After attending an ELITE Regional Combine in 1997, Mike’s rookie season was a swirl of activity as he rotated among three NFL franchises. He signed his first NFL contract with Baltimore as a rookie free agent on April 25, 1997. He was later waived during camp on August 24th. Three days later he was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and placed on their practice squad. The Bucs then released him on September 2nd. From there he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad in November until the Ravens signed him to their active roster on December 3rd. He did not see any game action in 1997. He played in 3 games in 1998 and 12 games in 1999 before establishing himself as a starter in 2000.
A true product of hard work, Mike developed from a practice squad player to entrenched starter on a Super Bowl champion. Considered the “heart and soul” of the Ravens’ offensive line, Flynn has missed only one game since becoming a full-time starter in 2000.
He started 14 games at right guard and two at center during the Ravens Championship season in 2000. The past three years he has started all 16 games at the center position and, in 2003, he anchored an offensive line that helped Jamal Lewis set a franchise-record with 2,066 rushing yards, the 2nd most rushing yards in NFL history.
