Ravens re-sign S Anthony Levine Sr. to a one-year deal

The Baltimore Ravens value special teams perhaps more than any other franchise in the entire league. On Wednesday, they agreed to bring back their unquestioned leader of the often forgotten third phase of the game for one more season in Anthony Levine Sr.

Levine’s agent announced the news on Twitter:

Levine has been a linchpin on the Ravens coverage, return and protection units for nearly a decade and has helped establish and uphold the gold standard that the team has become known for.

In nine season with the team, he logged 2,720 snaps covering kicks and blocking on returns and has played 1,039 snaps on defense. He was one of the best dime safety/linebackers in the league for a two-year stretch from 2017-2018.

While his role on defense has significantly reduced in recent years since peaking in 2018 at 27 percent of the total snaps with 280, Levine is still one of the stalwart veteran leaders on the team.

He earned the nickname ‘Co-Cap’ for his prowess on special teams alongside former Raven Albert McCellan but he also serves as an on-field coach for many of the team’s young players on both sides of the ball trying work their way up the depth chart.

He helped develop both of the Ravens’ current starting safeties — Chuck Clark and DeShon Elliott — into the players they are today after humble beginnings on special teams.

Despite dealing with a core injury for most of the season, Levine appeared in 15 games last season, made one start, recorded seven total tackles, and recovered a pair of fumble recoveries on special teams.

There’s no guarantee that the former undrafted free agent out of Tennessee State will make the roster this year, but he will make it tough for the younger defensive backs currently on team or those that will be brought on to beat him out.