Rashod Bateman joined The Lounge to talk about his breakout 2024 season, why he’s so loyal to the Ravens and more.

After years of potential, flashes, and frustration, Rashod Bateman finally had the kind of season both he and the Baltimore Ravens had always believed was possible. In 2024, he broke out in spectacular fashion—hauling in 82 receptions for 1,104 yards and 9 touchdowns, becoming one of Lamar Jackson’s most trusted weapons and a central figure in the Ravens’ deep postseason run. This week, Bateman sat down with Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing on the team’s official podcast, The Lounge, for a wide-ranging, honest, and at times emotional conversation about his journey, his loyalty to Baltimore, and what’s next.

There was no bravado when Bateman took the mic. Just a quiet confidence. A presence that didn’t demand attention but naturally drew it. “It’s been a long time coming,” he said, reflecting on his 2024 campaign. “I’ve been through a lot. But I never stopped believing. And the Ravens never stopped believing in me.”

Bateman’s path to this breakout wasn’t linear. After being drafted 27th overall in 2021 out of Minnesota, he showed flashes early in his rookie year before injuries began to pile up. A groin issue here. A foot fracture there. The inconsistency of availability led to whispers that Bateman might not pan out. For a player who prided himself on precision, route discipline, and craft, being on the sideline was its own form of torment. “Watching was the hardest part,” he admitted. “When your body betrays you, and you can’t show people what you know you’re capable of… that eats at you.”

But instead of turning bitter, Bateman turned inward. He dedicated the 2023 offseason to health, both mental and physical. He revamped his training approach, focusing more on pliability and speed endurance. He worked with private coaches in Miami. He also spent significant time with team nutritionists and therapists, intent on aligning every part of his routine with long-term sustainability. “I had to fall in love with the process again,” he said. “Not just running routes. The meetings. The rehab. The early mornings. Everything.”

That mindset shift paid off. In 2024, Bateman stayed healthy for all 17 regular season games and was a constant presence in the Ravens’ offensive game plans. With Odell Beckham Jr. no longer on the roster and Zay Flowers drawing top coverage, Bateman found himself in ideal matchups — and made teams pay for it. Time after time, he came up big in critical moments: a 37-yard grab on third-and-18 against the Bengals; a toe-tap touchdown against Kansas City in Week 12; and a gritty 9-catch performance in the divisional playoff win over the Texans.

But as Bateman explained on The Lounge, it wasn’t just the stats that made this year different — it was the chemistry. “Me and Lamar, we got that trust now. That unspoken language. It didn’t come overnight. But now, when he looks at me pre-snap, I know what he needs. And he knows I’ll be there.”

That bond with Lamar Jackson has been years in the making. As Bateman shared on the podcast, the two spent countless hours together in the offseason, not just training but talking — about football, family, expectations, and legacy. “People don’t realize what kind of leader Lamar is,” Bateman said. “He’s not loud. He don’t need to be. But when you’re around him, you want to rise to his level. You want to make that play for him.”

Bateman also took time to reflect on the perception that he might have wanted out of Baltimore following a brief social media flare-up in 2023. “That was a moment. That’s all,” he said. “I was frustrated. Not with the team. With myself. With the situation. But I never wanted to leave. This team drafted me. This city welcomed me. I got unfinished business here.”

That loyalty was never in question among his teammates, many of whom have spoken publicly about Bateman’s quiet resilience. “Bate works harder than anybody,” tight end Mark Andrews said during the season. “He’s not about the flash. He’s about the grind. We knew if he stayed healthy, it was gonna happen.”

For Bateman, the connection with Baltimore goes beyond football. During the podcast, he spoke fondly of his regular visits to local schools, his charity work with the Ronald McDonald House, and his support for youth mental health initiatives in Maryland. “This city has heart,” he said. “And I see myself in a lot of these kids — trying to find their way, fighting through adversity.”

He also revealed that one of his proudest moments of 2024 didn’t happen on the field. It came during a Tuesday off-day visit to Booker T. Washington Middle School, when a 12-year-old student named Malik told Bateman that watching him “made him believe he could do hard things.” Bateman said he kept that note in his locker all season. “That’s the real reason I play,” he added. “The game gives you moments. But the people — that’s what stays.”

The conversation also touched on Bateman’s evolving role in the locker room. Once the soft-spoken rookie absorbing everything around him, he’s now mentoring younger receivers and setting a tone in the wide receiver room alongside Flowers and Nelson Agholor. “I ain’t the loudest guy, but I lead by example,” he said. “Show up early. Be where you’re supposed to be. Block when you’re not getting the ball. That’s Ravens football.”

Looking ahead, Bateman is focused, not satisfied. “This is just the start,” he said, when asked about his future. “I’m not trying to prove people wrong anymore. I’m trying to prove myself right. Be the player I know I can be. Be consistent. Be dominant. Be present.”

He emphasized the importance of continuity — with Lamar, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and with the Ravens’ culture. “When things click, when there’s no ego, when it’s just football and trust — man, that’s when it gets fun.”

Indeed, fun seemed to be the theme of Bateman’s 2024 resurgence. On the field, he played with joy — celebrating touchdowns with a signature finger-point to the sky, hyping up teammates on the sideline, and flashing the kind of confidence that had long been waiting to break free. “When you go through setbacks,” he said, “you start to appreciate every catch, every moment. I stopped overthinking. I just played.”

That change didn’t go unnoticed by Ravens fans, who flocked to social media after each game to share highlight reels and shower praise on the once-overlooked wideout. Bateman said the support meant the world. “They stuck with me. Even when I wasn’t out there. They believed. So every time I put that jersey on, I’m repping for them too.”

As for 2025, Bateman’s goals are simple but ambitious: stay healthy, keep building chemistry, and help bring a championship to Baltimore. He said he’s been in regular communication with Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers about their collective vision. “We’re not chasing stats. We’re chasing rings. We know what we’ve got. Now it’s about locking in.”

He also hinted at launching a youth football camp this summer and teased a documentary project chronicling his road from Tifton, Georgia, to Baltimore — including never-before-seen rehab footage and behind-the-scenes moments from the 2024 season. “It’s important people see the full journey,” he said. “Not just the highlights. The work. The doubts. The breakthroughs.”

Before signing off, Bateman offered a message to anyone who had ever questioned whether he’d live up to his first-round billing. “Sometimes the road takes longer. But it don’t mean you won’t get there. I’ve still got more to prove. But I’m here. And I ain’t going anywhere.”

It was a fitting end to a conversation that was equal parts reflective and forward-looking — much like Bateman himself. With the spotlight finally shining his way, he’s not blinking. He’s leaning into it, fully aware that his best football might still be ahead.

As the Ravens reload for another run at the Super Bowl, they do so with a wide receiver room more confident and complete than ever. And leading that group, with a calm fire and sharpened purpose, is a young man who’s been through the storm and emerged better for it.

Rashod Bateman has arrived. And The Lounge was just the latest place where the world got to listen.