Baltimore Ravens logo history
The Baltimore Ravens introduced their raven-head logo in 1999. The purple bird faces right and carries a gold B on the side of its head. It replaced the winged shield used in the franchise’s first three seasons; the current primary logo is separate from Baltimore’s shield and front-facing bird alternate marks.
Current Baltimore Ravens logo vs. the old logo
New
Old
Baltimore’s original logo put a large B inside a shield with wings extending on both sides. The current logo shows a raven in profile, with the gold B on the side of its head.
Why did the Ravens replace the Flying B logo?
The old Ravens logo became the subject of a copyright lawsuit brought by Frederick Bouchat, a Baltimore security guard and amateur artist. In 1995, he drew a winged shield as a proposed Ravens emblem. He faxed it to the Maryland Stadium Authority in April 1996, asking for recognition and an autographed helmet if the team used it. The drawing reached the artists developing the team’s identity.
Bouchat sued the Ravens and NFL Properties in 1997. A jury found copyright infringement in November 1998. A separate damages trial awarded him no share of the defendants’ profits, a result upheld on appeal in 2003. Baltimore began using its raven-head logo in 1999, and the Flying B remains associated with the team’s first three seasons. Fourth Circuit opinion, October 8, 2003.
What does the B in the Ravens logo stand for?
The B identifies Baltimore. The raven connects to the team’s name, which references Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “The Raven.” Poe lived in Baltimore and is buried there, giving the bird a connection to the city beyond its role as a football mascot.
When did the Baltimore Ravens start playing?
The Ravens began play in Baltimore in 1996. Their early winged-shield era ended before the first Super Bowl championship, which followed the 2000 season. The raven-head design therefore spans both that title team and the championship team from the 2012 season.
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