Ravens Super Bowl Legend Signs One-Day Contract to Retire in Purple and Black

Baltimore, MD – July 25, 2025

It wasn’t loud. It didn’t need to be. At the Ravens facility this morning, the air was still — the kind of stillness reserved for moments of quiet reverence. No highlight reels, no championship banners waving. Just a single signature, one final jersey, and the silent return of a giant.

This wasn’t a press stunt. It wasn’t nostalgia. It was closure. The kind of moment every true fan hopes their warrior receives — not just a retirement, but a homecoming.

Marshal Yanda, eight-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion, and the very soul of Baltimore’s offensive line for over a decade, signed a one-day contract with the Ravens — officially ending his NFL career in the only colors that ever mattered: purple and black.

“I never cared about the spotlight,” Yanda said. “I cared about the work. About earning respect in this building, and giving everything I had to this city. And before I walk away for good, I just wanted to wear that jersey one last time.”

Drafted in 2007, Yanda didn’t just play guard — he owned the trenches. Game after game, year after year, he set the tone for what Ravens football meant: toughness, humility, and relentless drive. He never sought attention, but earned admiration from coaches, teammates, and opponents alike.

In 2012, he helped anchor the offensive line that powered the Ravens to a Super Bowl XLVII title. But his greatest contribution wasn’t just championships — it was culture. Yanda represented everything John Harbaugh demanded and everything Baltimore celebrated.

“Marshal didn’t just block people,” said Harbaugh. “He built a standard. And we’ve been chasing it ever since.”

Off the field, Yanda never chased headlines. He raised a family in Maryland, mentored young linemen, and quietly remained the foundation behind some of the franchise’s proudest years. And even after his 2020 retirement, his shadow never left the facility.

Today, he walked back in — not to suit up, but to say goodbye the only way that felt right: as a Raven.

“You don’t get to choose how long the ride lasts,” Yanda said. “But you can choose where it ends. And for me, it always ends here — with Baltimore.”

Stay tuned to ESPN!