A prolific sports journalist, Joe published 482 articles for TSC.
Joe Platania was in his 45th year in sports media, including two CFL seasons when Baltimore had a CFL team. His career spanned six decades.
Joe Platania
Covering sports with insight, humor, and a visionary eye, he made his mark on television, radio, print, online, and podcasts. Joe was one of only three local writers to cover the Ravens since their inception.
Joe was the only sports journalist in Maryland history to have been a finalist for the annual Sportscaster of the Year award (1998, which he won) and Sportswriter of the Year (2010). He is also a four-time Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association award winner.
Frequently heard on WJZ-FM’s Vinny and Haynie Show, he also made numerous appearances on Inside PressBox (10:30 AM Sundays) and (for eight seasons) on the Purple Pride Report WQLL-AM (1370). He has also appeared on WMAR-TV’s Good Morning Maryland (2009), Comcast SportsNet’s Washington Post Live (2004-06), and WJZ-TV’s Football Talk” postgame show with Marty Bass (2002-04).
Joe was a proud graduate of St. Joseph’s (Cockeysville), Calvert Hall College High School, and Towson University, earning a degree in Mass Communications.
His last column for TSC (August 26, 2024) updated his Ravens Memorial Wall. Today, we sadly add Joe’s name to the list.
The Baltimore Ravens Memorial Wall lists the players, coaches, fans, and administrators who have passed away since the team arrived in Baltimore.
-Safety Eric Turner, intestinal cancer, age 31; May 28, 2000
-Wide receivers coach Milt Jackson, heart attack, age 61; Aug. 23, 2005
-Tackle Bernard Dafney, heart attack, age 37; Jan. 11, 2006
-Guard Orlando Bobo, heart and liver failure, age 33; May 14, 2007
-Fullback Chuck Evans, heart attack, age 41; Oct. 12, 2008
-Quarterback Steve McNair, homicide, age 36; July 4, 2009
-Linebacker Tony Fein, morphine overdose, age 27; Oct. 6, 2009
-Fullback Kenyon Cotton, surgical complications, age 36; July 2010
-Tackle Orlando Brown, Sr., diabetic complications, age 40; Sept. 23, 2011
-Philanthropist Patricia Modell, natural causes, age 80; October 12, 2011
-Majority owner Art Modell, natural causes, age 87; Sept. 6, 2012
-Quarterback Cullen Finnerty, pneumonia/brain damage, age 30; May 27, 2013
-Tackle Damion Cook, heart attack, age 36; June 26, 2015
-Head coach Ted Marchibroda, natural causes, age 84; January 16, 2016
-Cornerback Tray Walker, dirt bike accident, age 23; March 18, 2016
-Long snapper Frank Wainright, cause unknown, age 48; April 5, 2016
-Asst. coach Clarence Brooks, esophageal cancer, age 65; September 17, 2016
-Tight end Konrad Reuland, brain aneurysm, age 29; December 12, 2016
-Team president David Modell, lung cancer, age 55; January 13, 2017
-Wide receiver Michael Jackson, motorcycle accident, age 48; May 12, 2017
-Wide receiver James Hardy, suicide, age 31; June 7, 2017
-Defensive end Ryan Jones, homicide, age 26; June 18, 2017
-Tight end Mitchell Henry, leukemia, age 24; June 30, 2017
-Guard Jeff Blackshear, pancreatic cancer, age 50; August 31, 2019
-Southwest area scout Ron Marciniak, cause unknown, age 85; March 23, 2020
-Superfan Mo Gaba, bone cancer, age 14; July 28, 2020
-Punter Greg Montgomery, suicide, age 55; August 23, 2020
-Running back Lorenzo Taliaferro, drug intoxication, age 28; December 16, 2020
-Left tackle Tony Jones, cause unknown, age 54; January 22, 2021
-Offensive coordinator Jim Fassel, heart attack, age 71; June 7, 2021
-Head of security Darren Sanders, cancer, age 55; July 23, 2021
-Linebacker Jaylon Ferguson, drug overdose, age 26; June 22, 2022
-Defensive tackle Tony Siragusa, cause unknown, age 55; June 22, 2022
-Equipment manager Ed Carroll, cause unknown, age 75; October 5, 2022
-Defensive end Chris Smith, cause unknown, age 31; April 17, 2023
-Quarterback Ryan Mallett, drowning, age 35; June 27, 2023
-Receiver/returner Jacoby Jones, cause unknown, age 40; July 14, 2024
-Offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, cause unknown, age 70; August 25, 2024
–Ravens beat writer Joe Platania, kidney failure, age 60; September 18, 2024
Mr. Platania was an extraordinary individual, radiating inspiration, humor, and intelligence. I was blessed to have known Mr. Joe during his time at Brightview Senior Living (Rolling Hills), where he demonstrated unwavering resilience in the face of physical challenges, never losing his passion for discussing and writing about sports. His legacy will live on in our hearts. My heartfelt prayers go out to his family. We’ll deeply miss you, Mr. Joe!