Baltimore Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy is chasing a personal milestone and revisiting an old memory as the 2025 season approaches. After posting a career-high 12.5 sacks in 2024, he has circled his meetings with Aaron Rodgers, now a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, as priority opportunities. With Jaire Alexander added to a strengthened Ravens defense, the year sets up for heated divisional battles and high-level defensive tests.
In September 2023, Van Noy was a free agent weighing options. He had a scheduled NFL Network appearance, then canceled it when the Ravens requested a second visit. One day later, he signed with Baltimore.
Year two in Baltimore produced his most efficient pass-rush season. The 12.5 sacks he recorded in 2024 surpassed every prior year of his career, cementing his role as a key piece in the Ravens front and giving him momentum to push those totals higher in 2025.
Rodgers’ move to the Steelers was one of the headline shifts of the 2025 offseason. For Van Noy, it guarantees two regular-season shots at a quarterback he has never sacked, a detail he has not forgotten.
His motivation traces back to 2015, when he faced Rodgers while playing for the Detroit Lions. Rodgers threw a touchdown on Van Noy’s defense and followed it with a dismissive pat on Van Noy’s back. Van Noy has said, “I’d like to get him back,” and he intends to do it this season.
The long-running Ravens-Steelers rivalry now carries an added subplot between Van Noy and Rodgers. Van Noy enters 2025 with a clear objective, and putting Rodgers on the ground for the first time sits at the top of the list.
Baltimore’s defense added elite cornerback Jaire Alexander, whose speed and coverage range raise the ceiling of an already talented unit. With Alexander joining Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, the Ravens can roll out a three-corner combination Van Noy called a “three-headed monster,” a trio that tightens windows and buys time for the rush.
Van Noy’s aims are not limited to raw sack totals, although another double-digit year is attainable. The 2015 moment still fuels him, and he plans to channel it into leadership and consistency as the Ravens push for a deeper playoff run.
Baltimore’s plan against Rodgers will require sound structure. His quick release and vertical accuracy demand disciplined disguises, timely blitzes, and third-down leverage. With corners who can hold up in man or match principles, linebackers like Van Noy can trigger pressure more aggressively. Film study, pre-snap looks, and in-game adjustments will determine whether Van Noy finally logs that first sack of Aaron Rodgers.
