Ravens Football Finds Roots in Canadian Communities

The Baltimore Ravens maintain connections to Canada through two players from Ontario who wear purple and black. Tavius Robinson from Guelph and Brent Urban from Mississauga represent different career stages and paths to professional football, yet both contribute to Baltimore’s defensive schemes while carrying the hopes of Canadian fans who follow the team from north of the border.

Ontario Players Anchor Baltimore’s Defense

Robinson entered the NFL in 2023 after the Ravens selected him 124th overall in the fourth round. The 26-year-old linebacker attended Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute before playing for the University of Guelph Gryphons. He later transferred to Ole Miss, where his performance caught the attention of NFL scouts. At 6 feet 6 inches and 262 pounds, Robinson started seven games during the 2024 season, his second year with Baltimore. His athletic testing results from the NFL Combine showed his speed and power: a 4.66-second 40-yard dash, a 33.5-inch vertical jump, and 23 repetitions on the 225-pound bench press.

Urban brings veteran presence to the Ravens practice squad after signing in August 2025. The Mississauga native first joined Baltimore when the team drafted him in 2014. Now 34 years old and measuring 6 feet 7 inches and 310 pounds, Urban has played 122 regular-season games across four NFL teams. His career statistics include 170 total tackles, 10 sacks, and 16 pass knockdowns through 34 starts. Urban played college football at Virginia before entering the professional ranks, and he has earned approximately 13.3 million dollars during his 11-year NFL career.

Geographic Connections Shape Fan Access

Baltimore sits closer to the Canadian border than most NFL cities. The drive from Toronto to M&T Bank Stadium takes between seven and eight hours, making Ravens games more accessible for Ontario residents than games in cities like Miami or Los Angeles. Robinson’s hometown of Guelph lies 100 kilometers west of Toronto, while Urban comes from Mississauga, a city of 700,000 people within the Greater Toronto Area.

The Ravens compete in the AFC North alongside Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. These divisional matchups occur twice each season and feature teams located in the northeastern United States, reducing travel distances for Canadian fans who attend games. Baltimore finished the 2024 season with a 12-5 record and won the AFC North title, giving the team playoff games that draw additional attention from international viewers.

How Canadian Fans Track Ravens Games and Odds

Canadian Ravens supporters follow their team through various channels beyond traditional television broadcasts. Many fans in Ontario and other provinces monitor game outcomes through online platforms, with some tracking point spreads and over/under totals as part of sports betting in Canada, while others use fantasy football apps or NFL Game Pass to stay connected with Baltimore’s performance.

The proximity of Baltimore to the Canadian border makes M&T Bank Stadium accessible for Ontario residents who want to watch Robinson and Urban play in person. Fans from Toronto and surrounding areas organize road trips for division games, particularly matchups against Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, combining their football fandom with weekend travel plans that might include visits to Inner Harbor attractions or sampling Maryland crab cakes at local establishments.

Draft Rights Connect Two Football Leagues

Both Robinson and Urban maintain ties to Canadian Football League teams despite their NFL careers. The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected Robinson 66th overall in the eighth round of the 2023 CFL Draft. Urban’s CFL rights belong to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, who drafted him in the second round of the 2013 draft. These connections illustrate how Canadian players maintain options in both leagues throughout their careers.

Robinson’s father Tim provides another sports connection between Canada and professional athletics. The Calgary native was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 1982 MLB Draft, showing how athletic talent runs through the Robinson family across multiple sports and generations.

Ravens Build on Defensive Tradition

The Ravens employ Robinson and Urban within defensive schemes that emphasize physicality and versatility. Robinson’s development shows in his increased playing time from his rookie season to starting seven games in 2024. His combination of height, weight, and speed allows Baltimore’s defensive coordinators to use him in multiple positions along the defensive front.

Urban’s decade of NFL service provides knowledge that younger players like Robinson can access. His career path from fourth-round pick to practice squad veteran demonstrates the various roles players fill throughout their professional careers. Urban recorded 20 tackles and two pass knockdowns during the 2024 season, contributing to Baltimore’s division-winning defense.

Canadian Football Development Pathways

Robinson’s journey from Guelph Collegiate to the NFL shows one pathway for Canadian athletes. He played multiple sports in high school, including basketball and track, before focusing on football. His time with the Guelph Gryphons in U Sports provided competition against other Canadian universities before he transferred to the NCAA at Ole Miss.

Urban took a different route through American college football from the beginning. His four years at Virginia prepared him for the NFL draft without playing in Canadian university programs. Both paths led to NFL careers, demonstrating that Canadian players can reach professional football through various developmental systems.

Southern Ontario produces football talent that reaches the NFL through consistent youth and high school programs. The region’s population density and proximity to American football culture create conditions for player development. Robinson and Urban both emerged from this environment, though separated by age and career timing.

Conclusion

The Ravens’ Canadian connections run through Robinson and Urban, two Ontario natives who contribute to Baltimore’s defensive unit. Their presence gives Canadian fans specific players to follow while supporting a team that won its division in 2024. The relative proximity of Baltimore to Canadian population centers, combined with the Ravens’ sustained competitiveness, creates conditions for fan engagement that extends beyond player connections. Robinson represents emerging Canadian talent finding success in the NFL, while Urban shows the longevity possible for Canadian players who establish themselves in the league. Their combined presence on Baltimore’s roster during the 2025 season provides Canadian football fans with reasons to follow the Ravens that go beyond general NFL interest.

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/10/23/street-talk/canadian-players-in-the-nfl-2025/