Patrick Ricard Bio
Patrick Ricard (born May 27, 1994) is an American professional football fullback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed “Pancake Pat,” he has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable lead blockers while also contributing as a receiver and occasional rusher near the goal line. Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing about 300 pounds, Ricard combines uncommon size with the versatility to line up at fullback, tight end, and along the defensive front.
Originally signed by the Ravens as an undrafted defensive end in 2017, Ricard played both fullback and defensive end during his first three professional seasons before focusing exclusively on offense beginning in 2020. Through the 2024 season, he had been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and named to All-Pro teams, establishing himself as a cornerstone of Baltimore’s run-heavy offensive identity.
Early Life and Background
Patrick Ricard was born on May 27, 1994, in Spencer, Massachusetts, and grew up in the small central Massachusetts town where he developed his early love for football. He attended David Prouty High School, where he played on the defensive line and quickly emerged as one of the area’s most disruptive front-seven players. His work ethic and physicality during his high school years helped him earn recognition well beyond Spencer.
Ricard was named the Central Massachusetts Division II Defensive MVP twice during his prep career, a rare back-to-back honor that highlighted his consistency as a tackler and pass rusher at the high school level. Coaches and teammates remembered him for his strength at the point of attack and his willingness to take on blocking assignments that smaller linemen avoided. Those early experiences shaped the physical style that would later define his professional career.
Coming out of David Prouty, Ricard drew attention from college programs despite playing at a smaller school, and he ultimately chose to continue his football career at the University of Maine. The decision to play in the Football Championship Subdivision allowed him to develop against strong conference competition while staying relatively close to home.
Path to Professional Football
Ricard joined the Maine Black Bears as a redshirt in 2012 and became a regular on the defensive line starting in 2013. As a true freshman, he played in all 13 games, recording 19 solo tackles, 40 assisted tackles, 1 sack, 2 pass breakups, and 1 forced fumble, performances that earned him College Sports Journal Football Championship Subdivision Second Team All-Freshman honors. His rapid development signaled that he could be a multi-year anchor on the Maine defensive front.
Over the next three seasons, Ricard continued to produce at a high level for the Black Bears. In 2014, he started 9 of 10 games and added 4.5 sacks and 6 pass breakups to his stat line. He broke out in 2015 with 7 sacks and 3 forced fumbles, earning First Team All-Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I FCS Second Team All-Star recognition. During his senior season in 2016, he started all 11 games, posted 5.5 sacks, and was named First-team All-CAA, ECAC Division I FCS First-team All-Star, STATS FCS Third-team All-American, and a member of the New England Football Writers Division I All-New England Team.
Across his college career, Ricard appeared in 44 games and recorded 208 total tackles, 18 sacks, 11 pass breakups, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 blocked kicks while majoring in economics at the University of Maine. Evaluated by NFLDraftScout.com as the 30th best defensive tackle in the 2017 NFL Draft, he entered the professional ranks as a versatile defensive lineman with the frame to grow into a hybrid offensive role.
Patrick Ricard Career
Early Career (2017-2018)
After going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft, Patrick Ricard signed with the Baltimore Ravens on May 5, 2017, joining a roster in transition at the fullback position after Kyle Juszczyk departed for the San Francisco 49ers in free agency. Ricard spent the offseason practicing on both sides of the ball and played defensive end and fullback throughout the preseason. He made the 53-man roster as the only fullback on the team, an early sign that the Ravens viewed him as a two-way contributor.
Ricard’s rookie season included his first NFL reception, a one-yard catch against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8, and his first professional touchdown, a three-yard reception against the Detroit Lions in Week 13. In his second season in 2018, he did not record any offensive statistics but contributed 4 tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a quarterback hit on defense while playing 96 snaps on offense, 140 on defense, and 45 on special teams. His willingness to embrace a hybrid role helped him secure a long-term place in Baltimore’s plans.
NFL Breakthrough (2019-2020)
The 2019 season marked Patrick Ricard’s emergence as a core piece of the Baltimore Ravens’ offense. In the season opener against the Miami Dolphins, he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson in a 59-10 win, his lone regular-season touchdown that year. He later strip-sacked Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ryan Finley in Week 10, recording his first career sack and forced fumble and helping set up a Tyus Bowser touchdown return in a 49-13 rout. On December 3, 2019, the Ravens rewarded his development with a two-year contract extension through the 2021 season.
Ricard finished 2019 with 8 catches for 47 yards and a touchdown on offense, plus 9 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass breakup, and a blocked field goal on defense and special teams, earning his first Pro Bowl selection. The following year, in 2020, he played no defensive snaps for the first time in his career, focusing exclusively on offense. He was briefly placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in late November before finishing the season with 1 rush for minus-1 yard and 9 receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2021-Present)
Patrick Ricard remained a central figure in Baltimore’s offense throughout the early 2020s. In 2021, he recorded 4 rushing yards on 2 attempts and added 8 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown. On March 21, 2022, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Ravens, signaling the organization’s long-term commitment to his role at fullback. The 2022 season brought career highs in touches, with 7 rushes for 16 yards and 11 receptions for 74 yards, and he also recorded his first tackle since 2019.
In 2023, under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, Ricard caught 5 passes for 52 yards and a touchdown while seeing increased snaps at tight end, reflecting the evolving demands of Baltimore’s scheme. The 2024 campaign featured a fumble-recovery touchdown against the Buffalo Bills in Week 4 and a receiving score versus the Denver Broncos in Week 9, further demonstrating his nose for the end zone. On March 11, 2025, Ricard re-signed with the Ravens on a one-year contract, continuing his long association with the franchise.
Driving Style and Strengths
Ricard is best known for his punishing blocking in the run game, the skill that earned him the “Pancake Pat” nickname. His combination of leverage, balance, and lower-body strength makes him a force in short-yardage and goal-line situations, where he routinely creates movement at the point of attack. He also possesses soft hands as a pass catcher and the football IQ to align at multiple positions, allowing Baltimore’s coaching staff to deploy him creatively in heavy personnel packages.
Notable Events and Milestones
Ricard has been selected to six Pro Bowls, with selections following the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025 seasons, and he has earned All-Pro recognition, including First-team All-Pro in 2024 and Second-team All-Pro in 2023. He has also blocked field goals, recovered fumbles for touchdowns, and delivered key blocks in critical games, including Baltimore’s deep playoff runs of the early 2020s. His sustained excellence at a specialized position has made him one of the most decorated fullbacks of his era.
Patrick Ricard Career Wins
Patrick Ricard’s career has been measured less in traditional win totals and more in individual accolades and contributions to team success, given his role as a lead blocker and complementary offensive player. His honors include six Pro Bowl selections and two All-Pro nods, underscoring consistent recognition from coaches, players, and media. Within Baltimore’s run-oriented offense, his blocks have helped spring countless long runs and rushing touchdowns for teammates over multiple seasons.
NFL Highlights
Across his career with the Baltimore Ravens, Ricard has reached the postseason in multiple seasons and contributed to one of the league’s most productive rushing attacks. He has scored touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, and on fumble recoveries, with notable scoring plays against the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills. While fullback statistics are not traditionally tallied as wins, his sustained Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections reflect repeated peak-level performance.
Patrick Ricard Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Patrick Ricard was raised in Spencer, Massachusetts, where he attended David Prouty High School and developed into a two-time Central Massachusetts Division II Defensive MVP. Public details about his immediate family remain limited, and Ricard has generally kept his personal relationships out of the spotlight. He is known to maintain an active presence on social media, where he is followed for both his football exploits and his off-field personality.
2025 Season Performance
Patrick Ricard re-signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a one-year contract on March 11, 2025, returning to the franchise where he has spent his entire professional career. The 2025 season marks his ninth year in Baltimore and provides an opportunity to extend his streak of Pro Bowl recognition to seven selections. As one of the league’s most respected fullbacks, he is expected to continue serving as a key lead blocker in the Ravens’ run game and as a situational pass catcher near the goal line.
Baltimore’s offensive identity, built around a strong rushing attack and creative use of heavy personnel, gives Ricard a clear pathway to continued production in 2025. With offensive coordinator Todd Monken expected to continue expanding tight end and fullback usage, Ricard could see additional opportunities aligned off the line of scrimmage. His experience and blocking consistency remain major assets for a Ravens team with championship aspirations.