The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens engulfed the NFL in the late 2000s. The AFC North rivals battled in the name of defense often, which produced violent results at times. Famously, one play sticks out from their biggest confrontation. And recently, the Steeler who leveled a Raven in that hit reflected on that famed tackle.
Former Steelers defensive back Ryan Clark gained fame in many ways after his brutal hit on Ravens running back Willis McGahee. Clark blasted McGahee during the 2008 AFC Championship Game. That, of course, was a game the Steelers won en route to their sixth Super Bowl title.
The former Pittsburgh great, who’s now an ESPN analyst, spoke about the famous tackle recently. Clark talked with former ESPN personality Trey Wingo on Wingo’s YouTube show on the Pro Football Network. Per Steelers Depot, Clark had a matter-of-fact reflection on the blow to McGahee.
“Clark even joked around on the podcast saying, ‘Oh, I would go to jail,’ if he made he hit on McGahee in 2022,” writer Joe Cammarota of Steelers Depot wrote.
The NFL has cracked down on mitigating and has attempted to legislate big hits out of the game. For the most part, they’ve done their job, but the violence can still persist. Football is a frighteningly dangerous game at times and there’s only so much that you can do.
