Brent Urban

Brent Urban Bio

Brent Urban (born May 5, 1991) is a Canadian professional football defensive end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 7 inches tall and listed at 309 pounds, he has carved out a long career as a rotational defensive lineman and edge rusher since being selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft. He also briefly held a Canadian Football League draft selection with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats before choosing the NFL route.

Born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario, Urban is one of a small group of Canadians to play in the modern NFL. He played college football at the University of Virginia, where he developed into a starter along the defensive line before injuries tested his durability.

Early Life and Background

Brent Urban grew up in Mississauga, Ontario, and attended Lorne Park Secondary School, where he first made his name as a two-way athlete. As a freshman, he began playing Canadian football, and by his junior year he had emerged as one of the most disruptive defensive players in the program. He recorded 16 tackles for loss, 10 tackles, and eight pass break-ups, and he was twice named to the Toronto Star All-Star team for his play with the football squad.

Before turning to football, Urban was a notable player on one of the best international ice hockey teams in his age group. At 15, he played alongside four future NHL draftees on the 2006 AAA Mississauga Ice Dogs team that won the Ontario bantam championship and went on to compete internationally. Despite the hockey pedigree, Urban chose football and was rated as a two-star recruit by Rivals.com when he committed to the University of Virginia.

Path to American Football

Urban accepted a football scholarship from the University of Virginia, where he spent five seasons developing in the Cavaliers’ defensive front. He redshirted in 2009 and appeared in only three games as a redshirt freshman in 2010 before a torn left ACL cut his season short and ended his statistical production. As a sophomore in 2011, he served as a backup defensive end and defensive tackle in all 13 games, finishing with 15 tackles, 2.5 for loss, before undergoing wrist surgery.

As a junior in 2012, Urban moved to defensive tackle and started all 12 games, totaling 20 tackles, 2.5 for loss, two sacks, one forced fumble, and a fumble recovery returned 16 yards for a touchdown in the season finale against Virginia Tech. In his senior year of 2013, he started eight games at defensive tackle, racking up 40 tackles with 11.5 for loss, one sack, and a nation-leading nine passes broken up among defensive linemen, even after a high right ankle sprain cost him four games and required surgery. That same year, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League selected him in the second round, 15th overall, of the 2013 CFL draft, retaining his rights should he ever return north of the border.

Brent Urban Career

Early Career (2014–2015)

Urban was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round, 134th overall, of the 2014 NFL draft, sliding due to concerns about his injury history. He became the 26th Canadian ever drafted to the NFL. As a rookie, he was slated to play defensive end in a 3-4 defense, but a torn ACL in training camp sent him to injured reserve on August 25, 2014, ending his first season before it began.

In 2015, Urban tore his biceps in training camp and again opened the year on injured reserve, but he was designated to return. He returned to practice on November 9, was added to the active roster on November 25, and made his NFL debut in Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns. In that game, he blocked a potential game-winning field goal as time expired, with teammate Will Hill recovering and returning it for the game-winning touchdown. He appeared in the final six games as a backup, posting 11 tackles and one sack.

Baltimore Ravens First Stint (2014–2018)

Urban settled into a regular role with the Ravens in 2016, playing all 16 games as a backup defensive end and recording 10 tackles, two sacks, and two passes defended. In 2017, he started the first three games at right defensive end before a Lisfranc foot injury required surgery and landed him on injured reserve on September 27.

On March 6, 2018, Urban signed a one-year contract extension with the Ravens worth $2.35 million, and he started all 16 games at right defensive end that season. He finished with 27 combined tackles, half a sack, and two passes defensed, cementing himself as a reliable starter along the Baltimore front.

Tennessee Titans (2019)

On April 26, 2019, Urban signed with the Tennessee Titans, reuniting with defensive coordinator Dean Pees, who had held the same role with the Ravens. He was released on October 19, 2019. In four games as a backup defensive end in a 3-4 defense, he tallied 4 tackles and 3 quarterback pressures before moving on.

Chicago Bears (2019–2020)

Two days after his release from Tennessee, Urban signed with the Chicago Bears on October 21, 2019, to replace the injured Akiem Hicks. He appeared in the final nine games of 2019 as a backup, recording 16 tackles. He re-signed with the Bears on March 26, 2020, and went on to appear in 16 games, starting the final eight at defensive end in place of an injured Roy Robertson-Harris. In 2020, he produced 36 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4 quarterback hurries, and one pass defensed.

Dallas Cowboys (2021)

On March 22, 2021, Urban signed a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys to play defensive tackle in a 4-3 defense. His season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on October 26, 2021, limiting him to seven games with the club.

Baltimore Ravens Second Stint (2022–Present)

On May 20, 2022, Urban returned to the Baltimore Ravens. After being released during final roster cuts on August 30 in a so-called “handshake deal,” he was re-signed the next day when rookie linebacker David Ojabo was placed on injured reserve. Working as a backup behind Calais Campbell, he played 16 games, collecting 21 tackles and one sack.

On February 15, 2023, Urban re-signed with Baltimore and played 17 games with three starts, recording 22 tackles and a career-high three sacks. He re-signed again on March 13, 2024, and continued in his familiar rotation role along the defensive line. On August 2, 2025, Urban re-signed with the Ravens, was released as part of final roster cuts, was re-signed to the practice squad the next day, and was promoted to the active roster on September 27, 2025.

Driving Style and Strengths

Urban’s game is built around his rare combination of size and length at 6 feet 7 inches, which allows him to play on the edge in 3-4 schemes or kick inside to defensive tackle in 4-3 looks. He is at his best against the run, using his length to set the edge and occupy blockers, and he has shown the ability to deliver timely pressure as a rotational rusher, particularly in his 2023 season when he set a career high in sacks.

Notable Events and Milestones

Among the defining moments of Urban’s career is his blocked field goal as time expired in his 2015 debut against the Cleveland Browns, a play that turned into the game-winning touchdown and announced his arrival in the league. He is also recognized as the 26th Canadian ever drafted to the NFL, and his longevity through multiple major injuries, including torn ACLs and a Lisfranc injury, has made him a respected veteran presence in the Baltimore locker room.

Brent Urban Career Statistics

Across his NFL career, Brent Urban has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, and Dallas Cowboys, with two separate stints in Baltimore. Through the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season, he has recorded 189 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and 16 pass deflections as a defensive end and defensive tackle.

Regular Season Highlights

Urban’s most productive statistical season came in 2018, when he started all 16 games for the Ravens and posted 27 combined tackles along with half a sack and two passes defended. In 2020, he set a personal best with 36 tackles and 2.5 sacks while starting eight games for the Chicago Bears, and in 2023 he set a career high with three sacks along with 22 tackles in 17 games for Baltimore.

Other Performances

In the postseason, Urban has appeared in playoff games during Baltimore’s deep runs, contributing as a rotational defensive lineman without a featured statistical line. His steady role as a run-stopping end and situational pass rusher has been the consistent thread through his stops in Baltimore, Tennessee, Chicago, and Dallas.

Brent Urban Family

Family Background and Athletic Lineage

Brent Urban was raised in Mississauga, Ontario, in a family environment that fostered both hockey and football. His early athletic path on the ice, where he competed with future NHL draftees on the Mississauga Ice Dogs, helped shape the competitiveness that later defined his football career.

Personal Life

Urban is a Canadian citizen who has spent the bulk of his professional career based in the United States with the Baltimore Ravens. Public details about his spouse, children, and parents are not widely documented, and they are not included here in order to keep his private life out of the spotlight.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 NFL season marked another chapter in Brent Urban’s long stay with the Baltimore Ravens. He re-signed with the team on August 2, 2025, was released during final roster cuts, was brought back on the practice squad the following day, and was promoted to the active roster on September 27, 2025. From there, he returned to his familiar role as a veteran rotational defensive end along the Baltimore front.

Across the 2025 campaign, Urban continued to contribute as a run-stopping edge player and situational pass rusher in the Ravens’ defense. His career totals of 189 tackles, 10.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and 16 pass deflections reflect the steady production he has delivered across his second stint in Baltimore.

Looking ahead, Urban’s experience and positional flexibility give the Ravens a dependable veteran presence heading into future offseasons. Whether he remains in Baltimore or explores another stop, his longevity after multiple major injuries remains one of the most impressive storylines of his professional career.