Having started his football career with Maine in college, RB Patrick Ricard has since found his home in Baltimore. Joining the Ravens in 2017, Ricard quickly earned a name for himself, having the ability of a two-way player. Playing as a defensive end and fullback simultaneously in his first few seasons in Baltimore. The 6-foot-3 mountain blasted into open space whenever he got the chance on the field.

As described by Ricard, “I like the feeling of dominating players. There’s nothing better than when you dominate somebody or physically beat on them. Playing defensive line, that’s all you do, you’re attacking, you’re striking. So when I play offense, it’s the same mentality. For me, that’s my advantage.” Only a collision with other players could stop him in his tracks. Interestingly, the way Ricard knocks his opponents resulted in Ravens QB Lamar Jackson calling him “Pancake Pat.”

Although it could be advantageous for the Ravens to have a player like Ricard’s stature on their roster, for the opponents, it might not seem so. Well, the toughness he has within could come from his hard-working parents. His mother, Judith, is known for being a labor and delivery nurse. While his father, Paul, leads a thermal-processing plant. However, besides their profession, there isn’t much information available.

Apart from growing up in a loving family, Patrick met the love of his life in high school. Tying the knot with his long-time girlfriend, Hayley Cheeson, in 2020, they decided to purchase a home near Patrick’s parents. Thereby helping them keep the family closer. Even though we are now seeing the Ravens fullback living his dream in the NFL. It wasn’t the sport he played before taking it up in high school.

Where did Patrick Ricard grow up?

Patrick Ricard grew up an hour from Boston in a small town called Spencer. He described his hometown as a “small, country-suburban town.” But it didn’t keep him away from playing sports. As the 30-year-old used to play baseball with his father, Paul. Well, Ricard Sr. also used to act as a coach for him and his brother Christian by playing catch.

Remembering their childhood days, their former coach, Andrew Tuccio, spoke about the adrenaline they had: “If there was that adrenaline button in their forehead, him and his brother had it. When they hit somebody, it’s like the endorphin rush goes off in them.” Even to this day, after making it big in the NFL, Ricard fondly remembered what he learned from his brother and Tuccio, “They showed me to be physical, that it’s OK to put someone on his back or run somebody over. You had to move people.”

Although hearing those words seems brutal, it’s the way NFL players take on each other every week. Amid such huge success in the NFL, the importance of his family and brother Christian cannot be questioned. As they continue to support him in his quest to live his NFL dream.