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Ravens Host a First-of-Its-Kind Reunion for Legends

Jun 13, 2024 at 04:22 PM

Matt Ryan

Editorial Intern

Since Kamar Aiken retired in 2018, he hasn't been around football at all. The former wide receiver dipped into real estate and recently opened a restaurant called Miami Grill in Orlando, but football has been distant.

That changed on Tuesday. Aiken, along with more than 60 other Ravens legends, came to mandatory minicamp as a part of a two-day reunion that every former Ravens player with at least one credited season in Baltimore was invited to. It's the first time a reunion of that scope and magnitude was ever organized by the Ravens.

For Aiken, who played in Baltimore from 2014-16, the reunion helped him realize something.

"I waited too long. I should have come back sooner," Aiken said. "It's good. It's been a good feeling, good atmosphere, good everything since we've been back. Excited to be back. They've treated us no better than I could imagine them treating us, to be honest.

"It's been nothing but love. The kids [are] having fun. It's just been a good time. It's good to be back. Good to smell the grass. Good to be out here watching these guys compete, run around. Good to see familiar faces."

The practice viewing and subsequent cookout were the final events of the reunion. It started on Monday with happy hour at M&T Bank Stadium, where the field and locker room were open, and each former player had their jersey hung up in a locker. The group then went to Top Golf, followed by brunch the next morning, where representatives from the NFL came by to remind everyone what kind of benefits they receive from being a former player.

When the legends and guests arrived at the Under Armour Performance Center on Tuesday, they watched practice and reminisced about the old days. Behind the far practice field was the cookout (which extended well after practice), and for the kids there were inflatable obstacle courses, face painting, henna tattoos, caricatures, and balloon artists.

"We always joke that we could do nothing. We could just get them at a hotel and put them at a hotel bar and rent out a restaurant and they would have just as much fun," said Matt Little, the Director of Legacy Engagement. "They like coming out here and doing all that, but they just like being together and catching up."

The legends spanned from 1996-2016, and this event was the first reunion where everyone across all years was invited. Many players came from all over, with Aiken traveling from Atlanta and former defensive tackle Dwan Edwards coming from Charlotte, N.C. Edwards played his first five NFL seasons in Baltimore, and it's a place that means a lot to him.

"Taught me how to be a pro," Edwards said. "[I] got a chance to play with great players, and I'll always have great memories with what I learned and learning how to be a professional."

For Edwards, and surely other players, coming back together was a bit of a reality check.

"It definitely ages you, seeing people's kids. The kids who were babies are growing up and getting ready to go to college and all that stuff," Edwards said. "It's amazing. Life's amazing.

"You don't get those opportunities. To get us all together has been great."

Little said that he received great reviews from those in attendance, and an organization wide reunion will happen again.

After practice, Head Coach John Harbaugh noted the importance of having alumni come back to stay part of the Ravens organization.

"Once a Raven, always a Raven," Harbaugh said. "It really is a family-type of organization, and when you see the guys back with smiles on their faces who want to introduce their kids to you ... Our players go over, take a minute to meet their kids and sign autographs and do pictures. To me, [that] is what it's all about."

Here's a list of everyone that was at Tuesday's practice:

Kamar Aiken

Herman Arvie

Gary Baxter

Alex Bernstein

Donald Brady

Jason Brown

Stoney Case

Ben Cavil

Mark Clayton

Prince Daniels Jr.

Will Davis