# Mark Andrews’ Engagement Sparks Buzz: A New Chapter for Baltimore Ravens’ Tight End Legend?
In the high-stakes world of the NFL, where contracts hang by a thread and playoff dreams can shatter in an instant, Baltimore Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has always been the steady force amid the chaos.
Drafted in the third round out of Oklahoma in 2018, Andrews has evolved from a promising rookie into the franchise’s all-time leader in receiving touchdowns with 55 scores, a testament to his uncanny chemistry with quarterback Lamar Jackson.
But as the 2025 season unfolds, Andrews finds himself at a crossroads—not just on the field, where the Ravens claw their way back from an early slump, but off it, where personal milestones are rewriting his narrative in unexpected ways.
Just last Friday, November 29, 2025, Andrews dropped a bombshell that had Ravens Nation buzzing louder than a M&T Bank Stadium crowd on game day.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, the 29-year-old star announced his engagement to longtime girlfriend Elena Yates, sharing a sun-drenched photo of the couple with a simple, glowing caption: “She said yes! Forever grateful for you, Elena.
Here’s to our next adventure.” The image, capturing Yates’ radiant smile and Andrews’ boyish grin against a backdrop of golden-hour light, quickly racked up over 200,000 likes and a flood of congratulations from teammates, fans, and even rivals.
“Congrats, brother! Now go win that ring—and the wedding,” quipped Jackson in the comments, underscoring the tight-knit bond that has fueled Baltimore’s dynamic duo for seven seasons.
For Andrews, this engagement comes at a pivotal moment. The Ravens, sitting at 4-5 after a gritty 27-19 victory over the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday, are a team in transition. Early-season woes—a 1-5 start marred by offensive inconsistencies and defensive lapses—had fans questioning the core of this perennial contender.
Yet, three straight wins, including a record-breaking performance from Andrews himself, have reignited hope in the AFC North. In that Vikings clash, Andrews hauled in three catches for 32 yards, but it was his milestone moment earlier against the Cleveland Browns that etched his name deeper into Ravens lore.
On November 16, with an 11-yard grab on the opening drive, he surpassed Derrick Mason’s franchise record for receiving yards, reaching 5,785 career totals. “It’s humbling,” Andrews reflected post-game, his voice steady despite the adrenaline. “Eight years here, through the highs and the heartbreak—it’s all led to this.”
That heartbreak lingers from the 2024 playoffs, a divisional-round dagger in Buffalo where Andrews’ fumble and a gut-wrenching dropped two-point conversion sealed a 27-25 loss to the Bills. The ghosts of that defeat followed him into the offseason, fueling rampant trade speculation.
With Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar all entering the final year of their contracts, whispers of Baltimore reshaping its vaunted tight end room grew deafening.
His $16.9 million cap hit for 2025 loomed large, and pundits speculated the Ravens might pivot to the younger, flashier Likely as the long-term heir. “There’s a lot of mouths to feed,” Andrews admitted in a recent interview, his tone measured yet defiant. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Yet, amid the uncertainty, Andrews has doubled down on his commitment to the purple and black. “I’m a Raven,” he declared flatly when pressed on the rumors, shutting down the noise with the same precision he uses to find soft spots in defenses.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh echoed that sentiment at the NFL owners’ meetings earlier this year, stating he “fully expects” Andrews to don the jersey in 2026. “Mark’s in a good place. He’s working really hard,” Harbaugh said.
General Manager Eric DeCosta went further, affirming the team’s intent to retain its tight end trio, believing it forms the league’s best unit. The Ravens even paid Andrews’ $4 million roster bonus in March, a clear signal of faith in the face of fiscal pressures.
On the field, Andrews’ 2025 stats paint a picture of resilience rather than regression. Through nine games, he’s notched six touchdowns—four in a scorching three-game stretch that included a 35-yard trick-play scamper against the Browns dubbed “Hurricane,” which proved the game-winner in a 23-16 thriller.
His 47-yard outing in a recent 32-14 setback to the Bengals on Thanksgiving night showed flashes of vintage Andrews: a 19-yard grab in the third quarter that hinted at the explosive potential still simmering beneath the surface.
Overall, he’s on pace for another 800-plus yard season, a far cry from the injury-plagued 2023 campaign that sidelined him for double-digit games. “Stats aren’t the focus,” Andrews told reporters after the Vikings win. “It’s about winning—Super Bowls, not snapshots.”
As the Ravens gear up for a redemption arc starting with a Week 1 rematch against those Bills—primetime under the lights at Highmark Stadium—Andrews’ engagement adds a layer of poetic symmetry.
The man who dropped the pass that ended last year’s run now embarks on a new beginning, one that mirrors Baltimore’s own quest for closure.
Elena Yates, a Phoenix native who met Andrews during his college days at Oklahoma, has been a quiet pillar in his corner, often spotted cheering from the stands or sharing subtle shoutouts on social media.
Their relationship, low-key yet enduring, embodies the grounded Midwestern values Andrews credits for his grounded approach to football’s frenzy.
Fans, ever the sentimental bunch, have flooded timelines with memes blending wedding bells and Lombardi Trophies. “If Andrews gets hitched and hoists the hardware, that’s the ultimate Ravens fairy tale,” one supporter tweeted, capturing the city’s unyielding optimism.
For a franchise that’s tasted AFC North dominance but craves that elusive second Super Bowl since 2012, Andrews represents continuity in a league allergic to it. His bold offseason claim—”I’m not leaving without a fight”—resonates now more than ever, especially as trade deadline rumors fizzled without a deal.
Looking ahead, the path isn’t paved in gold. The Ravens face a gauntlet: a Thursday night tilt against a Bengals defense that’s been a nightmare for tight ends, followed by clashes with the Jets and Lions that could define their wildcard hopes.
Off-field, contract talks will heat up as the season wanes, with Andrews eyeing an extension that could keep him in Baltimore through his prime. But for now, the engagement news serves as a refreshing pivot, humanizing a player often defined by yards after catch and contested grabs.
In a sport that chews up and spits out its heroes, Mark Andrews stands tall—engaged, record-breaking, and unapologetically Raven. As he slips that ring on Yates’ finger and chases gridiron glory, Baltimore watches with bated breath.
Could 2025 be the year it all aligns? For a city that’s weathered riots, rebuilds, and endless winters, Andrews’ story feels like the spark of spring. After all, in the NFL, doubt is just the prelude to destiny.
