The Baltimore Ravens have reopened their window as Super Bowl contenders. What began as a frustrating start to the season, going 1-5 in their first six games and losing by at least two scores in three of those five losses.
For many fans, the season seemed to be over before it started. Now, after winning five out of their last six games, what felt like a bad dream now feels like a distant memory as the Ravens surge back into playoff contention.
After a big Week 12, a 23-10 victory against the Jets, Baltimore has surged from the brink of death back into the spotlight. One of the biggest reasons for Baltimore’s success is its impressive turnaround on defense. After starting the season with one of the worst defenses, the team bounced back and turned what looked like a historically bad unit into one of its strengths.
But even after rising back into contention, the Ravens stumbled again against a struggling divisional rival. The Cincinnati Bengals were 3-8 through the first 11 games. The NFL reminded us it’s not just a business, it’s also a sport where any team can win any given day, and that’s what happened to the Ravens, losing a game they were favored in prime time to a shocking 32-14 defeat.
But even after the Ravens’ Thanksgiving defeat, one storyline remains true, and that is the development of star safety Kyle Hamilton, who is on a meteoric rise and is becoming a household name not only in Baltimore but the whole country as well.
Hamilton’s Impact
Before Baltimore turned its season around, the early storyline of their 2025 NFL season was just how historically bad their defense was, and how many wanted not only Zach Orr, the second-year defensive coordinator, gone, but also longtime head coach John Harbaugh.
The defense was horrid to start the season, surrendering 37 or more points in four of its first six games. The team’s lowest point came on Oct. 5, when they played the Houston Texans with then-backup quarterback Cooper Rush. They were embarrassed at home in a 44-10 blowout loss, tying for the worst home loss in franchise history.
Since that embarrassing defeat, the Ravens’ defense has been on a roll, allowing more than 20 points just once. With that happening in the team’s most recent game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The person who has made the most significant difference in the defense’s sudden turnaround is fourth-year safety Kyle Hamilton.
His ability to play every single position on the field like a Swiss Army knife has been a big reason the team’s defense has been able to bounce back from a historically bad start and try to save their season and make the playoffs.
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From the deep safety spot to slot corner, or even as a linebacker, Hamilton’s ability to line up anywhere on the field has been the driving force behind Baltimore’s defensive revival. That versatility has turned him into the key to a unit that went from historically bad to playoff-caliber.
Final Thoughts
While he’s proven as the NFL’s most effective Swiss Army knife, the most surprising thing about Kyle Hamilton’s season is that he ranks near the top in a lot of safety categories despite only playing the 35th most snaps.
According to PFF, while he ranks behind many other players at his position, he more than makes up for it by dominating in most categories. He ranks first in forced fumbles (2), second in total pressure (10), first in pass rush grade (92.5), coverage grade (86.6), and overall grade (88.7).
What makes Kyle Hamilton so special is not just his talent or his ability to play every position on defense. Wherever the Ravens have him lined up, he gives 110% and shows why he is one of the best players on the field. No matter which position you need him to play, he is the perfect plug-and-play star.
His ability to influence the game across the field is one of a kind, and it makes him not only the center of Baltimore’s defense but also the biggest reason for their revival.
While the Baltimore Ravens’ playoff hopes hang in the balance at 6-6 through the first 12 games of the season, it’s certainly not due to a lack of effort from their star safety. Although other big names are having standout seasons, some are even on pace to break records.
This article serves as a reminder for many NFL fans — especially those in Baltimore — that, while he may not be as well-known as the likes of Myles Garrett and Micah Parsons, Kyle Hamilton deserves his fair share of praise and consideration for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year for the 2025-2026 season.
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