Baltimore, MD – July 5, 2025
Sometimes, a player's biggest battle doesn’t happen on Sundays. It happens in silence — behind closed doors, in courtrooms, in headlines they never wanted. And for one Ravens lineman, that battle has only just begun.
At first, the news barely made a ripple: a routine divorce filing back in February. But the storm came quickly after. Ben Cleveland, once seen as a future anchor on Baltimore’s offensive line, is now fighting to hold onto more than just his NFL career. He’s fighting to clear his name, stay on the field, and salvage a life unraveling at full speed.
The former third-round pick filed for divorce from his wife, Kaitlyn, citing alleged infidelity. But Kaitlyn fired back, calling the accusations “knowingly false” and a smear campaign built on “bad faith.” Court filings show the couple has been separated since Christmas, but it was Cleveland’s DUI arrest just two weeks before the filing that set social media ablaze. While he pleaded not guilty and awaits trial, whispers around the league grew louder: Is this the beginning of the end?
Once considered a key rotational piece, Cleveland’s role has dwindled. Last season, he logged just 49 offensive snaps. He’s now listed as a backup behind Andrew Vorhees — a position made shakier by the offseason exit of Patrick Mekari. With just 7 starts over four years and a PFF ranking of 117th out of 136 NFL guards, the margin for error is thin. Very thin.
Still, the Ravens extended a one-year, $1.17 million lifeline this spring. No bonuses. No guarantees. Just a chance. A contract that reflects the organization’s quiet skepticism but leaves the door open — if Cleveland proves he belongs.
“This season isn't just about football. It's about identity,” a team insider shared anonymously. “Either Ben tunes out the noise and finds himself — or this chapter ends, fast.”
In the NFL, it’s said adversity reveals character. For Ben Cleveland, 2025 won’t just be a make-or-break year on the field — it will be the defining year of his life.
Stay tuned to ESPN.
