TODD HEAP

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TOP 10 RAVEN
TODD HEAP
By Sydney Wade
Todd Heap, the two-time Pro
Bowl tight end who made
countless clutch catches
throughout his career, was
voted by season ticket
holders as one of the Top 10
Ravens in team history.
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After capturing the franchise’s first
Super Bowl Championship in 2000,
the Ravens selected Arizona State’s
Todd Heap in the first round (31st
overall) of the 2001 NFL Draft.
During his rookie season, Heap had
the distinct advantage of playing
alongside future Hall of Famer
Shannon Sharpe. The Arizona native
credits Sharpe for serving as a
mentor and teaching him how to be a
consummate pro at football’s highest
level of competition. This special
interaction – coupled with high
character and leadership both on and
off the field – helped Heap quickly
grow into a larger offensive role.
By the start of his second campaign,
Heap earned the starting tight
end job, hauling in 68 passes for
836 yards and six touchdowns
that year. Before long, chants of
“Heeeeeeeeap” began to resonate
throughout M&T Bank Stadium and
became synonymous with the twotime Pro Bowler executing clutch
plays for the Ravens.
Heap’s production was consistent
throughout his 10-year career in
Charm City, with him posting 467
receptions for 5,492 yards and
a franchise-record 41 receiving
touchdowns. The former firstrounder also remains the franchise’s
all-time leader in consecutive games
with a reception (74) and received
the 2006 NFL Alumni Tight End of
the Year Award. These accolades and
significant contributions to the team
and Baltimore community led to
Heap’s well-deserved induction into
the club’s Ring of Honor in 2014.
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OZZIE NEWSOME ON TODD HEAP
“Todd was an outstanding player as well
as an outstanding person, representing the
Baltimore Ravens well. As a former tight
end, it was fun watching Todd practice
and play as a Raven. He made important,
clutch catches for us like the one he made
in Tennessee that helped us get to the AFC
Championship game in 2008.”
JOE FLACCO ON TODD HEAP
“First, Todd was a veteran teammate who
helped me in my first few years in the NFL. I
could count on him both on and off the field.
Now, he’s one of my closest friends and will
always be.”
DENNIS PITTA ON TODD HEAP
“Todd was a great teammate. He was a
mentor to me when I came into the league.
I knew who he was, and I always looked up
to him as a player. When I got here, it was a
great scenario for me to be able to learn from
someone like him – a Pro Bowl player. I feel
fortunate to have played with him. Todd and I
have remained close throughout these years.
I live in Arizona in the offseason – he’s from
there – so we hang out all offseason, and
we’ve remained close friends.”
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TODD HEAP Q&A
What does family mean to you?
“For me, family was always the most important thing in my life, starting
from a young age. Now, having five kids, it think that’s my most important
calling in life, to be a husband and a father. I’ve looked back at how my
parents raised me, and I just hope to be able to be the same kind of
parents to my kids and carry on that tradition. Their parents before them,
my grandparents, were the same way. It’s one of those things that’s hard
to put into words, but you like to keep things in perspective. And family
was always ahead of football. I would place God first, then family, and
then football is down the line. I always tried to keep things in perspective,
while still making football a huge part of my life. It’s hard to do, but it’s the
best way to do it.”
Best basketball player in Ravens history is...
(laughter) “There’s no question. I’ve got to put myself in there. I don’t
know who else it would be. Name somebody else. I can’t think of anybody
else.” (laughter)
Thoughts on Shannon Sharpe:
“Shannon Sharpe – he’s definitely one of the best tight ends ever to
play the game. He was a great mentor to me, great in the locker room
and great with the media. There was not a bigger personality in football,
and I really enjoyed every second I had with him in the locker room and
watching him – a true professional – do his job.”
Thoughts on Joe Flacco:
“Flacco – he is the calmest, most confident guy I’ve ever been around.”
The team you most loved to beat?
“There’s no question – the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, all around the
country, I’ve run into Steelers fans, and anytime they would come up
to me, they’d say, ‘Oh, Todd Heap, we hated you.’ They’re wearing their
Steelers gear, and I’ll usually tell them, ‘Hey, the Steelers, they were my
second-favorite team.’ And they’ll say, ‘Oh really? That’s awesome. I might
like you a little bit more now.’ Then I respond after that, ‘It’s because I had
all my best games against them.’ And then they go right back in sync.”
Being in the Ravens Ring of Honor:
“It’s special. I’m honored to be in there with all the other guys and just
honored to represent the Baltimore Ravens and all the fans. It’s pretty
cool, every time you walk into the stadium, to see your name up there. It
has really capped off my career, to be recognized in that way by the team
that brought me into the NFL and where I called home for so many years.
To be received and accepted by all the fans and everybody in Baltimore,
it’s really special.”
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