Kyle Van Noy has a chip on his shoulder, and he's taking it out on quarterbacks.
Entering Week 5, Van Noy is second in the NFL with six sacks, playing stellar football as one of the key pieces in Baltimore's defense. During the Ravens' 35-10 victory over the Buffalo Bills, Van Noy had two sacks for the third consecutive game and chased star quarterback Josh Allen relentlessly.
It's just the second time in franchise history that a Ravens player has had multiple sacks in three straight games, as Van Noy joined Justin Houston (2022).
With 15 sacks in 18 regular season games as a Raven, Van Noy has already proven he has plenty of smoke left at age 33.
"I take it very personal that I wasn't on a football team [at the beginning of] last year," Van Noy said. "I'm always trying to prove that I can play – each and every year – at a high level. I have goals and dreams that I'm always chasing, and I felt like I've been underrated my whole career, and I'm just going to continue to work."
Van Noy was a free agent when the 2023 season began, uncertain about his future and feeling disrespected until the Ravens signed him on Sept. 27 of last year. From the moment he walked into the doors of the Under Armour Performance Center, the veteran linebacker has been on a mission to prove he's still at the top of his game.
That statement has been made. Van Noy has found a comfort zone in Baltimore – the right system, culture, and coaching staff to bring out his best. He feeds off his teammates and vice versa. They respect his game and his knowledge, whether they are rookies or established stars like All-Pro linebacker Roquan Smith.
"I'm so excited for KVN," Smith said. "He's a wily vet. … He knows what moves he has going for each and every [offensive] tackle, and I think the scheme helped put him in the right place. So, I'm just very excited for his success, and he's just going to keep getting better throughout the year. People slept on him, but tell them 'keep sleeping.'" Van Noy made the key defensive play of Baltimore's win over the Bills, a strip sack of Allen on a trick play in the third quarter.
The Ravens only led 21-10 at that point and Buffalo was driving. But that's when the Bills decided to get fancy and Van Noy wasn't fooled. Wide receiver Curtis Samuel took a direct snap and lateralled to Allen, but Van Noy knocked the ball away before Allen could throw, and Kyle Hamilton recovered the fumble.
"I almost felt disrespected that [the Bills] tried that," Van Noy said on the “Pat McAfee Show.” "They were trying my IQ out there a little bit."
The Ravens responded with a scoring drive that ended with Lamar Jackson's 9-yard touchdown run that gave them a 28-10 cushion. Baltimore was back in control and closed out its most convincing win of the season.
Van Noy is doing more than compiling impressive stats. He's making timely plays that are helping the Ravens (2-2) get back on track after losing their first two games.
"He's certainly playing young, but he's also playing crafty," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "He's playing like a vet – he's smart; he's in the right place."
The season is still young and as Harbaugh said, Van Noy is playing young. He was part of two Super Bowl-winning teams with the New England Patriots (2016, '18), but Van Noy isn't resting on those accomplishments.
Winning a ring with the Ravens would be special and another way for Van Noy to pay back an organization that still believed in his ability. He's serious about setting an example for younger players to follow, and he's doing it with his words and his production.
"I care about these guys," Van Noy said. "These guys are going to be a piece of me when I'm done playing, and I see them doing their thing for years to come. I want to end up passing the baton to them and showing them love. I work really hard to be a good teammate, and [I'm] just trying to give back."
Van Noy is also doing it for his daughter, who is now old enough to understand her father's line of work. Van Noy is a young father. He's playing young. And he hates the "o" word, as he calls it.
"Harbaugh has done a great job – and 'Z.O.' (Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr) – of helping me continue to develop as a leader and empowering me," Van Noy said. "I appreciate everything they've done [for] me since I've been here. But I just have this chip on my shoulder that's probably never going to go away."
