Rashod Bateman facts for kids

Rashod Bateman (born November 29, 1999) is an American professional football player. He plays as a wide receiver for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Ravens chose him in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Early Life and High School Football

Rashod Bateman grew up in Tifton, Georgia. He went to Tift County High School. In his junior year, he caught 56 passes for 825 yards and scored five touchdowns. After getting a scholarship offer, he decided to play college football at the University of Minnesota.

As a senior, Bateman had an amazing season. He caught 83 passes for 1,539 yards and scored 21 touchdowns. Because of his great performance, he was named first-team All-State. Many top college teams became interested in him, but he stayed true to his promise to Minnesota.

College Football Career

When Rashod Bateman started at Minnesota, he was a "true freshman." This means he played in his first year of college. He quickly became a starting wide receiver. He set new records for freshmen at Minnesota. He had 51 catches, 704 receiving yards, and six touchdowns.

In his second year, Bateman continued to excel. He was named a semi-finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award. This award goes to the best wide receiver in college football. He also earned first-team All-Big Ten honors. He caught 57 passes for 1,170 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was also named the Richter–Howard Receiver of the Year.

In 2020, Bateman first announced he would not play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Big Ten conference had decided not to play football that season. However, the Big Ten later changed its mind. Bateman then rejoined the team for the shortened season.

College Statistics

Here are Rashod Bateman's college football statistics:

Professional NFL Career

The Baltimore Ravens picked Rashod Bateman as the 27th player overall in the 2021 NFL draft. He was the first player from Minnesota to be drafted in the first round since 2006. On May 12, 2021, Bateman signed his first contract with the Ravens.

2021 Season Highlights

Bateman started his first NFL season on injured reserve. This was because he had groin surgery. He was activated to the team's main roster on October 16, 2021. In Week 14, he had his first game with over 100 receiving yards. He caught seven passes for 103 yards. In Week 16, he scored his first NFL touchdown. It was a 4-yard pass from Josh Johnson. He finished his first season with 46 catches for 515 yards and one touchdown in 12 games.

2022 Season Highlights

In 2022, Bateman became a full-time starting wide receiver. In Week 2, he had 108 receiving yards. This included a 75-yard touchdown catch. The next week, he injured his foot. This injury caused him to miss two games. He returned to play, but the foot injury came back. On November 3, 2022, it was announced he needed foot surgery. This ended his season early. He finished with 15 catches for 285 yards and two touchdowns in six games.

2023 Season Highlights

During the 2023 regular season, Bateman caught at least one pass in almost every game. He scored his only touchdown of the season in Week 11. It was a 10-yard catch against the Cincinnati Bengals. His best game was in Week 17. He caught four passes for 54 yards against the Miami Dolphins. He ended the season with 32 catches for 367 yards and one touchdown. He also had one rush for 18 yards.

In the playoffs, he played against the Houston Texans. He caught three passes for 39 yards.

2024 Season Highlights

On April 24, 2024, Bateman signed a new three-year contract extension. In Week 7, he had a great game against the Buccaneers. He caught 4 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. This was his third game with over 100 receiving yards. In Week 15, he had 5 catches for 80 yards and two touchdowns against the New York Giants. This was his first game with two touchdowns. In Week 18, he had 8 catches for 80 yards and a touchdown against the Cleveland Browns. The Ravens won this game and clinched the AFC North division title.

The 2024 season was a breakout year for Bateman. He set new career highs in yards and touchdowns. He finished with 45 catches for 756 yards and 9 touchdowns.

2025 Season

On June 5, 2025, Rashod Bateman signed another contract extension. This new deal keeps him with the Ravens through the 2029 season.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular Season

Postseason