For seven seasons, the Lamar Jackson to Mark Andrews connection has been a prolific part of the Ravens' offense, and it was clicking like clockwork during Wednesday's OTA practice.
In the first session open to the media since Baltimore's heartbreaking playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills in January, Jackson's first pass of the 2025 offseason was a completion over the middle to Andrews.
It was more evidence that last season is over, and that Andrews has put his fourth quarter fumble and two-point conversion drop during the playoff loss behind him.
Has it been easy? No. But Andrews, the Ravens' all-time leader in touchdown catches, is too good and too hellbent on winning a Super Bowl to let one nightmare spoil his dreams.
"It's tough," Andrews said, in his first press conference since the playoff loss. "This is my life. I put a lot of work into this. Everything I do is focused on that. Everything I think about is focused on that. It wasn't the way that I planned it, but that's all part of the story.
"I've been using it. I've had an incredible offseason. I'm excited to show what I can continue to do, continue to prove myself and step up in big moments. That's the thing about sports. It doesn't always fall your way. It's how you bounce back."
Andrews leaned on his family back in Scottsdale, Az. for support, a strong unit that includes his girlfriend, parents, two brothers, a sister, and their children. His mother, Martha, believes family love was exactly what Andrews needed, and they were happy to provide it.
"He spent a lot of time with us and was totally emersed in that," Martha said in a telephone interview. "Not discussing what happened was probably our best option, right? Not that we weren't allowed to talk about it, but it wasn't necessary to dwell on it. Mark is an extremely strong individual. He always has been. There's never been any doubt in my mind he'd get past it.
"He's itching to get started. He loves his teammates, loves being with them, loves football. When Mark walks through those doors in Baltimore, it's like being home."
It also helped Andrews that he received nothing but support from teammates after the Buffalo game. They know how hard he works, how much he cares, and how good he is.
"I look up to Mark because he's a pro's-pro," tight end Isaiah Likely said. "At this point, he's already moved past it and he's ready for next season. Y'all going to really smile when you see No. 89 out there."
Andrews bounced back from physical adversity in 2024, his first full season since after a severe ankle injury in 2023 that required surgery. After being held out of the end zone in his first five games, Andrews finished with a career-high 11 touchdown receptions. With career marks of 436 receptions, 5,530 yards and a franchise-high 51 touchdowns, Andrews is the most prolific tight end in Ravens history.
However, winning a Super Bowl is the career goal Andrews covets most, and he's ready to resume the chase. He's entering the final year of his contract, as are fellow tight ends Likely and Charlie Kolar. As someone who loves playing in Baltimore, Andrews is hoping to finish his career with the Ravens, However, he did not worry about trade rumors that forced General Manager Eric DeCosta to respond to questions about Andrews' long-term future prior to the draft.
"It's not for me to deal with that," Andrews said. "I thought Eric had a great way of saying it – he's in the business of keeping great players. I think I'm a great player. I think I've been able to do it at the highest level, the best of the best for a long time. I'm not slowing down."
Moving forward and making plays is what Andrews is thinking about. The past can't be changed. But the future gives Andrews and the Ravens, another opportunity – one that he plans on making the most of.
"We have a lot of guys that are coming back from last year, the year before," Andrews said. "I wish we didn't have to go through that again last year, but we've added a lot of guys, too. This team is incredibly stacked.
"There's no one more hungry than Lamar. Just being around him, it's infectious, how driven he is, how focused he is on the end goal."
Andrews is still only 29 years old, and Martha says her son is prepared both physically and mentally for the challenges of another season. The Buffalo game is behind him, and those close to Andrews believe the best is yet to come.
"I don't see how you can keep feeling better every year, but he does," Martha said. "He's healthy. He's strong. He's focused. He's ready to have another great year."
