Rivalries in the NFL fuel fan passion across the league, and in some divisions, the animosity between fan bases runs deeper. None more so than in the AFC North, particularly when it comes to the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Despite being a relatively young rivalry, it carries plenty of history. Players fully embrace the emotions from both sides and leave everything on the field because no one wants to lose a game like this. A former Ravens player recently shared what it was like to experience the rivalry from the inside.
Mike Flynn Shares His Takes About Ravens Rivalry With the Steelers
No division harbors as much pure hatred between its teams as the AFC North. And when it comes to Ravens vs. Steelers, the rivalry always brings gritty, hard-fought battles that feel like a throwback to an era when football was all about the trenches.
Mike Flynn, a former Ravens lineman who spent 10 seasons with the franchise and was part of the team’s first Super Bowl win, spoke about his experience with the rivalry and shared his thoughts about the Steelers fan base.
“Hateable. Very hateable. Very hateable team. Very hateable city. Very hateable fanbase. I still dislike them. I like to see them lose more than the Ravens win,” Flynn said. “And a lot of that has to do with they… You know, we lost a lot of tough games to them, and still do. And it was never a rivalry until finally in 2000 when we finally bit back.”
In 1996, the team formerly known as the Cleveland Browns ceased to exist and became what we now know as the Ravens. The franchise was essentially the same, made up of the same people, but relocated to Baltimore. Three years later, a new version of the Browns returned to the NFL, reclaiming the original identity left behind by the Ravens.
In the first eight matchups between the Ravens and Steelers, from 1996 to 1999, Pittsburgh won six and dominated the early rivalry. Historically, the Pennsylvania franchise holds a significant edge over its Maryland rival, with 36 wins to the Ravens’ 27. That lopsided record only fuels the deep-rooted hatred Ravens fans have toward their AFC North nemesis.
“Then it became a rivalry, and it got nasty. I mean, you name it. Fights on the field, fights going out to the bus. Man, they were great to play in. They were great to play in. I do miss that. And it usually delivers. What I like about it now is, like, there’s rarely rivalries that still deliver, and it still does,” Flynn added.
The rivalry continues to deliver thrilling games and new chapters, with each team winning one matchup during the regular season last year. In the playoffs, the Ravens eliminated the Steelers in a game dominated by their powerful ground attack. In 2025, with the arrival of Aaron Rodgers, another compelling chapter is set to unfold on NFL fields.
