The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens have one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports. The entire AFC North poses fierce battles, but none are as intense as when the Ravens play the Steelers. In recent decades, Pittsburgh and Baltimore have been the two most likely Super Bowl competitors in the division. That has changed a lot as of late. However, the way the organizations have been run and the talent both teams have had have created a respectable rivalry.
The Steelers and Ravens may hate each other, but they do respect one another. Pittsburgh currently leads the rivalry with 35 wins out of the 60 times they have played each other, while the Ravens have won 25 of those meetings. Recently, the outlook on these teams has changed thanks to the incredible quarterback play of Lamar Jackson. Baltimore has become the "better" team despite not being able to get it done in the postseason. Despite that, Pittsburgh still holds their own against the Ravens and Jackson.
In the 2023 season, Pittsburgh beat the Ravens twice. Jackson has just a 2-4 record against the Steelers. No matter how good Baltimore is, Pittsburgh is going to give them a run for their money. As players from both sides look back on the history of their games, they can't help but have respect and great stories about the Ravens vs. Steelers matchups.
Former Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason wrote in the iconic book, Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold, about the rivalry. Mason recalled a game in Pittsburgh where the Ravens were up big, but ended up blowing the game and losing it thanks to Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown's heroics. Mason's story reflects the true nature of the rivalry.
“It has been the best rivalry in football over the last 10, to 15 years. I would call it a respectful hate," said Mason. "You knew that when you played the Steelers, you were going to get their best and their worst. Meaning they were going to come at you with all they had and they were going to do it borderline crossing that line, but they never did. There was no love lost, there was some hatred there, but there was respect there, too. Every year, the schedule would come out and we would circle it-Steeler week. It was always a focus for us. We were intense all the time, but on Steeler week, we made sure every T was crossed, and every I was dotted because you never wanted to be put in a position where they might embarrass you.”
Mason had high praise for the nature of the rivalry between the Ravens and the Steelers. He shared that while there was real hatred in those games, it was built out of respect and competitive spirit. He expressed significant admiration for his former, big-time rivals, the Steelers.
“But playing those guys was fun," Mason said. "I respect Mike Tomlin a lot. They were a team that prides themselves on their history, they were always well aware of it, their fans were well aware of it and even if they were not having their best year, they knew what a Pittsburgh Steeler is supposed to play like. Whether they were having a good season or not. They have had what, three coaches in 50 years? That speaks volumes. The organization is one of the most stable in all of sports. Not just football, but all of sports.”
Steelers Organization Is Truly One Of A Kind
Mason couldn't help but notice the amazing and iconic history of Pittsburgh football. The Steelers don't operate like the rest of the league. They are loyal to their head coaches, don't negotiate with players in the middle of the season, and typically don't spend big money in free agency.
Everything Pittsburgh does is rooted in high character and tradition. Since Chuck Noll was hired in 1969, the Steelers have had only two other head coaches, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. The Cleveland Browns have had 21 different head coaches in the same period.
Pittsburgh allows their coaches to endure down years without panicking and cleaning house. This unorthodox approach to running a professional sports team has proven successful. Some fans may feel it has grown tiresome, but the Steelers are committed to their way of doing things. Even their greatest rivals can't help but respect and admire the iconic history of Pittsburgh football.
As modern dynamics shift, it will be interesting to see how Pittsburgh's organization reacts. This offseason, Steelers fans saw General Manager Omar Khan take a more aggressive approach to getting the team back into Super Bowl contention. Despite these changes, the tradition and culture of the Steeler way remain intact.
