<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Ravens players lobbying Zach Orr to stay after ending retirement

          play
          What interest level is there in Orr? (1:22)

          NFL Live evaluates the possibility of Zach Orr returning to the NFL after receiving optimistic options regarding his congenital neck/spinal condition. (1:22)

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterJun 28, 2017, 04:30 PM
            Close
              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
            Follow on X

          Linebacker Zach Orr announced Wednesday morning that he wants to end his brief retirement from the NFL, and Baltimore Ravens players have already made efforts to keep the team's leading tackler from going elsewhere.

          Nose tackle Brandon Williams went on Instagram to try to persuade Orr to stay in the middle of the Ravens' defense.

          "Let's Go!!! I got your back bro," Williams wrote. "Don't worry I'll keep the lanes clear and the Oline off of you. You just make tackles and Ball!!!! @zachary.orr #TacklingMachine"

          Orr, 25, is technically a free agent because the Ravens didn't tender him as a restricted free agent in March.

          He announced his retirement in January because of a congenital neck and spine condition that puts him at an increased risk for fatality and paralysis. Five months later, Orr revealed he has received differing opinions from doctors in an appearance on the NFL Network.

          As a result of Orr's retired-but-not-retired situation, eight teams have reached out to Orr since he revealed his intention to return, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Orr will visit the Detroit Lions on Thursday.

          The Ravens didn't sign a free agent or draft anyone this year to replace Orr in the middle of their defense, but there is no guarantee they would want to bring back Orr. His condition is a complicated one that carries serious implications.

          Orr would have to be medically cleared by the Ravens, and their stance might not have changed since the end of the season, when a CAT scan revealed that the first cervical vertebrae at the top of his spine never fully formed.

          "I just want to play ball. I mean, perfect situation, perfect scenario, of course Baltimore; I have a great relationship with everybody in that organization," Orr said in an appearance on the NFL Network. "So perfect scenario, Baltimore obviously would be favorites."

          The call would ultimately come from owner Steve Bisciotti and general manager Ozzie Newsome.

          "I spoke with Zach [on Tuesday] and he informed me that he would like to continue to play football," Newsome said in a statement. "He is a free agent."

          Other Ravens showed their support for Orr on social media:

          A first-time starter after entering training camp as a backup, Orr finished last season with 132 combined tackles, including two on special teams. Although Orr missed the final game, his single-season total was the team's third highest in the past decade, behind only Ray Lewis' output in 2010 (139) and 2009 (134).