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In February, Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman became a father for the first time. He recently called his daughter, Nova, “the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“I would definitely say she changed my life for the better,” he said this month.
Now Bateman’s daughter could become a key consideration as police and the NFL look into an early-morning June 3 incident that led to his arrest on a family violence charge. Even if Bateman’s alleged conduct does not result in a criminal conviction, family violence is considered a violation of the league’s personal conduct policy and could result in a multigame suspension.
Coach Jesse Minter, asked about that possibility after Saturday’s preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings, declined to comment.
Bateman allegedly smashed the windshield of a car while his daughter, then only 3 months old, and the mother of his child were inside, according to police in Walton County, Georgia. Police said Bateman used an object to break the windshield of the accuser’s car, along with the driver’s-side window, and appeared to use a screwdriver to attempt to puncture a tire on the car.
Police said the glass shattering caused multiple small lacerations to the accuser’s face, which officers noted had multiple bruises. The accuser said they were caused during an initial dispute at their shared residence. Police also said the incident left glass in the hair of their daughter, who was sitting in the back of the car.
According to court records, Bateman faces charges of family violence battery — a misdemeanor for first-time offenses — along with reckless conduct, another misdemeanor. Bateman is also charged with criminal damage to property in the first degree, a felony, and could face more than a year of jail time if convicted.
An NFL spokesperson said the Ravens have been in contact with the league regarding the matter, which is under review. Under the NFL’s personal conduct policy, a family violence violation could result in a baseline unpaid suspension of six games.
Bateman could face greater scrutiny in the incident because of his daughter’s presence.
Under the policy, “aggravating factors” may result in a longer suspension. That includes circumstances in which an “act is committed against a particularly vulnerable person” or when it’s committed in the presence of a child.
Possible mitigating factors include prompt acceptance of responsibility and cooperation with any league investigation, voluntary engagement with appropriate clinical resources, demonstrated compliance with any recommended counseling or therapeutic program, and voluntary restitution with the accuser.
In July, a Georgia court ordered Bateman to complete a family violence intervention program. Records also show the accuser requested that the conditions of Bateman’s bond change from “no contact” with her to “no violent contact.”
Noah Pines, Bateman’s attorney, declined to comment, but he provided The Banner with a statement on behalf of Jordan Siev, Bateman’s personal lawyer: “It is unfortunate that a personal family situation has been taken completely out of context for sensational reasons. We will let the court process play out, and the facts will come out at that time.”
With the Ravens’ season opener three weeks away, it’s unclear how the NFL’s investigation could impact the availability of Bateman, a projected starter in 2026 and former first-round pick. In recent years, the league’s investigations into potential policy violations have taken months, and sometimes longer, to complete.
The NFL’s 10-game suspension of Justin Tucker in June 2025 came five months after The Banner published its first investigation into allegations that the then-Ravens kicker had engaged in inappropriate behavior with massage therapists in the Baltimore area.
Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker James Pearce Jr.’s eight-game suspension, announced last week, came six months after he was arrested on domestic violence charges in February. In August 2025, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice accepted a six-game ban for his role in a March 2024 multicar crash in Dallas that left multiple people injured.
And former Buffalo Bills defensive end Von Miller’s four-game suspension, announced in October 2024, came 11 months after allegations that he assaulted his pregnant girlfriend.
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