Ravens Reaction to Sam Koch’s Retirement

It was obvious how much Sam Koch was respected by teammates and coaches after he announced his retirement as a player on Thursday.

General Manager Eric DeCosta: “One of the very best Ravens you’ll ever see. I’m honored to have watched him all these years. I’ve been here a long time and so has Sam. I was actually overjoyed when he came in and said, ‘You know what, I want to coach.”’

Head Coach John Harbaugh: “Congratulations on your retirement and your career that has led you to this point. Sam Koch changed punting. All the punters know it and all the punting coaches know it. People that study the game know it. All people ever did was punt it straight. Sam changed all that. Started developing all of these different rugby-style punts. The Koch Hook is probably the most famous one. But it’s not the only one. When you change something, forever, to me that’s kind of a revolutionary-type thing. That’s the mark of greatness.”

Former Special Teams Coordinator Jerry Rosburg: “We could always trust that Sam would be prepared; we could trust he would deliver in clutch situations; we could trust that he would be an exemplary teammate; and we could trust that his word was his bond. Sam will rightly be remembered in Baltimore as an elite performer. But he will also be remembered for his incredible creativity and execution of alternative ways of punting the football. Let it be noted that Sam Koch changed the game in this regard. He is also the greatest holder in the history of football.”

Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton: “To spend 16 years with one organization says a lot about Sam as a player, what he’s accomplished and his approach to the game. He came into the building every day with a mindset to get better. I watched as he continued to grow and achieve just that. Sam’s teammates looked up to him and respected him for his workmanlike attitude each day. As a coach, I appreciated all his hard work and dedication. I’ve never been around a player who worked as hard as Sam…