What team in the National Football League was named after an 1845 poem by Edgar Allan Poe?

The connection between professional football and 19th-century gothic poetry is deeply rooted in the city of Baltimore. The celebrated author and poet Edgar Allan Poe lived, died, and is buried in the city, making him one of its most famous historical figures. When the Cleveland Browns relocated to Baltimore in 1996, the new franchise needed an identity that was uniquely its own. The team's ownership decided to let the public have a say in the matter.

In a fan contest managed by the local newspaper, The Baltimore Sun, voters overwhelmingly chose "Ravens" over other finalists like the "Marauders" and "Americans." The name is a direct and fitting tribute to Poe's most famous narrative poem, "The Raven," which was first published in 1845. The poem's dark, mysterious tone and its iconic avian subject resonated with the city's connection to the legendary author.

The team has fully embraced its literary namesake. Its official mascots are three ravens named Edgar, Allan, and Poe. Furthermore, the team's color scheme of black and purple evokes the dramatic and somber atmosphere that characterizes much of Poe's work, cementing a unique link between the worlds of literature and professional sports.