Isaiah Likely sounds like he’s ready to depart the Baltimore RavensRavens pending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely shares his free agency plans and desire to “blossom” and be on a team where he can help the quarterback
Feb. 20, 2026, 9:41 a.m. ET
Baltimore Ravens pending free-agent tight end Isaiah Likely joined the Gruden Goes Long podcast with John Gruden during Super Bowl Week. At 6:07 into the interview, Gruden asked what Likely had told his agent about free agency—and he didn’t hold back.
“I just wanna be able to blossom. I feel like the last couple years I’ve had a great vet in Mark Andrews. He’s taught me everything to be a star-caliber tight end to the point where it’s like now, I feel like I just wanna be on a team where I can get out there and help a quarterback put up as much points as possible.”
Likely’s comments make it clear he’s ready for the next step in his career. After learning from one of the best in the game, he’s focused on carving out his own role and making an immediate impact wherever he lands in free agency. How the Ravens and other teams respond could shape his career and the tight end market this offseason.
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