Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley's Biography

Born on March 18, 1994, to a Tongan mother, Ronnie Garrison Stanley stands as a remarkable emblem in the world of American professional football. Stanley, an offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL), has established his name as a tenacious and skilled player, adept in managing the game’s offense with finesse and determination.

The origins of Stanley’s foray into football date back to his high-school days at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Besides excelling in football, Stanley also demonstrated his sporting prowess in varsity basketball. However, it was football that ignited a deeper passion within him.

During his high school years, Stanley elicited favorable attention, earning a four-star recruit ranking from Rivals.com. He was listed as the 15th best offensive tackle prospect amongst his peers. His high school football exploits helped him secure a decisive commitment to the University of Notre Dame to play college football in December 2011.

Stanley’s college football career kick-started in 2012 when he played in two games as a true freshman. He began carving his path to stardom as a sophomore in 2013, starting all 13 games at the right tackle. His impressive performance played a crucial role in the team’s offensive line, which conceded only eight sacks and ranked second in fewest sacks allowed in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Moving to the left tackle position in 2014 as a junior, Stanley succeeded Zack Martin, remaining as impermeable as ever, allowing only a single sack throughout the year. Although he seriously pondered entering the 2015 NFL draft following his junior year, he decided to return to Notre Dame for his senior season. Stanley officially declared his decision to enter the 2016 NFL Draft upon the culmination of his senior season.

The Baltimore Ravens acknowledged Stanley’s remarkable talent and commitment to the game by selecting him 6th overall in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. This selection came as a surprise, especially considering the unexpected draft slide of Laremy Tunsil. On May 13, 2016, the Ravens rewarded Stanley with a fully guaranteed, four-year rookie contract valued at $20.48 million, inclusive of a $13.09 million signing bonus.

Stanley’s professional career began under the mentorship of head coach John Harbaugh, who assigned him the starting left tackle position, a spot left vacant following Eugene Monroe’s departure. Stanley inaugurated his career in the regular season with an auspicious start, contributing to the Ravens’ 13-7 victory against the Buffalo Bills. Although he experienced a setback from a foot injury, sidelining him for four games, he returned strong, starting in 12 games during his rookie season in 2016.

He continued to impress in his role as the starting left tackle, and by 2017, had risen to the 13th position among left tackles, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF). Unfortunately, Stanley suffered a concussion during a game in 2017, sidelining him temporarily but did not falter his spirit, as he started in 15 games that season.

Stanley reinforced the Ravens’ offensive strength in subsequent seasons, especially in 2019, when his performance, blocking for quarterback Lamar Jackson and running backs Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, broke the Ravens scoring record set in 2014. Recognizing his exceptional performance, PFF even esteemed Stanley as “The best pass blocking tackle in the NFL”.

Accolades poured in for Stanley on January 3, 2020, when he was designated a First-Team All-Pro, followed by Pro Bowl honors. Later, in October of the same year, the Ravens recognized his invaluable contribution to the team by offering him a five-year contract extension worth a maximum total value of $112.8M, making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the NFL.

Despite facing obstacles along his journey, such as a season-ending ankle injury in November 2020 and a repeat ankle injury that led to surgery in October 2021, Stanley consistently exhibits a spirited resilience. Despite these setbacks, he made a successful return to the field in 2021, starting 13 games after knee injuries kept him away in weeks 2-3 and 11. His unwavering dedication to football has made Ronnie Stanley a paragon of sporting perseverance and an inspiration for future athletes, both on and off the field.