Baltimore Ravens' Zay Flowers 'To Go Have Fun!' in First Game Against Pittsburgh Steelers

Baltimore Ravens rookie receiver Zay Flowers will be playing against the Pittsburgh Steelers in his career on Sunday.

Few games hold more weight for the Baltimore Ravens than when they play the Pittsburgh Steelers. 

On Sunday, Ravens (3-1) rookie receiver Zay Flowers will get his first taste of the rivalry when they head to Acrisure Stadium to face Pittsburgh (2-2) for the first time this season. The Steelers lead the all-time series 33-25 and have won five of the last six meetings dating back to 2020. 

"I just want to go have fun, honestly," Flowers said via the Ravens team website. "I know it's a big rivalry and all that, but at the end of the day, I'm going to have fun no matter where I'm at. I'm going to do what I do no matter where I'm at and go out and get this win."

Zay Flowers running upfield after making the catch / USA Today

Flowers, who was taken with the No. 22 overall pick by Baltimore in the 2023 NFL Draft, has lived up to the billing of a first-round receiver. He leads Baltimore with 24 catches and 244 receiving yards through four games. 

While Flowers may be unfamiliar with playing against Baltimore's biggest rival, there will be a familiar face for him standing across the field. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin got a close look at Flowers when he played at Boston College last season. Tomlin's son, Dino Tomlin, a redshirt senior receiver for the Eagles, was Flowers' teammate in 2022.

Mike heaped a ton of praise on his son's former teammate. 

"Not surprised that he's having the type of success that he's having. I've personally seen a lot of him," Mike said. "His tangible talents are one thing, and those are obvious. He's got really good speed, short-area burst, change of direction, body control and those things. But what I quickly understood about him from watching him at BC [Boston College] is … his calling card is the fearlessness in his play."

For Flowers, Mike's words meant plenty given their familiarity and his standing in the sport as he's in his 16th season as the Steelers' head coach.   

"He's a legendary coach, so to hear that from him, it's unbelievable. It's like a dream come true," Flowers said. "I always looked up to him. He was one of the few African-American coaches in the league, and that's been winning consistently for the past 17 years. For that to come from him, it meant a lot."