After triumphing in Super Bowl XLVII last month, the Ravens are giving back to the city of New Orleans.
Owner Steve Bisciotti purchased and donated two 2013 Harley Davidson FLHP motorcycles for the New Orleans Police Department traffic division. The gifts were presented to mayor Mitch Landrieu and police superintendent Ronal Serpas during a Wednesday morning press conference in New Orleans.
The gift was a show of gratitude for the services provided by the city during the Ravens’ stay in New Orleans the week leading up to Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 3. Throughout the duration of their stay, the Ravens received police escorts, 24-hour security, and outstanding community support, according to a team release.
“We wanted to do something to show our appreciation for how well our team, our families, and our fans were treated by everyone representing New Orleans,” Bisciotti said in a team statement. “Every place we went, the good people of New Orleans treated us with kindness and tremendous service — across the board. It started in our team hotel, continued with the police, and included many in the hospitality industry. The people of New Orleans were great.”
Pro Bowl return specialist and New Orleans native Jacoby Jones was in attendance to present the gift on behalf of the organization.
If not for teammate Joe Flacco, who threw for three first-half touchdowns in the win over the San Francisco 49ers, Jones would have likely been named Super Bowl MVP after accumulating a Super Bowl-best 290 combined yards. Jones caught a 56-yard touchdown pass right before halftime and opened the second half with a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, which tied for the longest return in NFL history.
“I always talk to my teammates about southern hospitality, and the fact that it was on display enough during our Super Bowl week to have the Ravens donate something to the great people of New Orleans is special,” Jones stated. “Winning the world championship in my hometown and then being able to do something to help the people who protect it is a great feeling.”
The Ravens also took out a full-page ad in the New Orleans Times-Picayune offering thanks to the city and its hospitality.
These gestures aren’t typical of Super Bowl teams in past seasons, but it’s the latest example of the class epitomized by owner Steve Bisciotti and his organization.
“Our officers who assisted the Ravens last month truly enjoyed being of service to this team and this organization,” Serpas said. “It was an exciting opportunity, and this department was honored to be a part of it. These motorcycles are custom-made for the NOPD and are a lasting gift, as they’ll help in our efforts to keep the people of New Orleans safe for many years to come. We can’t thank the Ravens organization enough for their generosity.”
Despite a power outage at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome lasting more than 30 minutes early in the second half, Baltimore prevailed 34-31 to win its second Super Bowl title.
