Ramsey, the Great One, From Ancient Egypt to Modern Day South Florida

One of the greatest leaders in history came from Egypt. He is Ramses, a pharaoh whose name has entered the annals of history. He is known in the Western Hemisphere by the moniker “Ramsey.” As one of the greatest and most celebrated rulers, it’s no surprise that he built an impressive reputation as a warrior. Ramsey’s legacy extends globally and still ignites fascination in us.

We have another Ramsey in the present day that is cut from the same cloth, when it comes to his warrior-like pedigree. That is safety Jalen Ramsey of the Miami Dolphins, and in 2020, his extension with the Los Angeles Rams made him the highest paid defensive back of all time up to then. Before that, he was a standout at Florida State University, drafted 6th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. However, injuries disrupted his time with the Rams. After recovery and a trade, he finds himself back in Florida, this time wearing orange and teal.

Worth the Wait

Jalen Ramsey was challenged in the early days of his contract with the Dolphins by more untimely injuries. Overcoming such obstacles, he has newfound perspective and calls it all part of the “process.” When asked about his rehabilitation, he said, “I just embraced it all. I just tried to stay here; (it’s) part of the team, part of the journey – (going through the injury) makes it better now.”

The Egyptian Ramsey was an ancient ruler, one of the leaders of the third dynasty. Currently, the other “Ramsey,” (Jalen) is a ruler of one of the most elite defensive units in the present-day NFL. With his performance against the Las Vegas Raiders, Ramsey made a case to win a coveted award. Undoubtedly a great player, Ramsey proved to also be a humble person; he said of winning the award, “it could have went to a few other people probably. It could have went to my teammate, the other Jalen.”

Ramsey provided two timely interceptions against the Raiders to follow up his disruptive performance against the New England Patriots. The NFL took notice of Ramsey’s recent hot streak and named him the Defensive Player of the Week for week 11.

Honored by the League

On Ramsey’s second interception, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell threw the ball slightly behind wide receiver Jacobi Meyers; that was all Ramsey needed to undercut the throw. With safeties Ramsey and Jevon Holland on the back line, it was a tall task for the opposing quarterback even to go through his progressions.

The NFL took notice of the takeaways forced by the Dolphins’ back line and so more media attention followed. Gusts of fervor carried forward from news reporters onward to additional members of the Miami secondary. Reporters asked Ramsey’s backline partner Jevon Holland about the marked improvement in the Dolphins’ defense over the past four games.

The Ripple Effect

Holland imbued his answer with the same energy he has been exhibiting on the field. He explained “It’s just getting into our groove… It kinda takes a while to understand the defense. We’re trending upwards. We’re enthusiastic about it and we’re excited about it. Vic (Fangio) is a hell of a defensive coordinator. We’re just excited to go out there and play!”

The competitive energy seeped to the next game the Dolphins played, and Holland got an interception against the New York Jets. After the game and a Raiders loss, Raiders receiver Davante Adams sought Ramsey out to pay respect and congratulate him. It was a classy move and one that made a lot of sense in the context of Ramsey’s leadership on the field recently. ”It feels great. Hopefully I can continue to lead by example, in that way,” quipped Ramsey.

Will Miami’s defense under coordinator Vic Fangio make a name for itself as an all-time iconic NFL defense? Will it be remembered alongside the likes of the Super Bowl winning Chicago Bears of 1985, the Baltimore Ravens of 2000 and the Seattle Seahawks of 2013? That still remains to be seen but if the past few games are any indication, the Dolphins may certainly find it possible to stake their claim as a contender in December and January.  The Fins might even earn an iconic nickname, something not even the 2000 Ravens were able to procure.