Mansoor Delane Makes Admission About Ravens Fandom After Joining Chiefs
Mansoor Delane knows exactly what he's walking into. The Kansas City Chiefs held their rookie minicamp on Friday, and their first-round pick wasted no time making an impression. Not just on the field but in front of the microphone too.
Kansas City traded up to select Delane sixth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft, their highest pick in nearly a decade. As he gets his first feel for the playbook and the building's culture, it turns out Delane has been watching this franchise for a long time. Just not as their fan, as a Baltimore Ravens fan.
"For sure. I grew up a Ravens fan. Not a Ravens fan anymore," Delane said at Friday's minicamp press conference. "But obviously, that was some battles. We always could never get past the Chiefs. So I definitely grew up knowing what y'all do."
Delane Knows the Chiefs-Ravens Rivalry Well
Delane's words tell you a lot. The Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens are one of the most watched matchups in the NFL every season, driven by the Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson dynamic and a history of high-stakes games.
For Ravens fans, the record has been a tough pill. Kansas City leads the all-time series 10-5 across 15 meetings, including two playoff games. Baltimore's last win came in 2021, a 36-35 result. Before that, you have to go back to 2012 - when Delane was nine years old.
He grew up watching his team come up short against this franchise repeatedly. Now he plays for them.
Why the Chiefs Moved Up for Delane
General manager Brett Veach didn't move up just for versatility, though that was part of it. This was about landing a legitimate top talent at a position of real need. Kansas City hadn't held a top-10 pick since moving up for Mahomes at No. 10 in 2017, and the front office understood the opportunity.
The Chiefs lost serious depth in the secondary this offseason. Trent McDuffie was traded and Bryan Cook, Jaylen Watson and others walked out the door too. The unit needed a foundational piece and Delane is expected to step into a starting role right away.
The 2026 offseason was a complicated one for Kansas City and the expectation around the league is that the Chiefs will respond. Delane's arrival gives the defense something to build around in the secondary and his familiarity with what winning looks like at this level, even if he learned it from the other side, might end up being an asset.
He's done watching the Chiefs from a distance. Now he's on the inside.
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