David Modell Remembered As Critical To Ravens' Early Success

Former Baltimore Ravens president David Modell has died, team officials announced Friday. He was 56.

Modell, son of former Ravens owner Art Modell, had been battling Stage IV lung cancer. He passed away early Friday afternoon.

“The children of accomplished leaders never receive as much credit for what they achieve when following in the footsteps," Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti said in a team statement "Much of what the Ravens are today can be traced to David and what he directed and established. But, above all, he was a sweet, kind man who helped me when I was first involved. I smile remembering what we shared and what my friend David offered. He was fun, smart and giving."

Modell handled the team's day-to-day operations shortly after the Ravens' first Super Bowl win in 2001, and stepped down shortly after Bisciotti became majority owner in 2003. His involvement with the franchise goes back to working in gameday operations at Cleveland Stadium when he was just 14 and the team was still the Cleveland Browns. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome knew Modell going back to when Newsome was drafted by the Browns in 1978. He said Modell was like a brother.

"We both grew up with the Browns and became Ravens together. We shared thoughts beyond the business of football," Newsome said. "Life, family, children, politics, religion – we touched it all. You can trace much of the good of this franchise back to David. His passing shakes me."

When the Browns moved to Baltimore, Modell played a key role.

Listen: Kevin Byrne talks to Brett Hollander about David Modell and his importance to the franchise.

“We had nothing,” Ravens spokesman Kevin Byrne recalled in a posting on the team website. “We didn’t have a name, we didn’t have colors, at that point we didn’t even have an updated diagram of Memorial Stadium. David had to direct the formation of a football franchise in just a couple of months. The foundation he laid led to one of the model franchises, I believe, in the NFL. One of his keys, like his father, was he wanted the fans involved.”

When the team arrived from Cleveland without a name, he coordinated a fan vote through The Baltimore Sun to find one, and involved as many stakeholders and staff as possible to select the team colors, organizing another vote to choose the team's logo. Modell led the 1998 opening of what's now known as M&T Bank Stadium, which included a three-day festival downtown.

Modell also welcomed the old Colts marching band to the games and led the search for a new coach after the 1998 season. That coach, Brian Billick, led the team to its first Super Bowl.

“David Modell was a good friend and valuable partner to me and my family. His ever-present and upbeat energy, along with his constant support, were at the very core of our success with the Ravens," Billick said. "He was the first to reach out to me and invite me to consider the Ravens, and he made it easy and inviting to come here. He will be sorely missed.”

Ray Lewis, a key part of that team, was shaken Friday.

“We have lost an incredible man, and incredible father, brother and son," Lewis said. "I was fortunate to speak to David yesterday and was able to let him know how much I love him and tell him he was one of the greatest men I have ever known. His father was like a father to me, and David was like a brother. He had a way of making everyone around him feel special, which was such a gift. I feel truly blessed to have known him, and I will miss my brother greatly."

On the flight back from that win, Byrne said, Modell refused someone's offer to clean the fingerprint-covered Lombardi Trophy. When the Ravens got back to team headquarters, the buses stopped just outside the gates at Modell's request, so a crowd of about 1,000 could hold the trophy and take pictures. The trophy spent a year on tour.

“He wanted to get 100,000 fingerprints on it,” Byrne said. “He wanted the community to enjoy the trophy.”

Modell was a regular guest for C4. He last appeared on the WBAL host's Christmas show in 2014 and spoke, in part, about the importance of family.

Even after he stepped back from his duties with the team, he was a constant presence around the locker room.

"We became good friends, and I loved his enthusiasm, his spirit, his depth and his humor. His upbeat and positive way was always helpful," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "And, his superstitions helped, too. We had a secret handshake and hug every Thursday in our weight room during our Super Bowl season."

In recent years, Modell helped direct Modell Ventures and served as chairman of 3ality Digital, a company that produces and provides 3D entertainment solutions. David served as executive producer for the critically-acclaimed and award-winning “U2 3D” concert movie, which showcased U2’s performances through South America and Australia during the 2006 Vertigo Tour.

Modell also appeared weekly with syndicated radio host Armstrong Williams, while helping his wife Michel, an accomplished artist, raise their 2-year-old twins, daughter “Fee” (Aoife) and son “Bertie” (Bertram). From his first marriage, David is the father of daughters, Breslin and Collier, and sons, Arthur and David Jr.

WBAL-TV 11's Ron Snyder contributed to this report.

This story is developing.