This move announced months earlier, had sent shockwaves through the football world. Citing financial difficulties and Cleveland Stadium's inadequacy, Modell secured a lucrative deal to bring NFL football back to Baltimore, a city still smarting from the Colts' departure years earlier.

The naming ceremony was a symbolic step in this contentious transition. While Cleveland fought to retain the Browns' legacy – their name, colors, and history – Modell's organization was forging a new identity in Baltimore. The "Ravens," a nod to Edgar Allan Poe's famous poem and the city's literary history, represented a fresh start, albeit one steeped in the bitter circumstances of a beloved team's relocation. The day underscored the complex intersection of sports, business, and civic identity, leaving a lasting scar on Cleveland's passionate fanbase while ushering in a new era for Baltimore football.