Terrell Suggs calls Baltimore Ravens his ‘first love,’ and more from his arrival at Super Bowl 54

Terrel Suggs

Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (94) celebrates a sack of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during the second half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)AP

The Baltimore Ravens squandered their opportunity to reach Super Bowl 54, but one of the most decorated players in franchise history arrived in the Miami area this week with a Vince Lombardi Trophy in his sights.

And Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Terrell Suggs hasn’t let his time in Baltimore slip too far from the center of his thoughts.

“You’re always going to have feelings for your first love,” Suggs said at Monday’s Super Bowl Opening Night, according to Newsday’s Bob Glauber.

Suggs’ Chiefs will take on the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, seven years after the pass rusher helped the Ravens take down those same 49ers in Super Bowl 47. That championship helped solidify Suggs as one of the greatest players in Baltimore football history.

He played with the Ravens from 2003 to ‘18, setting team records in total games played (229) and sacks (132.5).

This offseason, Suggs spurned an offer from the only team for which he had played to sign with his home-state Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals waived him late in the season, and though reports suggests Suggs hoped to return to the Ravens, the Chiefs claimed him before Baltimore had a chance to do so.

The 37-year-old Suggs told Glauber it was an easy decision to join Kansas City rather than retire, considering that his new team was well positioned for a run at a title. He played 72 snaps during the Chiefs’ first two postseason games and will likely serve in a major role during Sunday’s game.

A second Super Bowl win could bolster Suggs’ chances of making the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Just three Ravens draftees have earned that honor: Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Jonathan Ogden.

Suggs hasn’t publicly discussed his candidacy, though.

“I’m not thinking Hall of Fame or anything other than just having fun in this game,” Suggs said Monday, according to The StarTribune. “I’ll cross all those bridges some other day.”

For now, Suggs is focused on the Super Bowl. And before he gets to the game, he’ll handle the mountain of media obligations that come with playing on the NFL’s most massive stage.

During Super Bowl Opening Night on Monday, he offered his thoughts on the death of basketball star Kobe Bryant and joked about the youth of his teammates. And he thought a bit about the Ravens.

“There’s always going to be something there,” he said, according to Glauber. “It’s your first love.”

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Aaron Kasinitz covers the Baltimore Ravens for PennLive and can be reached at akasinitz@pennlive.com or on Twitter @AaronKazreports. Follow PennLive’s Ravens coverage on Facebook and Youtube.

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