The Ravens have not only enjoyed excellent kicking over their 20 years with Matt Stover and now 
They’ve also been a breeding ground for kickers to go elsewhere and find success. Call it the Ravens kicking tree.
One of the strongest branches of that tree will be back in Baltimore for the first time this Sunday. Steven Hauschka, who has now kicked in two Super Bowls with the Seahawks, got his real shot with the Ravens.
Hauschka signed with Baltimore in 2008 after the undrafted rookie out of Middlebury College and N.C. State was released by the Minnesota Vikings after his first preseason.
Hauschka shared long-range kicking duties with Stover in 2008 before taking the full-time job in 2009. Hauschka went 9-of-13 that year with all four misses coming on high-pressure kicks.
He hooked a 44-yard game-winning attempt with no time left in a 33-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He missed a 36-yarder a few weeks later in Cleveland and was cut.
After being let go by the Ravens, Hauschka bounced between the Atlanta Falcons and Denver Broncos before landing with the Seahawks in 2011. He’s been there ever since and has been solid, averaging an 89.2 field-goal percentage.
Hauschka will come to M&T Bank Stadium as one of the top kickers this season, as he’s made 22 of 23 attempts (95.7 percentage).
On Wednesday, Head Coach John Harbaugh said he’s happy for Hauschka’s success.
“Steve is a great guy,” Harbaugh said. “Steve took more ribbing from
The Ravens have also helped Graham Gano (Carolina) and Robbie Gould (Chicago) get other jobs after stints with Baltimore.
Gano signed with the Ravens immediately after going undrafted in 2009, but Baltimore gave Hauschka the job instead. Gano bounced between the UFL’s Las Vegas Locomotives and Washington Redskins before heading to Carolina. He’s been the Panthers’ kicker for the past four years.
Gould also came to the Ravens, after being let go by New England, as an undrafted rookie in 2005. The Ravens released him after three weeks and he headed to Chicago, where’s he’s been ever since. Gould went to the Pro Bowl in 2006.
Shayne Graham, who is now with the Atlanta Falcons, had a stop in Baltimore in 2011. Billy Cundiff, who was released by the Buffalo Bills earlier this year, also spent time with the Ravens that year before Tucker came in 2012.
“We’ve got a long list of guys that came through here as kickers and punters and played in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said. “That’s a credit to [Special Teams Coordinator] Jerry [Rosburg] and [Kicking Consultant] Randy [Brown] and our scouting department.”
