Bynes appeared as a player at M&T Bank Stadium was November, 2022, in a game against the Browns. The former linebacker lives in Atlanta now. He’s the dad of three sons ages three to 13. And he coaches them in all their sports. Coaching might be his next career.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh described his former linebacker as an “achiever.” After all, Bynes had a 12-year NFL career, plus he’s got good jewelry — rings for a Super Bowl and a college football national title.
“I think he is an example that when you work hard, and do the right things, and treat people right, and show up every day and do your best, a lot of great things can happen and you can surpass expectations. He’s become a legendary player in our organization because he came back so many times.”
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