Ray Lewis is praised by Tom Brady, and Zay Flowers gives the Baltimore Ravens a clear message on Jadeveon Clowney.

In an NFL offseason dominated by free agency moves, trade rumors, and draft analysis, two stories out of Baltimore have captured the attention of fans and pundits alike. One involves two of the greatest to ever play the game—Ray Lewis and Tom Brady—while the other showcases a rising star, Zay Flowers, making his voice heard about the team’s defensive priorities.

Both narratives paint a picture of the Baltimore Ravens’ past, present, and future—where respect for legends intertwines with an assertive push toward championship aspirations.

Tom Brady and Ray Lewis represent opposite ends of football’s competitive spectrum: Brady, the cerebral field general, and Lewis, the emotional enforcer of a defense-first mentality. Their battles on the gridiron defined an era in the AFC, especially during the early and mid-2000s, where Patriots-Ravens matchups frequently turned into chess matches with bone-jarring hits and fourth-quarter heroics.

So when Brady recently took a moment on his “Let’s Go!” podcast to praise Ray Lewis, the football world paused.

“Ray was one of the most intense competitors I ever faced,” Brady said. “He knew what you were doing before you did it. But more than that, he made every guy around him better. Ray defined what it meant to be a leader on defense.”

Brady continued, adding, “There’s only a few guys I ever thought actually scared offensive coordinators. Ray Lewis was always at the top of that list.”

The seven-time Super Bowl champion’s comments immediately went viral, prompting an outpouring of admiration for Lewis, the Hall of Fame linebacker who anchored the Ravens’ defense for 17 seasons. Fans flooded social media with clips of vintage Lewis—his pre-game dances, his sideline speeches, his game-changing interceptions, and his relentless tackling.

Lewis responded graciously in an interview with NFL Network.

“Tom is one of the ultimate competitors I’ve ever shared the field with. That respect is mutual,” Lewis said. “We made each other better. You don’t get great unless you face great.”

Indeed, the mutual admiration is hard-earned. Lewis and the Ravens played a significant role in some of the few postseason disappointments Brady suffered in his career, including the AFC Championship Game in 2012 when Baltimore stunned the Patriots in Foxborough en route to winning Super Bowl XLVII.

Brady’s comments also rekindled a deeper conversation around what made those Ravens teams so dangerous: their unshakable defensive identity. It’s a legacy the current team hopes to recapture.

If Ray Lewis symbolized Baltimore’s defensive DNA, today’s Ravens are trying to reassert that same energy—something that wide receiver Zay Flowers believes depends heavily on bringing back free agent edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney.

Following the NFL Draft, in which the Ravens focused on offensive line and depth pieces rather than a major defensive splash, Flowers made it clear where he stands.

“If we’re serious about winning a Super Bowl this year, we need Clowney back. Period,” Flowers told The Athletic. “He made a huge difference last year. He brought leadership, pressure off the edge, and you could feel his presence in big games. We’ve got to bring him back.”

The 2023 season marked a rejuvenation for Clowney, who signed a one-year deal with the Ravens after a frustrating stint with the Cleveland Browns. In Baltimore, he registered 9.5 sacks—his most since 2018—along with two forced fumbles and a career-high 57 total pressures. More than numbers, he brought veteran savvy and playoff experience to a defense that often dominated opposing offenses.

Clowney’s postseason play, particularly against the Texans and Chiefs, stood out. Despite the loss in the AFC Championship Game, his ability to collapse the pocket against elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes earned him praise from teammates and coaches alike.

“He was a tone-setter,” said defensive coordinator Zach Orr. “Every week, he gave us an edge—no pun intended.”

Still, Clowney remains unsigned, reportedly drawing interest from multiple teams including the Carolina Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta has stated that conversations are “ongoing” but offered no concrete update.

Zay Flowers’ comments signal that locker room sentiment may lean heavily in favor of re-signing the 31-year-old pass rusher.

“This is a young team with a lot of hungry guys,” Flowers added. “But you also need veterans who’ve seen everything. JD brought that. He helped me as a rookie too—he always talked about mindset and preparation. That matters.”

Brady’s praise of Ray Lewis and Flowers’ plea to bring back Clowney may seem unrelated on the surface, but they reveal a deeper truth about what continues to define Baltimore: intensity, leadership, and the pursuit of greatness.

For Lewis and the 2000s Ravens, dominance came through elite defensive units that struck fear into opponents. In today’s NFL—where quarterbacks light up the scoreboard—teams that can consistently pressure the passer and control momentum on defense remain just as valuable.

Flowers, coming off a standout rookie season with over 850 receiving yards and five touchdowns, knows what it’s like to battle against elite defenses. He also knows how valuable it is to have one on your side.

“Look at the teams that win it all—Chiefs, Niners, even us last year until the end—we all had top defenses,” he said. “That’s the backbone. We’ve got Lamar, we’ve got weapons. But we need guys like JD to close the deal.”

Eric DeCosta now faces a familiar offseason tightrope: balancing long-term cap flexibility with win-now moves. Baltimore has invested in young pass rushers like Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, but neither has yet proven to be the consistent game-changer Clowney was last season.

With Clowney still on the market and the team’s window wide open thanks to Lamar Jackson’s MVP form and a bolstered offensive line, fans and players alike are growing impatient.

Former Raven and NFL analyst Bart Scott, who played alongside Ray Lewis, weighed in during an ESPN segment.

“You think you’re just going to replace that type of production and experience with a rookie or rotational guy? No. You bring Clowney back if you’re serious about making a Super Bowl push.”

Even more telling: Jackson himself has reportedly pushed behind the scenes for Clowney’s return, according to a team source cited by The Baltimore Sun.

At a time when the NFL often feels like a revolving door of transactions and hype cycles, moments like Tom Brady’s tribute to Ray Lewis and Zay Flowers’ pointed remarks help remind fans that culture and continuity matter.

Brady’s praise wasn’t just about on-field accolades—it was about the way Lewis raised the standard for those around him. And that’s exactly what Flowers is asking for from the Ravens front office regarding Clowney.

“If we’re going to go all the way, we need every dog in the kennel,” Flowers said. “JD’s one of those dogs.”

Whether Baltimore hears that message loud enough to act remains to be seen. But what’s clear is that the echoes of Lewis’ leadership still shape the expectations in today’s locker room—and the voices calling for greatness are getting louder.

As Tom Brady reflects on the fierce competitiveness of Ray Lewis and the impact he had on the game, today’s Ravens like Zay Flowers are trying to write their own chapter in the franchise’s history. That story can’t be complete without dominant defense—and in 2025, that may mean one thing: Jadeveon Clowney in purple and black again.

Because in Baltimore, it’s not just about talent. It’s about toughness, tradition, and the will to impose your standard—something both Lewis and Brady understood deeply. Now, it’s up to Flowers and his teammates to live it.