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Ravens schedule historic four-game AFC North stretch, sign Hendrickson

6/30/2026

30 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The Ravens will end 2026 with four consecutive AFC North games, a schedule pattern not seen in 31 years.
The franchise hired Jesse Minter as head coach, while the Browns and Steelers appointed Todd Monken and Mike McCarthy, respectively.
Baltimore signed Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract and scheduled a New Year’s Eve game in Cincinnati that could decide the AFC North title and No. 1 seed.

History

Historical Context

After the NFL added the Carolina Panthers and Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, the league solidified a division-centric schedule and introduced a salary cap the previous year. That cap sparked aggressive contract tactics, a pattern the Baltimore Ravens continue by appointing Jesse Minter as head coach and giving defensive end Trey Hendrickson a four-year, $112 million deal, intensifying AFC North competition.

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Story summary

The Ravens will end 2026 with four consecutive AFC North games, a schedule pattern not seen in 31 years.
The franchise hired Jesse Minter as head coach, while the Browns and Steelers appointed Todd Monken and Mike McCarthy, respectively.
Baltimore signed Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million contract and scheduled a New Year’s Eve game in Cincinnati that could decide the AFC North title and No. 1 seed.

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