David Modell’s role in Super Bowl XXXV Ravens win chronicled

Sherm Lewis, Emmitt Thomas, Chris Palmer and Jim Haslett, who were also in line to be interviewed for the job.

David Modell was adamant about getting the best man for the job and he obviously did. David’s thorough nature and search for answers ultimately led to the hiring of Brian Billick.

Here is the original list of requirements:

Baltimore Ravens’ Head Coach Profile

Leadership

1. Disciplined Approach
2. Expects Accountability/Attention to Detail
3. Gains/Commands Respect
4. Motivates Players to Want to Excel
5. Teacher
6. Presence
7. Goal Oriented
8. Ability to Effectively Communicate Goals
9. Ability to Motivate Troops to Pursue Unified Goals
10. Confident/Conveys Confidence to Others
11. Assistant Coach Mentality?

Successful Background/Experience

1. Association with Winning Programs
2. Association with Excellence
3. Head Coach (College/Pro)
4. Coordinator (College/Pro)
5. Assistant Coach (College/Pro)

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Football Knowledge/Philosophy

1. Reliance on Fundamentals
2. Offense
3. Defense
4. Special Teams
5. Talent Evaluation (Strength/Weakness)
6. Innovate
7. Strategy
8. Roots of Offense/Defense Systems
9. Knowledge and Ability to Implement Systems
10. Experience Play Calling
11. Game Planning

Management Skills

1. Attention to Detail
2. Makes Good Critical Analysis
3. Critical Decision Making Ability/Loves Pressure
4. Problem Solver/Loves Challenge
5. Delegates or Micro Manager
6. Relates Well and Respects All Facets of Organization
7. Willing to Compromise
8. How to Handle Administrative Role
9. Selection of Staff
10. Recruiter

Communication Skills

1. Understands and Respects Role of Media
2. Non-Combative Attitude Toward Media
3. Understands and Respects Role of Community
4. Willingness to “Recruit” Community
5. Speaking Skills
6. Physical Appearance

Goals and Objectives

1. Plan
2. Length of Time to Win
3. Use of Draft
4. Use of Free Agency
5. Use of Young Players
6. Use of Veterans

Personal Traits

1. Overriding Desire for Excellence
2. Exhibits Drive to Succeed in All Aspects of Life
3. Demanding (but fair)
4. Home Life (wife, kids – their habits)
5. Work Ethic
6. Spiritually Centered
7. Avocations
8. How Handle Adversity
9. Ego
10. Attitude
11. Goals
12. Balance

After winning the Super Bowl, Billick went back and examined these criteria and reported back to me.

“It’s an outstanding, detailed outline labeling the components of what you’re looking for in a head coach,” he said. “The methodology used – and I saw this list before they hired me – is one of the reasons I came here. When I saw this list, I thought, ‘We approach things the same way.’ This is how I would do it if I hired a coach. There was a very specific thought process that they were going to use to find a head coach. It wasn’t like they were grabbing at straws or were going to throw a dart and see where it lands.”

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David Modell’s ability to analyze situations and keep the company cool has served him and the franchise well through some trying negotiations. It was Modell who got the Jonathan Ogden deal done in rapid fashion in 1996. It was Modell who hardlined Derrick Alexander, Steve Everitt, Wally Williams and Antonio Langham during their free agency bids that ultimately failed horribly in other cities. It was Modell who preached calm every time a drafted rookie would hold out of camp, be it Peter Boulware, Duane Starks or Jamal Lewis.

Just the fact that Jamal Lewis is a Raven is due partly to Modell’s acumen and foresight and tenaciousness.

Flash back to April 17, 1999, the NFL Draft Day that netted the organization Chris McAlister with the 10^th pick in the first round. While the Ravens were on the clock in the second round of the draft with the 42^nd pick overall, the Atlanta Falcons called and inquired about the pick, offering next year’s No. 1 in exchange for the right to draft Reggie Kelly, a tight end from Mississippi. Head of College Scouting Phil Savage, Billick and the other war room scouts were adamant about utilizing the pick to deal for more picks that year. Of course, they work all year to use their knowledge to make picks. They never want to trade for future picks. According to one scout, David Modell “nearly jumped on the table and demanded that we make the trade. He started saying that a No. 42 pick is silver but next year’s No. 1 would be gold, that Atlanta would falter and that the pick in 2000 could be a difference maker.”

Atlanta did falter and quickly became one of the worst teams in the league when running back Jamal Anderson got injured

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