Baltimore Ravens legend won't let young star wear his number

David Ojabo made a valiant effort, but Terrell Suggs won’t budge. When it comes to the No. 55 jersey number with the Baltimore Ravens, it remains locked away.

Ojabo, who wore No. 55 while playing at Michigan, has been assigned No. 90 in the NFL. He recently told reporters that he attempted to make a pitch to wear his collegiate number, even asking Suggs for permission.

But Suggs, and the Ravens front office, didn’t approve Ojabo’s request.

“Suggs not letting me. We had discussions, got [team owner Steve] Bisciotti involved a little bit, but that’s above me. He’s a legend,” Ojabo said. “So I’m going to stick with 90. I had to try, but he’s not going for it.”

Is David Ojabo going back to his college jersey No. 55?

“Suggs not letting me.”

Did you ask?

“Yeah, we had discussions. It got [Steve] Bisciotti] involved a little bit.

“But, look that’s above me. He’s a legend. So I’m gonna stick with 90.”pic.twitter.com/kgHyLgFuBZ

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) May 17, 2023

Suggs is a legend in Baltimore, spending 16 of his 17 NFL seasons with the Ravens. The former first-round selection posted 855 tackles and 132.5 sacks during his time in Baltimore. He earned seven Pro Bowl trips and won a Super Bowl ring with the organization.

Suggs earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2003 and also hauled in the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011. The linebacker finished out his career with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, adding another Super Bowl ring to his list of accomplishments.

Maybe it’s best that Ojabo doesn’t wear the No. 55 on the field. That’s quite a career to attempt to replicate.

David Ojabo’s rookie season marred by injury

The first year of Ojabo’s NFL career was essentially non-existent. An Achilles injury suffered weeks before the 2022 NFL Draft forced him to miss most of his rookie campaign, seeing significant action in just one game.

Ojabo appeared in Baltimore’s regular-season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, recording a strip-sack against Joe Burrow. For all intents and purposes, the 2023 season will serve as Ojabo’s rookie season.

After missing almost an entire season to injury, the former Michigan star is ready to move forward. And it’s created a lot of excitement for the upcoming season.

“It kind of made me feel like I belong, got me more excited for this season,” Ojabo said, per BaltimoreRavens.com. “I’ve never been injured before. I’ve never had to just sit down. It tested my patience, but it was definitely for the better. I’m back 110 percent.”

Ojabo also refuses to dwell on the injury. He’s put it in the rearview mirror.

“Honestly I’m tired of hearing about it,” he said. “It’s in my past, I’ve grown from it. It’s made me stronger. I’m ready to move on from it. I’m 110%. I honestly feel better. I feel more explosive. I’m excited.”