Maybe this is just the way Kyle Van Noy speaks things he wants to happen into existence. In this case, however, it might be speaking something into existence that makes sure Baltimore Ravens fans never want to see him again.
During a recent appearance on the “Up & Adams Show” with Kay Adams, the 35-year-old Van Noy put the San Francisco 49ers at the top of his list of teams he wants to play for in 2026.
Van Noy is a free agent after playing out a 2-year, $9 million contract he signed with the Ravens before the 2024 season. He listed 4 teams he wanted to play for: the 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, and New Orleans Saints.
“I’m gonna get double-digit sacks for whoever picks me up. That’s my energy and that’s my mindset, and I’m excited to do it with whichever team wants to come pick me up,” Van Noy said. “You could say whatever you want. ‘No one wants a 35-year-old.’ I promise, you want this 35-year-old.”
Van Noy led the Ravens with 12.5 sacks in 2024 and followed that up with just 2.0 sacks in 2025.
“Van Noy could be a reliable depth piece (for the 49ers),” Last Word on Sports’ Anthony Palacios wrote. “He won’t start, but it should give Kyle Shanahan more confidence heading into the 2026 season if they sign the veteran.”
Kyle Van Noy Won 2 Super Bowls With Patriots
Van Noy, who is headed into his 13th NFL season, won 2 Super Bowls with the New England Patriots following the 2016 and 2019 seasons and has approximately $59 million in career earnings.
He missed 2 games early in the 2025 season with a hamstring injury.
“Ravens Pro Bowl edge rusher Kyle Van Noy is bracing to potentially miss multiple games due to a hamstring injury suffered Sunday, per source,” ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote on his official X account on September 15. “Van Noy, who led the team in sacks (12.5) last year, is hoping the injury is short-term.”
From BYU Superstar To Lengthy NFL Career
Van Noy, 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, starred at BYU from 2010 to 2013 and was arguably the nation’s best defensive player his final 2 seasons, earning All-American honors bot years. He finished his college career with 62 TFL, 26.0 sacks, 7 interceptions, 11 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, and 4 defensive touchdowns.
The Lions selected Van Noy in the second round (No. 40 overall) of the 2014 NFL draft.
He played 3 seasons for the Lions followed by stints with the Patriots, Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers.
He landed with the Ravens on the practice squad in 2023 before his 12.5-sack season in 2024 and earned his 1st Pro Bowl selection.
Ravens Reboot at Edge Rusher in 2026
The Ravens made rebooting the edge rusher position a priority in 2026 under 1st year head coach and former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
In 1 of the more infamous personnel moves in NFL history, the Ravens initially traded their 2026 and 2027 1st-round picks for Las Vegas Raiders edge rusher Maxx Crosby before backing out of the trade. They eventually signed NFL All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a 4-year, $112 million free agent contract.
The Ravens have also made some significant investments at edge rusher in the last 2 drafts. In 2025, Baltimore drafted edge rusher Mike Green in the 2nd round (No. 59 overall), and he showed promise with 3.5 sacks in his rookie season.
In 2026, they drafted 6-foot-6, 262-pound Mizzou edge rusher Zion Young in the 2nd round (No. 45 overall) after he had career highs of 8.0 sacks, 18 TFL, 48 QB pressures, and 2 forced fumbles.
Ravens Edge Rusher Says He Wants to Play for NFC Contender