December 13, 2025 • 8 mins
Baltimore Ravens Senior Vice President of Communications Chad Steele joins American Legion Tango Alpha Lima podcast hosts Joe Worley and Adam Marr live at Media Row in Baltimore before the 2025 Army Navy Game presented by USAA to talk about how growing up as a military brat gave him the skills that help him thrive in his NFL career.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
All right, we're here with Chad Still, senior vice president of
communications for the BaltimoreRavens.
An Army brat born born at West Point, raised in a military
family, Chad brings a lifetime of leadership, adaptability and
service into professional sports.
So Chad, you grew up moving fromduty station to duty station.
(00:31):
How did growing up in a militaryfamily really kind of shaped the
leader that you are today? You know, I think when you're
moving every couple of years you've got to learn new systems,
meet new people, which I really enjoyed.
So I think have them do that in the respect that my parents
taught me for people, you know, make sure you look people in the
eye, you, you know, you're shaking their hands properly and
(00:54):
make those connections because the connections will will last a
lifetime. So I think that's that that
really LED into it, just being able to understand people and
how you can affect them and how they can affect you.
You know, as somebody, you know,West Point grad, it obviously
this means more to you than justnot just this game, but just the
spirit behind what we're doing here, you know?
(01:14):
Can you tell me a little bit about West Point and the spirit
that's at West Point that you think ties into the the young
men that are going to be battling it?
Out. Yeah, yeah.
Well, I, I wasn't, I didn't graduate West Point.
My dad, my dad did. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
My dad was the first black football player at West Point
and so he went back to coach andI was born on on on post when he
went back to coach. But West Point has been
(01:37):
everything about West Point has been in our lives since since I
was a kid. And so I just think the you
know, the part of the West Pointcadet prayer make us choose a
harder right rather than the easier wrong and ever be content
with the half truth when the whole can be won.
Since the time I can remember that was that was put into our
heads. So when something happened at
the at the house, you're not Oh no, sage broke the vases like
(01:59):
Chad harder right. And you're like, OK, I I did it.
So, so understanding the values that are instilled in everybody
there, taking that to heart and then really trying to pass that
on to to our children. But being in the military myself
and then having three kids and just thinking about how
adaptable and resilient, you know, they had to be when I was
in the service, military kids are are really familiar with
(02:20):
that from the different duty stations, you know, parents
being away. So I think like at an early age,
being able to really hone into that spirit of adaptability, but
really using that as a probably a superpower even in in your
role today with the Ravens. Yes, you know, I, I mean, we
have, we have 70 guys on the roster, we have 30 coaches, we
have 350 people in our organization.
(02:41):
So there's so many different people that you have to deal
with on a, on a daily basis. And really meeting them where,
where they are, which is a lot easier for me having moved 14
times and being, you know, overseas and moving to all these
different places where you had to kind of reset and be able to,
to learn how to, how to adapt topeople.
So it was, it was hard as a kid.My wife never moved.
(03:03):
She, she was, she was born and raised in one place and then
went to college. So she didn't understand it.
I don't understand it the, the reverse way.
And I think it's, I think it's, I think it's really hard.
But I still have friends from, you know, my entire childhood
that we have, we have, we have stayed connected.
And I think that's part of it where you are going to these
different duty stations, you're going to these different place
and you meet these amazing people that are like minded and
(03:25):
understand that you want to be in their lives.
They want you to be and you wantto be in their lives, but really
being able to adjust and adapt because you don't talk to Lamar
Jackson the same way, talk to Mark Andrews or Ozzie Newsome or
Coach Harbaugh. So those life lessons as I grew
up that I didn't realize I was getting really, really lent to
to what I do now. You know, I think it's really
(03:47):
interesting because we as military went and a lot of
people who, when they look at the military and you think of
leadership, they think from the top down.
But a lot of people don't realize small unit leadership
and how important that is and also how that bleeds into
friendships. When you're surrounded by the
right people, everyone has a role within that friend group
and you check each other for better, for worse.
Your goal is to make each personstronger.
(04:08):
So how do you, you know, you're,you're the leadership qualities
that you have that that bleed into this?
How, how do you see these thingssort of in incorporated into the
sports world? I mean, how do you see the
leadership qualities that that the military espouses?
You know, what you think what makes the the Army Navy game
(04:29):
different than other football games?
I guess it's kind of what I'm getting.
Oh, man, it is from the time I can remember even where Greece,
Belgium, Panama, where Armed Forces network every Saturday
had the Army Navy game on and itwas nothing.
What happened in the steel household on Army Navy Saturday?
You know, I went to him when I was a kid with my dad and I've
(04:49):
been to six as an adult. And it's just my wife who had
never been to 1 when he was here.
I think in 2016 or 2017 he was here in Baltimore.
We're on the by. So we're able to go.
And I said, OK, we got to get there at 8:00 AM.
She's like kickoffs until 3 or 4at the street. 2016 was the when
when army broke the street right?
I think so. Yes, yes.
(05:12):
Yeah. It's so my and so my wife is
like, why are we here early? And then you see the March on
and then she's like, OK, I get it.
Taking pictures and photos and sharing it with her family.
So even if, even if you don't have a tie to the military, you
know, it, it really, it's important.
That's why it's a stand alone game no one else is playing
because it's, it's what it meansto these men and what it means
(05:32):
to the, to the country, you know, and, and it's so
important. So even though we're flying to
Cincinnati, we have a game this week and I will be on, I will
have my iPad, we have Wi-Fi. I will be watching it there.
I'll be watching it when we get to the hotel.
Because you see what these men on the field and the women, you
know, the, the men and women in the stands are going to be doing
for our country. You can all kind of come
together and root against each other.
(05:54):
I root against Navy. This for today.
But understanding what they're going to do for us as a country
afterwards is just, is just a really special thing.
Yeah. I mean, you talked a little bit
about the significance of the game and and what it kind of
means for for the cadets or anything.
But like the game is in your backyard, you know, and it's
like coming here and you have such a rich lineage in history
(06:14):
with your family and also extended family as well.
So just like personally, like what what does it mean to you?
And and also like what was like the like one of your your
favorite moments from the six that that you had been to,
because I saw the Apaches fly over when the Army came out last
year. But then F eighteens went right
after I've been telling the story.
But that was, I mean, where elseyou going to see that?
(06:35):
Yeah. It's I'm into combat, I didn't.
Even see that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's amazing.
And you, and you feel a part of it and you know, and I've
worked, I think I've worked 10 Super Bowls and that's the, one
of the biggest things in the world.
Army, Navy to me is more specialbecause of what it means to the
country, you know, and, and I was, I, I remember sitting
across a veteran stadium, I can't remember what year it was,
(06:56):
but the stands collapsed and a couple of the, the, the cadets
fell over and 1 broke his arm and I, and, and they didn't want
to leave. They say, hey, we want to stay
till the end of the game, but it's just watching that March
on. It has always just been so
amazing to me because of what itmeans and, and, and what it,
what it means to us, what it means to, to the, to the people
(07:18):
on the field. It's just the pageantry of it.
I'll never get over. I always get emotional watching
it, even if I'm watching it on TV.
But everything that the game represents, everything.
It's, it's the best of what we have to offer in this nation.
And I just, I, I love being a part of them, being able to
watch it every year. Brother, every, every cadet,
every midshipman is, is one day going to become a veteran.
(07:38):
And that's where the American Legion shows up, supporting
veterans and giving people an opportunity to serve.
When, when, when that service isover.
Having you here means a lot. We know your time's, you know,
very, very tight here. And, and we just appreciate the
time that you've spent here. Chad Still, Army Brat, Senior
(07:59):
Vice President of Communications, Baltimore
Ravens. Thank you so much for being with
us on Media Rd. Today, brother, thanks for
having me and thanks for what you guys do it.
It means a lot. It doesn't go unnoticed.
Appreciate your service. Can we get you to sign the?
Absolutely, yeah.
All right, we're here with Chad Still, senior vice president of
communications for the BaltimoreRavens.
An Army brat born born at West Point, raised in a military
family, Chad brings a lifetime of leadership, adaptability and
service into professional sports.
So Chad, you grew up moving fromduty station to duty station.
(00:31):
How did growing up in a militaryfamily really kind of shaped the
leader that you are today? You know, I think when you're
moving every couple of years you've got to learn new systems,
meet new people, which I really enjoyed.
So I think have them do that in the respect that my parents
taught me for people, you know, make sure you look people in the
eye, you, you know, you're shaking their hands properly and
(00:54):
make those connections because the connections will will last a
lifetime. So I think that's that that
really LED into it, just being able to understand people and
how you can affect them and how they can affect you.
You know, as somebody, you know,West Point grad, it obviously
this means more to you than justnot just this game, but just the
spirit behind what we're doing here, you know?
(01:14):
Can you tell me a little bit about West Point and the spirit
that's at West Point that you think ties into the the young
men that are going to be battling it?
Out. Yeah, yeah.
Well, I, I wasn't, I didn't graduate West Point.
My dad, my dad did. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
My dad was the first black football player at West Point
and so he went back to coach andI was born on on on post when he
went back to coach. But West Point has been
(01:37):
everything about West Point has been in our lives since since I
was a kid. And so I just think the you
know, the part of the West Pointcadet prayer make us choose a
harder right rather than the easier wrong and ever be content
with the half truth when the whole can be won.
Since the time I can remember that was that was put into our
heads. So when something happened at
the at the house, you're not Oh no, sage broke the vases like
(01:59):
Chad harder right. And you're like, OK, I I did it.
So, so understanding the values that are instilled in everybody
there, taking that to heart and then really trying to pass that
on to to our children. But being in the military myself
and then having three kids and just thinking about how
adaptable and resilient, you know, they had to be when I was
in the service, military kids are are really familiar with
(02:20):
that from the different duty stations, you know, parents
being away. So I think like at an early age,
being able to really hone into that spirit of adaptability, but
really using that as a probably a superpower even in in your
role today with the Ravens. Yes, you know, I, I mean, we
have, we have 70 guys on the roster, we have 30 coaches, we
have 350 people in our organization.
(02:41):
So there's so many different people that you have to deal
with on a, on a daily basis. And really meeting them where,
where they are, which is a lot easier for me having moved 14
times and being, you know, overseas and moving to all these
different places where you had to kind of reset and be able to,
to learn how to, how to adapt topeople.
So it was, it was hard as a kid.My wife never moved.
(03:03):
She, she was, she was born and raised in one place and then
went to college. So she didn't understand it.
I don't understand it the, the reverse way.
And I think it's, I think it's, I think it's really hard.
But I still have friends from, you know, my entire childhood
that we have, we have, we have stayed connected.
And I think that's part of it where you are going to these
different duty stations, you're going to these different place
and you meet these amazing people that are like minded and
(03:25):
understand that you want to be in their lives.
They want you to be and you wantto be in their lives, but really
being able to adjust and adapt because you don't talk to Lamar
Jackson the same way, talk to Mark Andrews or Ozzie Newsome or
Coach Harbaugh. So those life lessons as I grew
up that I didn't realize I was getting really, really lent to
to what I do now. You know, I think it's really
(03:47):
interesting because we as military went and a lot of
people who, when they look at the military and you think of
leadership, they think from the top down.
But a lot of people don't realize small unit leadership
and how important that is and also how that bleeds into
friendships. When you're surrounded by the
right people, everyone has a role within that friend group
and you check each other for better, for worse.
Your goal is to make each personstronger.
(04:08):
So how do you, you know, you're,you're the leadership qualities
that you have that that bleed into this?
How, how do you see these thingssort of in incorporated into the
sports world? I mean, how do you see the
leadership qualities that that the military espouses?
You know, what you think what makes the the Army Navy game
(04:29):
different than other football games?
I guess it's kind of what I'm getting.
Oh, man, it is from the time I can remember even where Greece,
Belgium, Panama, where Armed Forces network every Saturday
had the Army Navy game on and itwas nothing.
What happened in the steel household on Army Navy Saturday?
You know, I went to him when I was a kid with my dad and I've
(04:49):
been to six as an adult. And it's just my wife who had
never been to 1 when he was here.
I think in 2016 or 2017 he was here in Baltimore.
We're on the by. So we're able to go.
And I said, OK, we got to get there at 8:00 AM.
She's like kickoffs until 3 or 4at the street. 2016 was the when
when army broke the street right?
I think so. Yes, yes.
(05:12):
Yeah. It's so my and so my wife is
like, why are we here early? And then you see the March on
and then she's like, OK, I get it.
Taking pictures and photos and sharing it with her family.
So even if, even if you don't have a tie to the military, you
know, it, it really, it's important.
That's why it's a stand alone game no one else is playing
because it's, it's what it meansto these men and what it means
(05:32):
to the, to the country, you know, and, and it's so
important. So even though we're flying to
Cincinnati, we have a game this week and I will be on, I will
have my iPad, we have Wi-Fi. I will be watching it there.
I'll be watching it when we get to the hotel.
Because you see what these men on the field and the women, you
know, the, the men and women in the stands are going to be doing
for our country. You can all kind of come
together and root against each other.
(05:54):
I root against Navy. This for today.
But understanding what they're going to do for us as a country
afterwards is just, is just a really special thing.
Yeah. I mean, you talked a little bit
about the significance of the game and and what it kind of
means for for the cadets or anything.
But like the game is in your backyard, you know, and it's
like coming here and you have such a rich lineage in history
(06:14):
with your family and also extended family as well.
So just like personally, like what what does it mean to you?
And and also like what was like the like one of your your
favorite moments from the six that that you had been to,
because I saw the Apaches fly over when the Army came out last
year. But then F eighteens went right
after I've been telling the story.
But that was, I mean, where elseyou going to see that?
(06:35):
Yeah. It's I'm into combat, I didn't.
Even see that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's amazing.
And you, and you feel a part of it and you know, and I've
worked, I think I've worked 10 Super Bowls and that's the, one
of the biggest things in the world.
Army, Navy to me is more specialbecause of what it means to the
country, you know, and, and I was, I, I remember sitting
across a veteran stadium, I can't remember what year it was,
(06:56):
but the stands collapsed and a couple of the, the, the cadets
fell over and 1 broke his arm and I, and, and they didn't want
to leave. They say, hey, we want to stay
till the end of the game, but it's just watching that March
on. It has always just been so
amazing to me because of what itmeans and, and, and what it,
what it means to us, what it means to, to the, to the people
(07:18):
on the field. It's just the pageantry of it.
I'll never get over. I always get emotional watching
it, even if I'm watching it on TV.
But everything that the game represents, everything.
It's, it's the best of what we have to offer in this nation.
And I just, I, I love being a part of them, being able to
watch it every year. Brother, every, every cadet,
every midshipman is, is one day going to become a veteran.
(07:38):
And that's where the American Legion shows up, supporting
veterans and giving people an opportunity to serve.
When, when, when that service isover.
Having you here means a lot. We know your time's, you know,
very, very tight here. And, and we just appreciate the
time that you've spent here. Chad Still, Army Brat, Senior
(07:59):
Vice President of Communications, Baltimore
Ravens. Thank you so much for being with
us on Media Rd. Today, brother, thanks for
having me and thanks for what you guys do it.
It means a lot. It doesn't go unnoticed.
Appreciate your service. Can we get you to sign the?
Absolutely, yeah.
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