Michael McCrary Michael Curtis McCrary ( born July 7 , 1970 ) is a former American Football defensive end who played for the Seattle Seahawks and the Baltimore Ravens for ten seasons in the NFL between 1993 and 2002 . McCrary was a two time Pro Bowl er in 1998 and 1999 . McCrary was inducted to the Ravens ' Ring of Honor in 2004 . McCrary is now doing commentary for the Ravens on WBAL - AM and created Mac ' s Miracle Fund ; a non - profit organization dedicated to supporting programs and creating unique initiatives that foster self - esteem , build character , and promote academic and athletic excellence in children in need . Early years . McCrary often cited his parents as the reason he took the path he did . When McCrary was a young boy his mother wanted to place him in a day care which was located across the street from his home . However , it wasn ' t racially integrated and she sued the day care to allow Michael ' s admittance . The case Runyon v . McCrary was heard before the United States Supreme Court and resulted in his admission . As a teen he stated “ I hated lifting . I absolutely couldn ’ t stand it , but my father drove me and pushed me . After a while I saw development on my arms and legs , and after about a year I could lift all the weights he had . I was kind of in shock , because I could see formation . It was starting to make sense as to why I was doing this . ” There were many times in that first year at George C . Marshall High School that Michael wanted to quit , but his parents had always taught him to finish what he started . He begrudgingly lasted through that difficult introduction to a sport that would eventually bring him his fame and fortune . In his senior year of high school football McCrary was being recruited by several top football programs and anticipated he would have a breakout senior season . Instead , in only the second game of the season , Michael McCrary broke his arm in two places after chasing down a ball carrier . The diagnosis - a compound fracture . His goal was to receive a scholarship to play college football from a major program . Because of the injury , McCrary sat out his entire senior year . The only schools that were still interested were James Madison and Towson State , two division I - AA schools , and Wake Forest . McCrary would later admit that “ Even with Wake Forest , I wasn ’ t one of their top recruits . They told me that the only reason I got in was because a couple other guys ahead of me turned them down , so the scholarship slid to me . But I didn ’ t care ; I had my scholarship and my car , and I knew the rest would take care of itself if I just kept working . ” College career . McCrary played college football in Wake Forest University from 1989 - 1992 . Wake Forest has been recording the sack statistic since 1969 . McCrary graduated out of Wake Forest in 1992 breaking both the team ' s record of sacks in a season ( 16 ) and sacks in a career ( 30 ) and still holds those records to this day . When being scouted by NFL scouts they found his vertical leap was measured at 36 inches ; and at 250 pounds , he came in at 4 . 59 seconds in the 40 - yard sprint . Professional career . Seattle Seahawks . Michael McCrary was drafted in the 7th round by the Seattle Seahawks in the 1993 NFL Draft . 7th round picks rarely make the team and McCrary would later state he was often teased for doing so by his teammates . Undersized at that time for being a defensive end , he stamped his legacy with aggression and speed . McCrary would spend the 1993 season with the Seahawks where recorded 4 sacks and 2 forced fumbles with scarce playing time . In 1994 , his playing time grew but not by much . McCrary also declined in production with 1 . 5 sacks and 12 tackles . He would then face a major injury in 1995 which left him out for 5 games . Because of roster movements , McCrary would start his first NFL season in 1996 and the virtually unknown McCrary made that opportunity count . He finished his first starting season with 77 total tackles , 3 pass deflections , 1 forced fumble and 13 . 5 sacks and 1 FG Block ( which turned a probable Houston Oilers last second victory into a Seahawks win as he lateraled the ball to Robert Blackmon who returned the block for a last second Seahawks Touchdown ) . Baltimore Ravens . The Free Agency period began and McCrary ' s rookie contract expired . He and his agent did the “ Round the World ” NFL tour - Houston Oilers , Indianapolis Colts , Philadelphia Eagles - and nobody was biting on any of the offers . His agent decided to make a call to the Baltimore Ravens and found that they were very receptive to the idea of talking with Michael . Current Cincinnati Bengals head coach and then Baltimore defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis was building a defense that would eventually be the best statistical defense in the history of the NFL . McCrary would flourish in the Raven defense where his blue - collar tenacity and eternal high - caliber aggression was cherished . McCrary finished his season as one of three Baltimore Ravens ( Peter Boulware and Rob Burnett ) with over 70 career sacks . Due to his knee injuries , McCraray officially retired previous to the 2003 NFL season . Brian Billick on Michael McCrary : " " Reading Michael ’ s book reminded me of the absolutely fearless , pure warrior that I was lucky enough to have on our team and , fortunately , only had to coach against once . No player in Ravens history surpassed the effort Mike gave on every single play . He was as tough as any Raven . Mike served as an example to his teammates in terms of preparation , including in - season and off - season conditioning and strengthening . Mike McCrary was a player that , as a coach , you knew you didn ’ t have to concern yourself with . By that I mean Mike was going to give you his best , and was going to make a play that impacted the game , every time he set foot on the field . " " ~ Brian Billick Retirement . On August 21 , 2003 , at the Ravens facility in Owings Mills , Maryland Michael McCrary announced his retirement In attendance were Michael ’ s mother and father , his wife Mary , and his daughter Kohanna . Representing the Ravens were majority owner Art Modell , Coach Billick , General Manager Ozzie Newsome , and about twenty players who asked special permission to attend . It was a media frenzy with cameras everywhere . Sportscaster Keith Mills said , “ I have never seen anything like this . I have covered a hundred of these , including Cal Ripken ’ s , and I have never seen so much love and emotion for a retiring player . ” After Football . In 2007 Michael McCrary filed a $ 60 - million - dollar civil lawsuit in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City , concerning a hurricane - derailed New Orleans real estate venture at the New Orleans landmark ( Crescent City Towers ) Plaza Tower site . The trial court defaulted all parties McCrary named in the litigation . New Orleans author and French Quarter Bourbon Street resident TJ Fisher was among the multiple individuals and entities defaulted for $ 33 . 3 million dollars . In May 2009 the Maryland Court of Special Appeals reversed the judgment . On May 2 of 2007 , The Sun ( Baltimore ) daily newspaper ran a profile on Michael McCrary ' s " wrecked knees " . McCrary was present during the Baltimore Ravens ' Super Bowl XXXV reunion in 2010 .