October 10, 2024 • 45 mins
Ravens TE Charlie Kolar joins team insiders Ryan Mink and Garrett Downing to discuss his big day in Cincinnati, how he's evolved as a player, his academic background, why he loves playing football, and his unique personality within the Ravens locker room.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:05):
Welcome into Lounge, presented by DraftKings. We are thrilled to
sit down with tight End. Charlie Kohler and Charlie. We
had to invite you onto lounge after we heard your
quote post game about how they forgot you know, everybody's
paying so much attention to Mark and Isaiah and they
forgot about the fat white guy running down the scene, right,
and as two fat white guys, we were like this,
(00:28):
it really resonated with us.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
That's why they forget about us all the time too, right,
We're just overlooked in the organization.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yes, so take me inside.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
What's going through your head as they're just you know,
I saw I watched the tape of that play Gino
Stone shading over tis like this spot you're just trucking
down the middle baby, just wide open. What's what's going
through your head on that play?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah? There was a I mean, I wasn't totally kidding
in all the dumb comments. I was making a different
They didn't cut me loose, but uh, I just I
knew that that play, like you tight End four verds
is hard to cover a lot of times teams are
in single high because they only have three guys deep,
so usually whichever side this safety shades too, they could
throw the other way. So when I saw Gino rotate away,
(01:14):
I was like, oh, Mike, Mike, is some action here.
So I was pretty excited. Lamar through a beautiful ball
and protection was great and it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah, now I know Lamar even today was kind of
giving you a hard time on podium.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
He said he's got to.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Score, he's got to stop getting chased down on these
so so, I mean, it's kind of sticks here. You
have great play there, great play Dallas, and now you're
just getting your teammates around your butt again.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah. I get over the sideline afterwards, and the first
thing he says is you gotta score. I was like,
great ball out, but no, he he's awesome. He's right.
I gotta I gotta score. I gotta stop getting tackled
with out of ten. But no, he's a I mean,
it's very easy to play with little more sometimes like
it's a perfect ball. You know. He does a good
job of leading the safety off and he makes he
(01:57):
does a really good job of making our job easier.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Right, So for anyone who hasn't seen it, fans listeners,
you need to go back and watch Charlie's full postgame
press or scrum after the game because it is comedy.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
That was just great.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
That white guy quote was just one.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Of many in that little two minute I mean it
was a stand up monologue. Basically, was that Uh you
even joked during that time. You said, I'm not answering
anything serious during this. So did you go into it
with it with that attitude of basically having delivering these
great one liners or what was the thought process going
into this postgame scrum.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I can't say. There was a whole lot of thoughts
right through my head at that time. I was tired
from the game and I was on cloud nine. We
just won, you know, crazy comeback, you know, I mean
they're lining up for a game winning. I think I
loose and then like the last three minutes whatever later
we just wanted. So it was pretty related. And then
you know, there was some truth in all my dumb comments,
(02:53):
like they like like they did cut me loose and stuff.
But uh, I was just I don't know, I was
just kind of speaking from I wouldn't say the heart,
but just just the first came through my head. I
have a tendency to ramble, and so I just let
it all out.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So it's kind of interesting, though, I feel like your
personality has come out a lot more this year.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Is that true?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I mean I probably was naturally a lot more reserved
when I was a rookie. You know, you're just not
as comfortable. And also I wasn't playing very much. I
was just trying to, you know, come into my job.
But I think it's like most people, as you get
more comfortable in your job and with your teammates, people
kind of like like relaxed a little bit more com
other shelves. And I'm sure that's part of me doing that,
but uh yeah, I mean I just I feel like
(03:36):
I'm the same person, but it's it's, uh, we're just.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Seeing more of it.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I think.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I think like when you talk to guys like you're
one of those guys who when we ask our players,
like when they're coming off the field for our social
media things like who's the most obnoxious guy in the
locker room, who's allowed us, who's the most likely to
give you a heart? Like Charlie pops up in a
lot of those answers, right, Like, I feel like the.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Most obnoxious, weren't very positive, so I.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Guess said the record straight, Like what is your niche like,
what's your role your personality?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Like in the in the framework of this team.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Hopefully on the field, my role is just you know,
continue to you know, block well on the edge and
the perimeter.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
And then well, I mean in the locker room, are socially, yes,
socially what's the social role of Charlie Kohler in this
locker room?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
It's hard to have like a social I feel like
it's such kind of organic. I'd say I'm comfortable my
own skin, maybe like too comfortable sometimes uh very uh,
just like I don't know. I it's not that I
don't care if people think, because like I'm not that
like selfish, like you know, I want to be respectful
and apply it. But it's like I am like comfortable
(04:46):
with who I am and like I know that I
put everything I have into my job, and like I
truly care about my teammates, but like all things are
like not as important, like it'll be a dumb comment
or like maybe I should wear more clothes sometimes like uh,
I just don't really care that much.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Funny, Well, one thing I started noticing. Maybe you've always
done this. You you do pregame wars. You walk around
with that shoes a lot, right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Just got in trouble with that today actually, So I
gotta start wearing more shoes on the field, coach. No,
I just I need to wear more shoes, like in
like meetings and stuff.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Oh, you didn't wear shoes in the meetings that far?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So is the complaint, like the smelly feet, what's the complaint?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think it's the professional as a masspect that is
totally understandable. Understandable, But I do like to uh. I
am a big believer in grounding with like you know,
walking barefoot, like on actual like grass and stuff. You know,
I think that it's good like kind of I don't
want to get too like hire people like reconnect with
like the earth in terms of like I don't know,
(05:49):
like we weren't designed to walk on concrete and shoes
all day. I don't. I don't think it's like too
crazy to think that it could be good to it
can be connected. But then in general, I just like
being barefoot. I don't, like I've always liked being barefoot,
like I think it's comfortable. I don't like wearing shoes really.
Uh yeah, it'saz.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I see you wearing those five fingers.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Have you ever worn this? So these are like the
barefoot style ones. I have a few of these. I
haven't actually had the five fingers. But also I have
like a like a giant gap between my big toe
and my index toe, so I might not well, no,
like I used to joke that, like my friends used
to call me like no toe sometimes because I was like,
it's like it's pretty big, Like it's a pretty big gap.
And I used to say I used to mess with people.
(06:32):
And the thing about like people over the age, people
like it long I've been in the ordination for a while,
Like they they think I'm like decently smart, which is
like I think I'm solidly smart guy. But what I've learned
is that when you have that perception, you can say
a lot of stupid things confidently people will believe you
because like, just like I believe you, So sometimes I
(06:53):
ask you about I'm like, yeah, man, I had to
get cut off and I was little at six toes,
like no way, I'm again, no way did it happen,
But it's amazing now. Yeah, I do like to be barefoot,
but they are correct. I should wear more shoes than
the work person.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
You mentioned that people think you're smart. It's for a
good reason though. When you were in college you won correct,
what was the award again?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It was a Campbell the Campbell Award, the Academic Heightsman.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
The Academic Heisman when you were at Iowa State and so,
and you were mechanical engineering major in college. So I
mean we're academics something like when you were in college
that that was something that was really important to you
and you take a lot of pride in winning that award.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, I mean, my parents are both professors. It's a
family were very strict academics growing up. It's kind of
strict in general, and they're fantastic parents. And my mom
is in the law school teaches like criminal procedure, kind
of death penalty stuff over the years, different stuff than
my dad is in civil engineering at back home, chair
of civil Engineering. So it's a very rigorous academics growing up.
My middle brother is actually the quite brilliant one. He uh,
(07:53):
it was funny. I always think it's okay to brag
if it's not you. He took the act and he
got thirty six, which already is the highest score available.
But then he got his answers score back and there
was no marks on it, and like he thought it
was like unfilled in until he gies he didn't miss
a question the whole test, like four hours. Wow, he's brilliant, Sam,
absolutely brilliant and like not just like you know, like
(08:13):
socially awkward, brilliant w you can'talk to. He's also witty.
He's gonna be Uh, I'm gonna vote for him someday
for something. But he's great.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Is he in college now?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
He just he's just graduated.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Okay, this reminds me of my first date with my
wife when I found out that she got a higher
score in her SATs when she was in middle school
than the one that I got, you know, put on
my college application.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Sorry, Mattie's far smarter than me. And and uh, it's
definitely the biggest thing to you have noticed. I think
this is true for almost all relationships. But my friends
commonly say to you, girls always have better memories on everything,
like remembering, so like I'm really struggling to remember what
I have for breakfast, and she can remember anything. And
like my worst thing is like, you know, we started
(08:54):
talking about like plans or something. I'm like, oh gosh,
I think we talked about this. I'm afraid to ask
and that she's gonna snap at me. I'm just embarrassed.
She's fantastic West.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
What At what point did you know football was your
your future? Did you think you might go into engineering?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah? I really, you know, I never like, uh, I
didn't like to think I was like that good going on.
Like I was a very small recruit in high school.
I only had a few offers, and then in college
I didn't play my first year year and a half
two almost and uh, it wasn't until my red shirt
sophomore year. I had a good season statistically, and I
had a few look honors and stuff, and then my
(09:35):
coach just started talking about like so when I ask
me if I'm gonna put my name in the draft,
and I never really thought. I never really thought about it,
and then I did, and I say back in school,
and uh, I'd say it's called probably twenty nineteen twenty years.
I kind of had a feeling I might be able
to make but still, like this big business is so
fickle and like there's so much luck involved, you know, injury,
right situation. You know, you do everything you can to
(09:56):
put yourself in the best spot, but at the end
of the day, like there is a on a luck
and so like I've always tried to work as hard
as I can and leave the rest up to God,
and I feel like I've been blessed so far.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Right, So it's you know interesting, you kind of remind
me a little bit of John Rschall, you know, in
the sense that he was a former Ravens player. I'm
not sure, but he was also a very smart guy
who was very interested in the academic side of things,
and so when he came here, he ended up retiring
early after his second or third season and went to
go be a professor. And so to the point of, like,
(10:27):
when did you know football was the route that you
wanted to go, Like obviously you could have a career
on the mechanical engineering side.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
And go that route.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Like what was it that that like kind of made
you feel like I'm going to really pursue this football
thing rather than like the academic.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
John Rshchall like math math. I think I think I
met him. I think he won the Kimbell Award. I
think that's correct, because I think I met him he
talked about this. Yeah he left to do math, right.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah, he left after his third season.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
He was like a player professor.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Now he was super impressive. I mean, I the like
the beautiful, but also, like I said that, football is
that it's not that long. Even like if you're truly
blessed and you get ten plus your career, you're thirty five, right,
Like there's just a lot of way for that. So
for me, it's like the perspective of you know, I
also I love football Like I love football. I love
(11:15):
like the team effort, the physicality, like the game, the planning,
like everything about it. It's like I want to play football.
Like that's like I know that. I like that's an option.
Like I don't look at it as like an escape batter.
I put all my what's the like Kobe said, like,
don't put all your eggs in one basket, make a
bigger back. I put all my eggs in like this basket.
Like this is my job. Like I'm gonna try to
do everything I can to get everything I can out
(11:37):
of my body and and when it's done, I'll move on.
But like I genuinely love football, so it's like I'm
might joke around a lot, like I love like competing
with Like there's nothing like a locker room after.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
I win, Like they're just is yeah and so so
then on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, exactly, you guys are there so like the like
the true sense of like Harbor talks about this great job.
He was talking about like football is fun, not like
you know, you're drinking with your buddies at the beach fun,
but like it's a hard, rewarding like type of fun.
And he's tried about that. It's it's beautiful in our
sport like it.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
So that's cool.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Were your parents, like given their academic background where they
always into you playing football?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I mean if every parent like growing up, you know,
especially worries about like you know, hads like head injuries
and different stuff. And you know I do stuff for that,
Like I I like work on like you know, like
shoulder necks, try anything I wear like the Giant spaceship helmet.
You know, I don't wear the Guardian cap.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Oh you right. Your helmet is a little bit different.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
For it's called the vices trench. Just got the big thing.
I just I tried it one day and I felt
way better, so I started kept wearing it much there.
How I look, I haven't done the Guardian caps. I
might try in the game. I'm I feel like they
say some of the equipment Knico and Nimbre saying that
they actually tests just as well with or without it.
So I haven't worn it also, so I might try.
(12:52):
I don't know, but no, Yeah, I mean obviously parents
sometimes wear about this stuff, but they like, you know,
they also like you know, they want us to like
chase what we want to do and stuff. And there.
I mean, I'm truly blessed. They're fantastic parents.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Yeah, you've had an interesting career path so far. I mean,
you know, you're you're drafted in the fourth round, and
then you know Isaiah likely is drafted not long after that,
also in the fourth round. So actually, let me just
pause there and ask you the question. Be honest with us.
When you're a rookie, you just got drafted, you're thinking hurrah,
and then a team drafts a player at the same
(13:24):
position not long after. What went through your mind at
that moment.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
I mean, it wasn't like I know, like I want
me to say, Oh, I was super worried about tight
end because like that's like it's the NFL, Like you're
going to compete, Like Isaiah's a fantastic player. Yeah, Like
I think myself highly the player Mark pat Like there's
so many fantastic players do Like the draft day, you
can't spend worrying about like who are they going to draft?
Like I'm just so grateful, Like I'm grateful for an opportunity,
(13:50):
grateful for an opportunity to compete with you know, Mark,
Isaiah Path everyone. You're going to compete wherever you go.
And so like even that moment, like I'm just grateful,
You're just you, just you just got drafted. Like yeah,
if you're gonna spend your whole life worrying about this
stuff like you, you're gonna miss the great moments. And
so it's like I was just so grateful. I was
very overwhelmed. And I never thought I would be like drafted.
I didn't think about growing up. I was not good
(14:12):
or and so I like to be drafted with my
family and like my Maddie and my friends came over,
like it was just it was an awesome day, awesome day,
and I was so grateful and always look back with
the yappy hard on that day.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
So then just to continue, you know, you start your
rookie year, you have a hernia injury early on, which
was is tough, right, Like I mean Bait kind of
dealt with the same thing his rookie year, right, And
that setback is it's already a challenge to come into
this league as a rookie and just understand what it
means to be a professional, learning to playbook, all of
those things are difficult, and then on top of it,
(14:45):
you have a setback with an injury. Take us inside
that time and how did you deal with that? How
challenging was that for you?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
It was very challenging. I had. So I had a
different surgery done in twenty twenty on a sports horney
probably believe not the right surgery Pabor should have the
one I did in twenty two in Philly. But it's
over now. So that was frustrating, and uh yeah, I
just got to a point where like I couldn't really
perform and just hurt so bad every day I couldn't sleep,
(15:14):
and league and stuff, and so uh I talked a
bitching about and I get surgery and that sucks because
you missed training camp and then you have nothing to like,
you have no proof that you can play, like you
have college tape. Everyone has college tape. So it's like,
even when I'm healthy, I come, but I think I
get activated week seven and I get put on the
roster after week nine and I'm healthy, but like I
haven't done anything, you know, I haven't don't know anything.
(15:34):
Our training camp, our room is incredibly deep. That I
mean a room that year was deepest ever wise because
they had uh I think we had seven. It was
Mark from oldest, Okay, Nick, Pat, Mark, Josh, and then
me and Zay, so six tiny five of them have
played and I haven't played at all. So it's like,
what does a team? Why would the team play me?
(15:55):
I've proved nothing, and so like I'm aware of that,
but it's still stunk. But you want to play, yeah,
And so I just like I just kind of made
a decision that you know, rookie year, even in the
second year, I was an active a few games early on.
I just made a decision and like I was just
gonna be ready, like and I was gonna do everything
I can to be better. So when that time comes,
(16:17):
and like I got some slowly got more opportunities down
the stretch in twenty three and then you know, this
season's slowly gotten more and like, I don't know, I'm
gonna like Doctor Trice Artine was just fantastic and she
talks about my favorite phrases ever. She says, you can
wait and worry, or you can wait in peace. But
the way you're waiting, and I think about that all
the time, like I'm gonna train and prepare and work
(16:38):
as hard as I possibly can, so an opportunity comes,
I'm ready. But once the work is done, I'm gonna
wait in peace and if it comes, it comes. If not,
like God's planning, So uh yeah, I think that it
is difficult, but also like it's an opportunity for growth.
And so I don't know, I've been so incredibly blessed
my life, Like like if that's the worst struggle I
ever have, I've lived a pretty good life.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
So I'm glad you brought up doctor Trish because we
actually have an interview with her on the back end
of this for a World Wants of Health Day and
she provides perspective on what her role was here. So uh,
you know that nice, nice little teaser there from you
to take.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Not only she's just like, I mean, she's good at
her job, no doubt, but she might she's one of
the warmest genuine human beings I've ever met my entire life. Yeah,
he's awesome.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
She's great.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
So so just going back into kind of your story.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
So then this year you're in this role where obviously
Mark and Isaiah had you know, are kind of established,
and then you come into this year.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
You added weight, right are you? Basically to get ready
for the blocking role?
Speaker 4 (17:35):
You kind of just moved into this role where in
college you caught a million passes and you were noticed
a pass catcher, and then you move into a role
where like blocking becomes a huge part of your store.
You add weight and physically change your body in order
to be in.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
The best position to do that. Yep, So like what
was that? What did you do in order to get
yourself ready to do that?
Speaker 3 (17:54):
I justin ironically just joked about being a fat white guy.
But you know, cleaning up my diet, you know, lifting,
you know, just like doing things to get stronger and
bigger and more explosive and faster. And yeah, it's just
like being cognitive a situation like you know, we have
uh two tight ends who established themselves more than I
have in the league in terms like they have more catches,
(18:15):
they have more targets, more yard, touchdown and so you know,
how do I contribute to the team. Well, it's like
the obvious interest is blocking, and I never really did
it in college. Update I don't think I couldn't do.
I just I wasn't asked. I was asked the receiver
much like you know markar and so I kind of
especially really more last year even I like kind of
realized that. I was like, you know, if I want
to play on this team, like I don't want to
(18:35):
be an active you know, I want to contribute. How
do I contribute? Well, I think I'm pretty solid in
the passing game, but we already have two guys they
trust more than me. You know, I've played more, just
like they've been healthy, they've played more. How do I
get on the field like a block, And so like
every day I started working on the sled and like
my footwork and my pad level and working with Pat
you know, I text s nakes sometimes and so just
(18:57):
like trying to get better so I can establis role
when the opportunities come to be blocked and then what
does like mom talks about you know, good blocking is
rewarded and you get slipped versus Dallas for different stuff.
And so just trying to do everything I can to
like be prepared to help the team.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I just I commend you for kind of that that
self is selfless outlook that you have, because it's not easy.
You know, as you talked about the hernia, then you're
behind these other guys and now, oh wait, now I
have to totally change the kind of player I am right,
Like that is a tough thing to do. How did
you you know? You say, oh, it was just my
avenue on the field, But like how do you kind
(19:35):
of keep at bay this? Like, man, now I'm like
giving up what I do best to do something I
haven't really done, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
A lot of it comes back to like no, like
to come back to my faith and stuff. And like
if this is like the cross I have to you're
saying it's across like you know, to have to transition,
that's not that big of a challenge. There's a lot
worse challenge. Just like as much as I I like
joke around stuff, like there's people who are like starving
(20:03):
and like people who like can't trying to find their
next me, like if me haven't changed. And first of all,
I do love blocking. It's fun, like a four minute
drill like where they can't stop. He was one of
the most satisfying things in football, Like it's beautiful and
so I mean, obviously it's it's difficult, like and there's
times where I surely I want I mean, I'm a
I'm a human being. Of course there's times I want
the ball more, just like everyone does. But the biggest
(20:24):
thing is like reminding myself of like what can I control?
Like what can I control? And as long as I
focus on that and I can get better at these things,
I'm patient. I believe like my time will come in
the past game, and let's keep getting better at the
run game and just further down the career. Almost every
tight end who comes in the league is more of
a receiving guy because like that's like typically the ones
they see and they draft, so like a lot of
(20:46):
tight ends, I've had similar transactions, Like you know, Josh
was all receiver too as much.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Right that sou I was gonna ask how much did
Josh's career trajectory rub off on you like seeing him go.
He was a big time receiver, yeah, big timeceiver, yeah,
and then turned into a very good for us. How
much did you lean on him and what lessons did
you take from him?
Speaker 3 (21:04):
We trained together and office's after my first year too.
He's a good friend of mine. Yeah, I mean just
seeing that, it's like, well, shoot, like that's that's a
great option. I want to do that. And so I mean,
obviously it was a great to see him like gets
deservingly get paid and playing it for the Vikings. You know,
they're playing some playing heck of football right now right
now in Minnesota. I know he's a big part of that.
So yeah, of course it's big cool to see that
(21:25):
and be like, oh, shoot, maybe I can do something
similar to that or whatever.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Yeah, So then you know, just kind of bring it
to present day, like now you're in this position where
you're doing the blocking, but then you're also making players
in the past game. I actually just saw the stat
from PFF that you're the top rated receiving tight end.
Do I have these the top tight end period, top
tight end period. It's the highest graded PFF tight end
in the league.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Sweet that's when you do it all for right, I
got demand the pay raise right now.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
They weren't for the shoes thing we got.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
That stuff is so fickle, like it's just it's a
small sample size, like it's weak for five. And I've
always curious how they even grade that stuff because like
they don't know our plays and so helps like two
my biggest completions, no one guards me, So I'm not
going to I'm not going to try to claim the
throne immediately. I'll just keep working day to day. But no,
that is cool. I did not know that is cool.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Yeah, and just but just like when you're making when
now all that work, I.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Don't think I even can demand to pay raise. Just
anyone's listening, realize that, Like sometimes when I say things sarcastically,
and maybe people don't know me as well enough that
I'm not like I am being sarcastic anything at all.
I will just be coming to work humbly, ready to
do my job. If anyone's listening, That's what I'm going
(22:43):
to do.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
But like, how how rewarding is this right now? Like
just be like you're playing at a high level and
you're making big plays like this, thrilling game, and like
you have some of the biggest you know, there was
a lot of big plays in that game, but you
have some huge moments like in that game, like all
that to kind of not that that was the I mean,
it was kind of culmination, but it's not necessary. It's
not the end of the of the story, of course,
but like how rewarding is it to be able to
(23:05):
deliver in those big moments?
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Yeah, it's it's week six, so like I certainly, like
you said, it's really cool, but it's not. It's just
the beginning of the season and hopefully my journey. And
it was like, can't help but I take selfish pride
in doing that. You know, I'm proud of what I've done,
But I think what's more fun and he was just
a person accomplishment is like if you watch like how
our team celebrates together, it's pretty special, Like offense defense,
special teams, Like do you have a lot of guys
(23:28):
who are genuinely excited people make plays and so like
that makes it so much more fun. And so like
when I make a play and people are excited for me,
and then they make a play, I'm excited for them,
and vice like it's it's so fun, like that's that
like it is it is satisfying to like be done
with the game and you know, played well personally, but
nothing like truly feels was like happy and fulfilling as
a good team win like it just doesn't like there's
(23:50):
nothing like the locker room after a good win.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Well, you had the game ceiling block for Derrick Henry
or for Lamar's run in Dallas, right, we saw the
photo of the game.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
I did trip on. I did trip on like Parsons,
But like I'm not going to get in the twitter
war about how I tripped.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Well, I gave you credit because you put it out there, didn't.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
You tweeted the shot of you like getting I just
you're like airborne on the.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
It comes back to like what's actually important? Like do
I care people like fun of me? No, Like I
know I'm doing my job, Like I know I got tripped.
I know I slowed him down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
So there you go.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I'm at peace, Like I'm moving on.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
That was that was well. I like that about you.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
You know how to laugh at yourself and like have fun.
Got to you have to well and we got to
bring it back to, I think, really, what sparked this
great season that you're you're starting here is the corners.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Crazy the braids back that I went to my hairs
long enough they came out on the helmet the first time.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
That's the question, right, is there a chance that.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I don't know? I mean, the biggest Okay, let's be honest.
The biggest person is to make sure Lamar likes him
because he's a quarterback. He did, he was a fan
of because he is the one choosing the targets and stuff.
But I actually I was pleasantly surprised, So I asked.
I said next to Justice in my meetings, and I
was talking to I'm like you because my hair is
like solidly curly. It's not like crazy you think I
(25:09):
can get rows because like in college, I tried this
dumb in college, I tried to get waves. I fel
like six, I'm serious. I was. It was during COVID
and we were all like, I was locked down and
everything I was talking about we're just working out. My
teammates and my hair like when it's like not like this,
it's pretty curly, like it gets pretty curly. I was
asking my teammates, like what are like the most like
(25:31):
just like I was like, what are ways? Like? What
causes like them? Today? He's like it's just like really
tight curls, you know, like kind of madded down stuff.
And I was like, merge Lawrence White my close friends
in college. I was like, you didn't get them. I
don't know, maybe I would to try it. So like
I got the whole thing, the new rag, the wave jail,
the brush, and I tried for like six months and
I think for like two hours of one day I
(25:52):
had some ripples. It was tough. But and so I
was like I don't, like I said, I don't take
myself too seriously, and I'm not like trying to like
make fun of anything. I just like want to see
if I can do it. I'm just genuinely curious. And
so then this offseason was letting the hair get pretty long,
and I saw it fast forward next Justice. I'm like, dude, like,
how do you think like because Justice has justice hair
as long. He's got great braids, like great, great designs.
(26:15):
And I was like, whoo does your hair and he
gave me her number shout out as key at great
does a great job and uh, And I was like
have you ever done like white person's hair before you
knows I've done it, Like it's it's not like guys,
Like I was calm and obviously, but I've done it.
I was like, yeah, you can try with mine. It
was the officeas I just wanting to think much about it.
I was stoked. I thought she did a great job.
(26:35):
She made me look pretty solid forever, and I was
like incredibly pleased with how she did so hopefully, but
the problem was my hair is so short in the
moment that as soonously wore how much OTAs it came
out like that. So I'm hoping it gets long enough
and I can try it again. But also, like as
much as I like say stupid stuff and everything, like,
I'm not like genuinely I didn't do it to like
(26:56):
draw attention to myself, like I genuinely didn't, like I
knew it was going to but like I generally just
wanted to see if I could do it, Like I
want to see how I would look, and then that's
all the more. The next day you want to store shooting,
so this is gone, but it's all good fun. I mean,
I just wanted to see how it looks, and I
was getting. She did a great job.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
I think Lamar liked it. I think that passed.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I saw the video the photo.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
That photo is pretty that it resurfaced a lot is
weekend because.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
I know my friends like send me down. I'm like,
that's from a long time ago. But like I saw
that because Maddie was out here for the picness too,
and we saw that. We would die because it's so
like it's such a perfect like encapitulation, like people's reactions
this giant white guys up with I'm like, I do
remember though. My first day I got him, I was
(27:46):
I was golfing with like Kyle and I think Tyler Marlowe.
And when we got done, I stop at the gas
station to get gas and I walk in and there's
just like middle aged black lady with her kid and
she looks at me. She looks, I like your hair.
And I was so stoked. I'm telling you, like it
(28:06):
was so genuine and she just said it, and I
was like, dude, that's cool. And so I was pretty
fun because she said that, and that was like all
the vindication I needed. Yeah, I'm I don't know, I
don't take myself too serious.
Speaker 5 (28:20):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I love it cool. Well, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Charlie. Best of luck the rest of the season, Looking
forward to a lot more plays and the return to
the corner.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Maybe guys, welcome back into the Lounge podcast. We're coming
to you from the Sea Geek Studio. We also want
to mention our partners at Draftking Sportsbook. They are an
official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sportsbook.
The Crown is yours. So, I mean, Charlie is a
super entertaining guy.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
I think we got to know him a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yeah, and fans, you know, we see it in the
locker room, like he's just a funny dude and like
gets along with everybody's unique cat and like, you gotta
love that about him. So it was cool to introduce
him to fans more.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Yeah, like after his press conference, there's a locker room
interview on Sunday after the game, there's a lot of
buzz about him. But he had a great game and
he had these hilarious quotes. People are like, Charlie Cohler,
who's this guy? He's funny, Like, I like this guy.
And so we started to get some kind of nationwide
attention after that. But he's somebody that has been quietly
working and you're starting to see, as we said to him,
(29:20):
like his personality shine. He's a funny guy, smart guy,
and it was entertaining just to get to know him
a little bit better. And I think he's going to
continue to make some plays for this team. I think
he's an important guy.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Yeah, I agree, he's in a very important role, you know,
and a lot of obviously a lot of attension goes
on Mark and Isaiah and they're fantastic tight ends, but.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
It's really the trio.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
And when I've had conversations with Mark and with Isaiah,
they're like, look, Charlie Kohler is a really good player,
Like do not forget about Charlie when you're talking about
our tight ends, you know, like he Mark specifically told me,
Charlie Cohler is going to go and have a long
career in this league. Like you watch right and to
that point, you saw Josh Oliver, like he said, got
(30:00):
paid by the Vikings, like you know, and when you're
when you can establish yourself as a blocker, and he's
worked really hard to get better at that part of
his game, the receiving skills haven't gone anywhere, you know,
so like, if you can do both, man, you can
really have a long, productive career in this league. And
I think Charlie Will, we should have told him about
during training camp when he was catching a bunch of
balls in practice.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
And you were doing you were giving the feed.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
I told you, then I told you. I completely forgot
about that until you just mentioned it. Kohler, I was
ahead of the curve on that one.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
I Will.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
One of the things has always struck me about him
is like if you're watching the pide, like he's a
big guy.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
You just see him. He looks the part he takes
the field.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
And like he's tall, he's long, Like he is a
physically imposing guy, which is part of the reason why
he's working out so well as a blocker, in addition
to the receiving aspect. But I'm just like, I remember
the first time he really took the field that rookie
season after dealing with the injury, and You're like, oh,
this guy looks like he can play, like we'll see,
but like he looks like it, and and so I've
always been intrigued with him from that standpoint.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
And now we're starting to see it under fruition.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yeah, it's very neat.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
So he also gave us the great segue to our
next guest. Yes, the Ravens Team clinician Tricia Bent Goodly. Yeah,
and so we are going to bring her on. We didn't,
you know, not.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Going to be able to ask her about Charlie.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
There's a client privileges we can't do that, but we're
going to talk to her about her job behind the
scenes of this organization.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Well, Ravens fans, we are now really excited to be
joined by the Ravens Team clinician, doctor Trisha Bent Goodley.
And we are just so excited to have you joining
us here today on World Mental Health Day, and this
is this is your arena, and so we wanted to
have you on the podcast today to talk about the
work that you do for our organization with our players.
So just to kind of kick things off, can you
(31:46):
describe what it is that you do your role here
with the organization.
Speaker 6 (31:50):
Yeah, sure, thank you first for having me. I appreciate
that today is a really great day. I think what
I love most about being here is that we pay
attention to mental health every single day. But it's great
to be able to highlight it on World Mental Health Day. Specifically,
this is my tenth season as the team clinician, and
what I essentially do is I provide the mental health,
(32:11):
emotional health and wellness supports to our players, our coaches,
and our staff. So that looks like everything from providing
therapy to providing mental health education, working with our team
if there's a mental health crisis. We work together in
our Health and Wellness Committee. So I'm a part of
(32:32):
that committee and have an opportunity to work across all
disciplines just to ensure that there is support for emotional
and mental health issues across our organization. So I'm really
excited to be able to offer that every single day
of the week to our players, coaches, and staff.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
That's awesome, specifically on World Mental Health Day and the
week leading up to it. Are there any special things
that you're doing with the team.
Speaker 6 (32:57):
So we've done a few things leading up up to
World Mental Health Day yesterday. Actually we had some wonderful
dogs here to do some a little bit of dogs,
you know, therapeutic dogs that could be here with our
players and our coaches and our staff as well. You
got some good time.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
So I did too.
Speaker 6 (33:19):
I did too, and I absolutely loved it, and so
that was a wonderful opportunity to just be able to
have that resource here in the building. We did a
gratitude wall for the players, will offer some education and
support around wellness for World Mental Health Day, the theme
of which is to prioritize mental health in the workplace.
(33:41):
So we'll have a really great conversation about what Raven's
wellness means. And so just kind of did a range
of different kinds of things just to begin to again
as part of creating mental health awareness, but also just
really talking about what wellness looks like for us here
in this environment.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
You know, I think it's over the past decade or so,
mental health and sports has started to become a much
larger piece of a conversation. And we've on the podcast
had lots of conversations about our players in the conversations
with you and others in this space. How have you
seen this focus grow over the last you know, decade.
Speaker 6 (34:19):
You know, I would say that one of the things
I've seen is that our young people come here already
having been introduced to the world of mental health and
feeling a little bit more willing to talk about it,
and I honestly think part of that is the aftermath
of COVID, you know, I think that time period was
(34:42):
really tough for a lot of people, and one of
the things I think that we see now are folks
being able to have that conversation a little bit more freely.
I mean, certainly there's still mental health stigma, and that's
why having days like this are so important. At the
same time, you know, I'm a believer that so much
is driven from our young people, our players, who come
(35:04):
here ready and prepared to have that conversation and talking
more freely about what they may have going on, so
that we can be a good resource and support to them.
So I just think that, you know, there's a lot
that's happened in the world. The world has changed a
little bit around this topic, and I'm excited that our players,
(35:25):
especially are out talking about it openly. I love that.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
I think the work that you're doing is really awesome,
and I love to learn more about people's jobs and
like what goes into their typical workday. Right, So I guess, first,
you know, what does a game day look like for you?
Speaker 6 (35:43):
So for game day for me, I am, you know,
making sure that I have some touch point with the
majority of our players, whether that is on a text
or on the field. So pre game, just being available
talking to guys, just just being a resource to them
before our game. And that's whether we're here or if
(36:06):
we're on the road, you know, just being able to
be present and available to them if they need anything.
And then also I try to say speaking into them
during you know, ahead of game day, just to be
an encouraging voice. And then and then after game, you know,
after the game being available. I think the only thing
that might be a little bit different is, you know,
if there's something that happens on the field that would
(36:29):
require my support, then I will be available to them
in the locker room so that they have that additional
support there. For example, if a player gets hurt, I'll
be there, and if a family member needs support around that,
then I'll be there to support them too. So so
just you know, for me, my days are planned, but
(36:49):
at the same time, whatever kind of happens, I just
kind of move into it. And that's what it's like
for me on game day two. I don't necessarily know
what I'm walking into, but we're going to go for
it and make the best of whatever the situation is.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
And do you find that players most often come to
you for on field help or off field kind of life.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
Help the gamut, you know, the gamut. I think that
one of the things about this role is you really
have to be able to move in either of those spaces.
We are there to be a support, whether it is
around life issues, whether that's something that has been planned
or an emergency that comes up, and also there to
(37:31):
help support, you know, in terms of their mental performance
and providing them with mental skills training as well. So
just really offering the gamut of what it looks like
for wellness across the continuum.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
Yeah, I think it's it's interesting because you know, fans
may see photos of you or video of you on
the sidelines either before games or at practice even you know,
I think it's that's one of the things that I
think is really cool is that you're you're often in
the mix in these moments, in these situations, and when
we go out to practice here in a little bit,
you know.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
You'll be out there. What are you when you're watching practice?
Speaker 4 (38:03):
You know, like, what do you we look at it
from a from a media, I like, what are you
looking at it from your standpoint and how do you
try to use those observations to help you and coaching
these players on mental health.
Speaker 6 (38:15):
So I think for me, I always say I'm not
there studying everybody like, oh no, But for me, I
do I do pay attention to how a guy might
react in a play, or I pay attention I do
(38:36):
pay attention to body language. Actually, I kind of have
a sense of how our players move and if and
if there's a diversion from that, then I'm gonna probably
reach out and just say, hey, can we just chat
and then I'll share what I observed And if I'm off,
then you know I'm way off. But for the most part,
I've been pretty pretty accurate in those moments. So I
(38:58):
use it as a time just to to see what
the energy is like and what kind of messaging that
I should be providing and offering through the week as
a support and a resource. But yeah, during practice, I'm
kind of paying attention to all of those things and
checking in if need be.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Interesting, and it's it's kind of like an overarching approach,
right Like coaches are coaching the players on the techniques
and the x'es and o's and our strength and conditioning
staff are getting their bodies. You know, in peak physical condition.
You're working on the mental side of things. You know,
in your opinion, in your line of work, how important
is the mental side of football?
Speaker 6 (39:38):
Yeah, So we have a podcast that we offer to
the players, and one of the things that that always
starts with is I always say, you know, if our
play is eighty five is eighty five percent, If the
mental part of our play is eighty five percent of
the game, then we're going to go ahead and tackle
that right. And I don't know if I have like
(40:01):
an exact percentage, but what I will say is that
there's an intricate interplay and that's why being able to
work collaboratively is so important. So you hear me say
a lot our and wei uh. There's only one team
clinician that's me. But I feel like mental health is
an important part of all of the work that we do.
(40:21):
So our Health and Wellness Committee, which includes everyone on
the football site that touches our players, it's an opportunity
for us to collaborate and work together because sometimes there's
just a connection between the body and the mind and
it's important for us to work collaboratively to help support
that player wherever it is that they're at. And so
(40:42):
I think there's definitely a connection. And I don't know.
I wouldn't say that there's a percentage because I think
it could look different for people at different times in
their lives, at different times.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
That's mental too, though, right.
Speaker 6 (40:57):
But I think it's really just about making sure that
we're collaborating, we're working together to support the total wellness
of our players, and that's the approach that we take.
That's why I always say we in our because I
think mental health is something we all have to own
in different ways.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
It's awesome, you know, it's been really cool. You're often
involved on some company wide initiatives, oftentimes around tragedy or
difficult moments, and people turn to you for support and
guidance and advice and a listening year and all those things.
And you've been pretty impactful when we've had some hard times,
you know, in recent years, which is really significant.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
And also good times as well. Of course, it's not
just the hard times.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
But where do you for you like, when you look
at things moving forward, like where do you see mental
health in sports going in the future, given all that
it's grown to get to this point.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
I think that we meaning just how we look at sport.
And incidentally, since you mentioned this is Pro Athlete Mental
Health Awareness Week and that started October third, ends on
October tenth on World Mental Health Day, and brings attention
to just what mental health looks like across sport. And
(42:14):
one of the things that I would say about about
this initiative, it's a collaboration between NFL Total Wellness and
NBA Mind Health, and then you know other professional organizations
that sports organizations that collaborate. I think that we have
to build a mental health infrastructure, right, we have to
build an environment where mental health, where mental health friendly.
(42:37):
I think our athletes demand that in a lot of ways.
Now they're much more aware, they're much more open, and
they're wanting to see an infrastructure and a support team
that's there to support their mental wellness. And so I
think as we move forward sport, different sport organizations are
going to really have to begin to work through whatever
(43:01):
their stigma might be around mental health to be able
to offer those resources. I think there's still some people
who feel like if someone shares that they have a
mental health challenge, they're not as strong, or they're not
as focused, or they won't be as great as they're
in their craft. And what we know really is that
as we approach the wellness of athletes right, they can
(43:23):
be even that much more productive, that much better at
their craft, that much more able to accomplish. And so
I think that we, you know, meaning our again, you know,
as we look at World Mental Health Day in sport,
we have to reconsider how we think about mental health.
I'm grateful because my role here was solidified in twenty fifteen,
(43:47):
which was four years before the CBA required every club
to have a team clinician. I'm one of a few
full time team clinicians in the league, and I think
what I love about being here in our tough days
right and in our great moments, is that there is
support for mental health and what I do here, I
(44:10):
don't feel like there's that stigma. I don't have to
balance that. I just have to show up and offer
the best that I can on any given day.
Speaker 2 (44:19):
Yes, that's what I love.
Speaker 1 (44:20):
That's great. Great, Well, I'm going to have to get
some time on your schedule because I've had to deal
with this guy for thirsty.
Speaker 2 (44:28):
They're in a good I think it's a good Bryth.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 4 (44:33):
Thank you Doct Trish appreciated well, really good conversation with
doctor Trish. You know, she's somebody here who's an important
person behind the scenes. Uh has the trust of a
lot of players and staff and everybody. And it was
good to just learn about her role, exactly what goes
into it and just the importance of it in this organization.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
It's neat, you know oftentimes not oftentimes, but sometimes you
go down the cap tear and you just see her
in a player or hert a couple of players and
they're just you know, and and you see definitely the
players value her and and what she brings, the resources
that she brings to the table. It's it's it's a
very big deal for teams that I think a lot
of fans probably don't recognize.
Speaker 4 (45:12):
Yeah, so again, this is World Mental Health Day. So
I really enjoy the conversation with doctor Trish. And there's
a big game coming up on Sunday and we're really
excited about that. Raven's Commander's one o'clock a m andt.
Banks Staiti on the Battle of the Beltway.
Speaker 5 (45:24):
It's gonna be at the belt Ways now two belt ways.
Its true.
Speaker 4 (45:28):
There we go.
Speaker 5 (45:29):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (45:30):
Welcome, But that game is coming up on Sunday and
we are going to do our full preview podcast coming
out on Friday morning. We're really diving to the specifics
of that game. So that's it for us here on
the podcast today, but as always, you can email us
at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net.
Speaker 5 (45:46):
Thank you so much for listening. We'll be back with
you tomorrow.
Welcome into Lounge, presented by DraftKings. We are thrilled to
sit down with tight End. Charlie Kohler and Charlie. We
had to invite you onto lounge after we heard your
quote post game about how they forgot you know, everybody's
paying so much attention to Mark and Isaiah and they
forgot about the fat white guy running down the scene, right,
and as two fat white guys, we were like this,
(00:28):
it really resonated with us.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
That's why they forget about us all the time too, right,
We're just overlooked in the organization.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yes, so take me inside.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
What's going through your head as they're just you know,
I saw I watched the tape of that play Gino
Stone shading over tis like this spot you're just trucking
down the middle baby, just wide open. What's what's going
through your head on that play?
Speaker 3 (00:52):
Yeah? There was a I mean, I wasn't totally kidding
in all the dumb comments. I was making a different
They didn't cut me loose, but uh, I just I
knew that that play, like you tight End four verds
is hard to cover a lot of times teams are
in single high because they only have three guys deep,
so usually whichever side this safety shades too, they could
throw the other way. So when I saw Gino rotate away,
(01:14):
I was like, oh, Mike, Mike, is some action here.
So I was pretty excited. Lamar through a beautiful ball
and protection was great and it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Yeah, now I know Lamar even today was kind of
giving you a hard time on podium.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
He said he's got to.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Score, he's got to stop getting chased down on these
so so, I mean, it's kind of sticks here. You
have great play there, great play Dallas, and now you're
just getting your teammates around your butt again.
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah. I get over the sideline afterwards, and the first
thing he says is you gotta score. I was like,
great ball out, but no, he he's awesome. He's right.
I gotta I gotta score. I gotta stop getting tackled
with out of ten. But no, he's a I mean,
it's very easy to play with little more sometimes like
it's a perfect ball. You know. He does a good
job of leading the safety off and he makes he
(01:57):
does a really good job of making our job easier.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Right, So for anyone who hasn't seen it, fans listeners,
you need to go back and watch Charlie's full postgame
press or scrum after the game because it is comedy.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
That was just great.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
That white guy quote was just one.
Speaker 4 (02:12):
Of many in that little two minute I mean it
was a stand up monologue. Basically, was that Uh you
even joked during that time. You said, I'm not answering
anything serious during this. So did you go into it
with it with that attitude of basically having delivering these
great one liners or what was the thought process going
into this postgame scrum.
Speaker 3 (02:31):
I can't say. There was a whole lot of thoughts
right through my head at that time. I was tired
from the game and I was on cloud nine. We
just won, you know, crazy comeback, you know, I mean
they're lining up for a game winning. I think I
loose and then like the last three minutes whatever later
we just wanted. So it was pretty related. And then
you know, there was some truth in all my dumb comments,
(02:53):
like they like like they did cut me loose and stuff.
But uh, I was just I don't know, I was
just kind of speaking from I wouldn't say the heart,
but just just the first came through my head. I
have a tendency to ramble, and so I just let
it all out.
Speaker 4 (03:07):
So it's kind of interesting, though, I feel like your
personality has come out a lot more this year.
Speaker 5 (03:13):
Is that true?
Speaker 3 (03:14):
I mean I probably was naturally a lot more reserved
when I was a rookie. You know, you're just not
as comfortable. And also I wasn't playing very much. I
was just trying to, you know, come into my job.
But I think it's like most people, as you get
more comfortable in your job and with your teammates, people
kind of like like relaxed a little bit more com
other shelves. And I'm sure that's part of me doing that,
but uh yeah, I mean I just I feel like
(03:36):
I'm the same person, but it's it's, uh, we're just.
Speaker 5 (03:38):
Seeing more of it.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I think.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
I think like when you talk to guys like you're
one of those guys who when we ask our players,
like when they're coming off the field for our social
media things like who's the most obnoxious guy in the
locker room, who's allowed us, who's the most likely to
give you a heart? Like Charlie pops up in a
lot of those answers, right, Like, I feel like the.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
Most obnoxious, weren't very positive, so I.
Speaker 1 (04:01):
Guess said the record straight, Like what is your niche like,
what's your role your personality?
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Like in the in the framework of this team.
Speaker 3 (04:11):
Hopefully on the field, my role is just you know,
continue to you know, block well on the edge and
the perimeter.
Speaker 1 (04:16):
And then well, I mean in the locker room, are socially, yes,
socially what's the social role of Charlie Kohler in this
locker room?
Speaker 3 (04:24):
It's hard to have like a social I feel like
it's such kind of organic. I'd say I'm comfortable my
own skin, maybe like too comfortable sometimes uh very uh,
just like I don't know. I it's not that I
don't care if people think, because like I'm not that
like selfish, like you know, I want to be respectful
and apply it. But it's like I am like comfortable
(04:46):
with who I am and like I know that I
put everything I have into my job, and like I
truly care about my teammates, but like all things are
like not as important, like it'll be a dumb comment
or like maybe I should wear more clothes sometimes like uh,
I just don't really care that much.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
Funny, Well, one thing I started noticing. Maybe you've always
done this. You you do pregame wars. You walk around
with that shoes a lot, right, Yeah, I.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Just got in trouble with that today actually, So I
gotta start wearing more shoes on the field, coach. No,
I just I need to wear more shoes, like in
like meetings and stuff.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
Oh, you didn't wear shoes in the meetings that far?
Speaker 1 (05:24):
So is the complaint, like the smelly feet, what's the complaint?
Speaker 3 (05:27):
I think it's the professional as a masspect that is
totally understandable. Understandable, But I do like to uh. I
am a big believer in grounding with like you know,
walking barefoot, like on actual like grass and stuff. You know,
I think that it's good like kind of I don't
want to get too like hire people like reconnect with
like the earth in terms of like I don't know,
(05:49):
like we weren't designed to walk on concrete and shoes
all day. I don't. I don't think it's like too
crazy to think that it could be good to it
can be connected. But then in general, I just like
being barefoot. I don't, like I've always liked being barefoot,
like I think it's comfortable. I don't like wearing shoes really.
Uh yeah, it'saz.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
I see you wearing those five fingers.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Have you ever worn this? So these are like the
barefoot style ones. I have a few of these. I
haven't actually had the five fingers. But also I have
like a like a giant gap between my big toe
and my index toe, so I might not well, no,
like I used to joke that, like my friends used
to call me like no toe sometimes because I was like,
it's like it's pretty big, Like it's a pretty big gap.
And I used to say I used to mess with people.
(06:32):
And the thing about like people over the age, people
like it long I've been in the ordination for a while,
Like they they think I'm like decently smart, which is
like I think I'm solidly smart guy. But what I've learned
is that when you have that perception, you can say
a lot of stupid things confidently people will believe you
because like, just like I believe you, So sometimes I
(06:53):
ask you about I'm like, yeah, man, I had to
get cut off and I was little at six toes,
like no way, I'm again, no way did it happen,
But it's amazing now. Yeah, I do like to be barefoot,
but they are correct. I should wear more shoes than
the work person.
Speaker 4 (07:07):
You mentioned that people think you're smart. It's for a
good reason though. When you were in college you won correct,
what was the award again?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
It was a Campbell the Campbell Award, the Academic Heightsman.
Speaker 4 (07:16):
The Academic Heisman when you were at Iowa State and so,
and you were mechanical engineering major in college. So I
mean we're academics something like when you were in college
that that was something that was really important to you
and you take a lot of pride in winning that award.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Yeah, I mean, my parents are both professors. It's a
family were very strict academics growing up. It's kind of
strict in general, and they're fantastic parents. And my mom
is in the law school teaches like criminal procedure, kind
of death penalty stuff over the years, different stuff than
my dad is in civil engineering at back home, chair
of civil Engineering. So it's a very rigorous academics growing up.
My middle brother is actually the quite brilliant one. He uh,
(07:53):
it was funny. I always think it's okay to brag
if it's not you. He took the act and he
got thirty six, which already is the highest score available.
But then he got his answers score back and there
was no marks on it, and like he thought it
was like unfilled in until he gies he didn't miss
a question the whole test, like four hours. Wow, he's brilliant, Sam,
absolutely brilliant and like not just like you know, like
(08:13):
socially awkward, brilliant w you can'talk to. He's also witty.
He's gonna be Uh, I'm gonna vote for him someday
for something. But he's great.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
Is he in college now?
Speaker 3 (08:21):
He just he's just graduated.
Speaker 1 (08:23):
Okay, this reminds me of my first date with my
wife when I found out that she got a higher
score in her SATs when she was in middle school
than the one that I got, you know, put on
my college application.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
Sorry, Mattie's far smarter than me. And and uh, it's
definitely the biggest thing to you have noticed. I think
this is true for almost all relationships. But my friends
commonly say to you, girls always have better memories on everything,
like remembering, so like I'm really struggling to remember what
I have for breakfast, and she can remember anything. And
like my worst thing is like, you know, we started
(08:54):
talking about like plans or something. I'm like, oh gosh,
I think we talked about this. I'm afraid to ask
and that she's gonna snap at me. I'm just embarrassed.
She's fantastic West.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
What At what point did you know football was your
your future? Did you think you might go into engineering?
Speaker 3 (09:13):
Yeah? I really, you know, I never like, uh, I
didn't like to think I was like that good going on.
Like I was a very small recruit in high school.
I only had a few offers, and then in college
I didn't play my first year year and a half
two almost and uh, it wasn't until my red shirt
sophomore year. I had a good season statistically, and I
had a few look honors and stuff, and then my
(09:35):
coach just started talking about like so when I ask
me if I'm gonna put my name in the draft,
and I never really thought. I never really thought about it,
and then I did, and I say back in school,
and uh, I'd say it's called probably twenty nineteen twenty years.
I kind of had a feeling I might be able
to make but still, like this big business is so
fickle and like there's so much luck involved, you know, injury,
right situation. You know, you do everything you can to
(09:56):
put yourself in the best spot, but at the end
of the day, like there is a on a luck
and so like I've always tried to work as hard
as I can and leave the rest up to God,
and I feel like I've been blessed so far.
Speaker 4 (10:07):
Right, So it's you know interesting, you kind of remind
me a little bit of John Rschall, you know, in
the sense that he was a former Ravens player. I'm
not sure, but he was also a very smart guy
who was very interested in the academic side of things,
and so when he came here, he ended up retiring
early after his second or third season and went to
go be a professor. And so to the point of, like,
(10:27):
when did you know football was the route that you
wanted to go, Like obviously you could have a career
on the mechanical engineering side.
Speaker 5 (10:32):
And go that route.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Like what was it that that like kind of made
you feel like I'm going to really pursue this football
thing rather than like the academic.
Speaker 3 (10:41):
John Rshchall like math math. I think I think I
met him. I think he won the Kimbell Award. I
think that's correct, because I think I met him he
talked about this. Yeah he left to do math, right.
Speaker 5 (10:51):
Yeah, he left after his third season.
Speaker 2 (10:52):
He was like a player professor.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
Now he was super impressive. I mean, I the like
the beautiful, but also, like I said that, football is
that it's not that long. Even like if you're truly
blessed and you get ten plus your career, you're thirty five, right,
Like there's just a lot of way for that. So
for me, it's like the perspective of you know, I
also I love football Like I love football. I love
(11:15):
like the team effort, the physicality, like the game, the planning,
like everything about it. It's like I want to play football.
Like that's like I know that. I like that's an option.
Like I don't look at it as like an escape batter.
I put all my what's the like Kobe said, like,
don't put all your eggs in one basket, make a
bigger back. I put all my eggs in like this basket.
Like this is my job. Like I'm gonna try to
do everything I can to get everything I can out
(11:37):
of my body and and when it's done, I'll move on.
But like I genuinely love football, so it's like I'm
might joke around a lot, like I love like competing
with Like there's nothing like a locker room after.
Speaker 5 (11:48):
I win, Like they're just is yeah and so so
then on Sunday.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Yeah, exactly, you guys are there so like the like
the true sense of like Harbor talks about this great job.
He was talking about like football is fun, not like
you know, you're drinking with your buddies at the beach fun,
but like it's a hard, rewarding like type of fun.
And he's tried about that. It's it's beautiful in our
sport like it.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
So that's cool.
Speaker 4 (12:07):
Were your parents, like given their academic background where they
always into you playing football?
Speaker 3 (12:12):
I mean if every parent like growing up, you know,
especially worries about like you know, hads like head injuries
and different stuff. And you know I do stuff for that,
Like I I like work on like you know, like
shoulder necks, try anything I wear like the Giant spaceship helmet.
You know, I don't wear the Guardian cap.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Oh you right. Your helmet is a little bit different.
Speaker 3 (12:31):
For it's called the vices trench. Just got the big thing.
I just I tried it one day and I felt
way better, so I started kept wearing it much there.
How I look, I haven't done the Guardian caps. I
might try in the game. I'm I feel like they
say some of the equipment Knico and Nimbre saying that
they actually tests just as well with or without it.
So I haven't worn it also, so I might try.
(12:52):
I don't know, but no, Yeah, I mean obviously parents
sometimes wear about this stuff, but they like, you know,
they also like you know, they want us to like
chase what we want to do and stuff. And there.
I mean, I'm truly blessed. They're fantastic parents.
Speaker 1 (13:04):
Yeah, you've had an interesting career path so far. I mean,
you know, you're you're drafted in the fourth round, and
then you know Isaiah likely is drafted not long after that,
also in the fourth round. So actually, let me just
pause there and ask you the question. Be honest with us.
When you're a rookie, you just got drafted, you're thinking hurrah,
and then a team drafts a player at the same
(13:24):
position not long after. What went through your mind at
that moment.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
I mean, it wasn't like I know, like I want
me to say, Oh, I was super worried about tight
end because like that's like it's the NFL, Like you're
going to compete, Like Isaiah's a fantastic player. Yeah, Like
I think myself highly the player Mark pat Like there's
so many fantastic players do Like the draft day, you
can't spend worrying about like who are they going to draft?
Like I'm just so grateful, Like I'm grateful for an opportunity,
(13:50):
grateful for an opportunity to compete with you know, Mark,
Isaiah Path everyone. You're going to compete wherever you go.
And so like even that moment, like I'm just grateful,
You're just you, just you just got drafted. Like yeah,
if you're gonna spend your whole life worrying about this
stuff like you, you're gonna miss the great moments. And
so it's like I was just so grateful. I was
very overwhelmed. And I never thought I would be like drafted.
I didn't think about growing up. I was not good
(14:12):
or and so I like to be drafted with my
family and like my Maddie and my friends came over,
like it was just it was an awesome day, awesome day,
and I was so grateful and always look back with
the yappy hard on that day.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
So then just to continue, you know, you start your
rookie year, you have a hernia injury early on, which
was is tough, right, Like I mean Bait kind of
dealt with the same thing his rookie year, right, And
that setback is it's already a challenge to come into
this league as a rookie and just understand what it
means to be a professional, learning to playbook, all of
those things are difficult, and then on top of it,
(14:45):
you have a setback with an injury. Take us inside
that time and how did you deal with that? How
challenging was that for you?
Speaker 3 (14:52):
It was very challenging. I had. So I had a
different surgery done in twenty twenty on a sports horney
probably believe not the right surgery Pabor should have the
one I did in twenty two in Philly. But it's
over now. So that was frustrating, and uh yeah, I
just got to a point where like I couldn't really
perform and just hurt so bad every day I couldn't sleep,
(15:14):
and league and stuff, and so uh I talked a
bitching about and I get surgery and that sucks because
you missed training camp and then you have nothing to like,
you have no proof that you can play, like you
have college tape. Everyone has college tape. So it's like,
even when I'm healthy, I come, but I think I
get activated week seven and I get put on the
roster after week nine and I'm healthy, but like I
haven't done anything, you know, I haven't don't know anything.
(15:34):
Our training camp, our room is incredibly deep. That I
mean a room that year was deepest ever wise because
they had uh I think we had seven. It was
Mark from oldest, Okay, Nick, Pat, Mark, Josh, and then
me and Zay, so six tiny five of them have
played and I haven't played at all. So it's like,
what does a team? Why would the team play me?
(15:55):
I've proved nothing, and so like I'm aware of that,
but it's still stunk. But you want to play, yeah,
And so I just like I just kind of made
a decision that you know, rookie year, even in the
second year, I was an active a few games early on.
I just made a decision and like I was just
gonna be ready, like and I was gonna do everything
I can to be better. So when that time comes,
(16:17):
and like I got some slowly got more opportunities down
the stretch in twenty three and then you know, this
season's slowly gotten more and like, I don't know, I'm
gonna like Doctor Trice Artine was just fantastic and she
talks about my favorite phrases ever. She says, you can
wait and worry, or you can wait in peace. But
the way you're waiting, and I think about that all
the time, like I'm gonna train and prepare and work
(16:38):
as hard as I possibly can, so an opportunity comes,
I'm ready. But once the work is done, I'm gonna
wait in peace and if it comes, it comes. If not,
like God's planning, So uh yeah, I think that it
is difficult, but also like it's an opportunity for growth.
And so I don't know, I've been so incredibly blessed
my life, Like like if that's the worst struggle I
ever have, I've lived a pretty good life.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
So I'm glad you brought up doctor Trish because we
actually have an interview with her on the back end
of this for a World Wants of Health Day and
she provides perspective on what her role was here. So uh,
you know that nice, nice little teaser there from you
to take.
Speaker 3 (17:12):
Not only she's just like, I mean, she's good at
her job, no doubt, but she might she's one of
the warmest genuine human beings I've ever met my entire life. Yeah,
he's awesome.
Speaker 2 (17:20):
She's great.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
So so just going back into kind of your story.
Speaker 4 (17:23):
So then this year you're in this role where obviously
Mark and Isaiah had you know, are kind of established,
and then you come into this year.
Speaker 5 (17:30):
You added weight, right are you? Basically to get ready
for the blocking role?
Speaker 4 (17:35):
You kind of just moved into this role where in
college you caught a million passes and you were noticed
a pass catcher, and then you move into a role
where like blocking becomes a huge part of your store.
You add weight and physically change your body in order
to be in.
Speaker 5 (17:47):
The best position to do that. Yep, So like what
was that? What did you do in order to get
yourself ready to do that?
Speaker 3 (17:54):
I justin ironically just joked about being a fat white guy.
But you know, cleaning up my diet, you know, lifting,
you know, just like doing things to get stronger and
bigger and more explosive and faster. And yeah, it's just
like being cognitive a situation like you know, we have
uh two tight ends who established themselves more than I
have in the league in terms like they have more catches,
(18:15):
they have more targets, more yard, touchdown and so you know,
how do I contribute to the team. Well, it's like
the obvious interest is blocking, and I never really did
it in college. Update I don't think I couldn't do.
I just I wasn't asked. I was asked the receiver
much like you know markar and so I kind of
especially really more last year even I like kind of
realized that. I was like, you know, if I want
to play on this team, like I don't want to
(18:35):
be an active you know, I want to contribute. How
do I contribute? Well, I think I'm pretty solid in
the passing game, but we already have two guys they
trust more than me. You know, I've played more, just
like they've been healthy, they've played more. How do I
get on the field like a block, And so like
every day I started working on the sled and like
my footwork and my pad level and working with Pat
you know, I text s nakes sometimes and so just
(18:57):
like trying to get better so I can establis role
when the opportunities come to be blocked and then what
does like mom talks about you know, good blocking is
rewarded and you get slipped versus Dallas for different stuff.
And so just trying to do everything I can to
like be prepared to help the team.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
I just I commend you for kind of that that
self is selfless outlook that you have, because it's not easy.
You know, as you talked about the hernia, then you're
behind these other guys and now, oh wait, now I
have to totally change the kind of player I am right,
Like that is a tough thing to do. How did
you you know? You say, oh, it was just my
avenue on the field, But like how do you kind
(19:35):
of keep at bay this? Like, man, now I'm like
giving up what I do best to do something I
haven't really done, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (19:43):
A lot of it comes back to like no, like
to come back to my faith and stuff. And like
if this is like the cross I have to you're
saying it's across like you know, to have to transition,
that's not that big of a challenge. There's a lot
worse challenge. Just like as much as I I like
joke around stuff, like there's people who are like starving
(20:03):
and like people who like can't trying to find their
next me, like if me haven't changed. And first of all,
I do love blocking. It's fun, like a four minute
drill like where they can't stop. He was one of
the most satisfying things in football, Like it's beautiful and
so I mean, obviously it's it's difficult, like and there's
times where I surely I want I mean, I'm a
I'm a human being. Of course there's times I want
the ball more, just like everyone does. But the biggest
(20:24):
thing is like reminding myself of like what can I control?
Like what can I control? And as long as I
focus on that and I can get better at these things,
I'm patient. I believe like my time will come in
the past game, and let's keep getting better at the
run game and just further down the career. Almost every
tight end who comes in the league is more of
a receiving guy because like that's like typically the ones
they see and they draft, so like a lot of
(20:46):
tight ends, I've had similar transactions, Like you know, Josh
was all receiver too as much.
Speaker 1 (20:50):
Right that sou I was gonna ask how much did
Josh's career trajectory rub off on you like seeing him go.
He was a big time receiver, yeah, big timeceiver, yeah,
and then turned into a very good for us. How
much did you lean on him and what lessons did
you take from him?
Speaker 3 (21:04):
We trained together and office's after my first year too.
He's a good friend of mine. Yeah, I mean just
seeing that, it's like, well, shoot, like that's that's a
great option. I want to do that. And so I mean,
obviously it was a great to see him like gets
deservingly get paid and playing it for the Vikings. You know,
they're playing some playing heck of football right now right
now in Minnesota. I know he's a big part of that.
So yeah, of course it's big cool to see that
(21:25):
and be like, oh, shoot, maybe I can do something
similar to that or whatever.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
Yeah, So then you know, just kind of bring it
to present day, like now you're in this position where
you're doing the blocking, but then you're also making players
in the past game. I actually just saw the stat
from PFF that you're the top rated receiving tight end.
Do I have these the top tight end period, top
tight end period. It's the highest graded PFF tight end
in the league.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
Sweet that's when you do it all for right, I
got demand the pay raise right now.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
They weren't for the shoes thing we got.
Speaker 3 (21:58):
That stuff is so fickle, like it's just it's a
small sample size, like it's weak for five. And I've
always curious how they even grade that stuff because like
they don't know our plays and so helps like two
my biggest completions, no one guards me, So I'm not
going to I'm not going to try to claim the
throne immediately. I'll just keep working day to day. But no,
that is cool. I did not know that is cool.
Speaker 5 (22:18):
Yeah, and just but just like when you're making when
now all that work, I.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
Don't think I even can demand to pay raise. Just
anyone's listening, realize that, Like sometimes when I say things sarcastically,
and maybe people don't know me as well enough that
I'm not like I am being sarcastic anything at all.
I will just be coming to work humbly, ready to
do my job. If anyone's listening, That's what I'm going
(22:43):
to do.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
But like, how how rewarding is this right now? Like
just be like you're playing at a high level and
you're making big plays like this, thrilling game, and like
you have some of the biggest you know, there was
a lot of big plays in that game, but you
have some huge moments like in that game, like all
that to kind of not that that was the I mean,
it was kind of culmination, but it's not necessary. It's
not the end of the of the story, of course,
but like how rewarding is it to be able to
(23:05):
deliver in those big moments?
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Yeah, it's it's week six, so like I certainly, like
you said, it's really cool, but it's not. It's just
the beginning of the season and hopefully my journey. And
it was like, can't help but I take selfish pride
in doing that. You know, I'm proud of what I've done,
But I think what's more fun and he was just
a person accomplishment is like if you watch like how
our team celebrates together, it's pretty special, Like offense defense,
special teams, Like do you have a lot of guys
(23:28):
who are genuinely excited people make plays and so like
that makes it so much more fun. And so like
when I make a play and people are excited for me,
and then they make a play, I'm excited for them,
and vice like it's it's so fun, like that's that
like it is it is satisfying to like be done
with the game and you know, played well personally, but
nothing like truly feels was like happy and fulfilling as
a good team win like it just doesn't like there's
(23:50):
nothing like the locker room after a good win.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Well, you had the game ceiling block for Derrick Henry
or for Lamar's run in Dallas, right, we saw the
photo of the game.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
I did trip on. I did trip on like Parsons,
But like I'm not going to get in the twitter
war about how I tripped.
Speaker 2 (24:08):
Well, I gave you credit because you put it out there, didn't.
Speaker 1 (24:10):
You tweeted the shot of you like getting I just
you're like airborne on the.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
It comes back to like what's actually important? Like do
I care people like fun of me? No, Like I
know I'm doing my job, Like I know I got tripped.
I know I slowed him down a little bit.
Speaker 2 (24:23):
So there you go.
Speaker 3 (24:24):
I'm at peace, Like I'm moving on.
Speaker 2 (24:25):
That was that was well. I like that about you.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
You know how to laugh at yourself and like have fun.
Got to you have to well and we got to
bring it back to, I think, really, what sparked this
great season that you're you're starting here is the corners.
Speaker 3 (24:39):
Crazy the braids back that I went to my hairs
long enough they came out on the helmet the first time.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
That's the question, right, is there a chance that.
Speaker 3 (24:48):
I don't know? I mean, the biggest Okay, let's be honest.
The biggest person is to make sure Lamar likes him
because he's a quarterback. He did, he was a fan
of because he is the one choosing the targets and stuff.
But I actually I was pleasantly surprised, So I asked.
I said next to Justice in my meetings, and I
was talking to I'm like you because my hair is
like solidly curly. It's not like crazy you think I
(25:09):
can get rows because like in college, I tried this
dumb in college, I tried to get waves. I fel
like six, I'm serious. I was. It was during COVID
and we were all like, I was locked down and
everything I was talking about we're just working out. My
teammates and my hair like when it's like not like this,
it's pretty curly, like it gets pretty curly. I was
asking my teammates, like what are like the most like
(25:31):
just like I was like, what are ways? Like? What
causes like them? Today? He's like it's just like really
tight curls, you know, like kind of madded down stuff.
And I was like, merge Lawrence White my close friends
in college. I was like, you didn't get them. I
don't know, maybe I would to try it. So like
I got the whole thing, the new rag, the wave jail,
the brush, and I tried for like six months and
I think for like two hours of one day I
(25:52):
had some ripples. It was tough. But and so I
was like I don't, like I said, I don't take
myself too seriously, and I'm not like trying to like
make fun of anything. I just like want to see
if I can do it. I'm just genuinely curious. And
so then this offseason was letting the hair get pretty long,
and I saw it fast forward next Justice. I'm like, dude, like,
how do you think like because Justice has justice hair
as long. He's got great braids, like great, great designs.
(26:15):
And I was like, whoo does your hair and he
gave me her number shout out as key at great
does a great job and uh, And I was like
have you ever done like white person's hair before you
knows I've done it, Like it's it's not like guys,
Like I was calm and obviously, but I've done it.
I was like, yeah, you can try with mine. It
was the officeas I just wanting to think much about it.
I was stoked. I thought she did a great job.
(26:35):
She made me look pretty solid forever, and I was
like incredibly pleased with how she did so hopefully, but
the problem was my hair is so short in the
moment that as soonously wore how much OTAs it came
out like that. So I'm hoping it gets long enough
and I can try it again. But also, like as
much as I like say stupid stuff and everything, like,
I'm not like genuinely I didn't do it to like
(26:56):
draw attention to myself, like I genuinely didn't, like I
knew it was going to but like I generally just
wanted to see if I could do it, Like I
want to see how I would look, and then that's
all the more. The next day you want to store shooting,
so this is gone, but it's all good fun. I mean,
I just wanted to see how it looks, and I
was getting. She did a great job.
Speaker 5 (27:14):
I think Lamar liked it. I think that passed.
Speaker 2 (27:16):
I saw the video the photo.
Speaker 5 (27:19):
That photo is pretty that it resurfaced a lot is
weekend because.
Speaker 3 (27:22):
I know my friends like send me down. I'm like,
that's from a long time ago. But like I saw
that because Maddie was out here for the picness too,
and we saw that. We would die because it's so
like it's such a perfect like encapitulation, like people's reactions
this giant white guys up with I'm like, I do
remember though. My first day I got him, I was
(27:46):
I was golfing with like Kyle and I think Tyler Marlowe.
And when we got done, I stop at the gas
station to get gas and I walk in and there's
just like middle aged black lady with her kid and
she looks at me. She looks, I like your hair.
And I was so stoked. I'm telling you, like it
(28:06):
was so genuine and she just said it, and I
was like, dude, that's cool. And so I was pretty
fun because she said that, and that was like all
the vindication I needed. Yeah, I'm I don't know, I
don't take myself too serious.
Speaker 5 (28:20):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
I love it cool. Well, thank you for joining us.
Speaker 1 (28:23):
Charlie. Best of luck the rest of the season, Looking
forward to a lot more plays and the return to
the corner.
Speaker 4 (28:28):
Maybe guys, welcome back into the Lounge podcast. We're coming
to you from the Sea Geek Studio. We also want
to mention our partners at Draftking Sportsbook. They are an
official sports betting partner of the Baltimore Ravens Draftking Sportsbook.
The Crown is yours. So, I mean, Charlie is a
super entertaining guy.
Speaker 2 (28:47):
I think we got to know him a little bit better.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
Yeah, and fans, you know, we see it in the
locker room, like he's just a funny dude and like
gets along with everybody's unique cat and like, you gotta
love that about him. So it was cool to introduce
him to fans more.
Speaker 4 (29:00):
Yeah, like after his press conference, there's a locker room
interview on Sunday after the game, there's a lot of
buzz about him. But he had a great game and
he had these hilarious quotes. People are like, Charlie Cohler,
who's this guy? He's funny, Like, I like this guy.
And so we started to get some kind of nationwide
attention after that. But he's somebody that has been quietly
working and you're starting to see, as we said to him,
(29:20):
like his personality shine. He's a funny guy, smart guy,
and it was entertaining just to get to know him
a little bit better. And I think he's going to
continue to make some plays for this team. I think
he's an important guy.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
Yeah, I agree, he's in a very important role, you know,
and a lot of obviously a lot of attension goes
on Mark and Isaiah and they're fantastic tight ends, but.
Speaker 2 (29:38):
It's really the trio.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
And when I've had conversations with Mark and with Isaiah,
they're like, look, Charlie Kohler is a really good player,
Like do not forget about Charlie when you're talking about
our tight ends, you know, like he Mark specifically told me,
Charlie Cohler is going to go and have a long
career in this league. Like you watch right and to
that point, you saw Josh Oliver, like he said, got
(30:00):
paid by the Vikings, like you know, and when you're
when you can establish yourself as a blocker, and he's
worked really hard to get better at that part of
his game, the receiving skills haven't gone anywhere, you know,
so like, if you can do both, man, you can
really have a long, productive career in this league. And
I think Charlie Will, we should have told him about
during training camp when he was catching a bunch of
balls in practice.
Speaker 2 (30:19):
And you were doing you were giving the feed.
Speaker 4 (30:21):
I told you, then I told you. I completely forgot
about that until you just mentioned it. Kohler, I was
ahead of the curve on that one.
Speaker 5 (30:33):
I Will.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
One of the things has always struck me about him
is like if you're watching the pide, like he's a
big guy.
Speaker 5 (30:39):
You just see him. He looks the part he takes
the field.
Speaker 4 (30:42):
And like he's tall, he's long, Like he is a
physically imposing guy, which is part of the reason why
he's working out so well as a blocker, in addition
to the receiving aspect. But I'm just like, I remember
the first time he really took the field that rookie
season after dealing with the injury, and You're like, oh,
this guy looks like he can play, like we'll see,
but like he looks like it, and and so I've
always been intrigued with him from that standpoint.
Speaker 5 (31:02):
And now we're starting to see it under fruition.
Speaker 2 (31:03):
Yeah, it's very neat.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
So he also gave us the great segue to our
next guest. Yes, the Ravens Team clinician Tricia Bent Goodly. Yeah,
and so we are going to bring her on. We didn't,
you know, not.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
Going to be able to ask her about Charlie.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
There's a client privileges we can't do that, but we're
going to talk to her about her job behind the
scenes of this organization.
Speaker 4 (31:25):
Well, Ravens fans, we are now really excited to be
joined by the Ravens Team clinician, doctor Trisha Bent Goodley.
And we are just so excited to have you joining
us here today on World Mental Health Day, and this
is this is your arena, and so we wanted to
have you on the podcast today to talk about the
work that you do for our organization with our players.
So just to kind of kick things off, can you
(31:46):
describe what it is that you do your role here
with the organization.
Speaker 6 (31:50):
Yeah, sure, thank you first for having me. I appreciate
that today is a really great day. I think what
I love most about being here is that we pay
attention to mental health every single day. But it's great
to be able to highlight it on World Mental Health Day. Specifically,
this is my tenth season as the team clinician, and
what I essentially do is I provide the mental health,
(32:11):
emotional health and wellness supports to our players, our coaches,
and our staff. So that looks like everything from providing
therapy to providing mental health education, working with our team
if there's a mental health crisis. We work together in
our Health and Wellness Committee. So I'm a part of
(32:32):
that committee and have an opportunity to work across all
disciplines just to ensure that there is support for emotional
and mental health issues across our organization. So I'm really
excited to be able to offer that every single day
of the week to our players, coaches, and staff.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
That's awesome, specifically on World Mental Health Day and the
week leading up to it. Are there any special things
that you're doing with the team.
Speaker 6 (32:57):
So we've done a few things leading up up to
World Mental Health Day yesterday. Actually we had some wonderful
dogs here to do some a little bit of dogs,
you know, therapeutic dogs that could be here with our
players and our coaches and our staff as well. You
got some good time.
Speaker 5 (33:17):
So I did too.
Speaker 6 (33:19):
I did too, and I absolutely loved it, and so
that was a wonderful opportunity to just be able to
have that resource here in the building. We did a
gratitude wall for the players, will offer some education and
support around wellness for World Mental Health Day, the theme
of which is to prioritize mental health in the workplace.
(33:41):
So we'll have a really great conversation about what Raven's
wellness means. And so just kind of did a range
of different kinds of things just to begin to again
as part of creating mental health awareness, but also just
really talking about what wellness looks like for us here
in this environment.
Speaker 4 (34:00):
You know, I think it's over the past decade or so,
mental health and sports has started to become a much
larger piece of a conversation. And we've on the podcast
had lots of conversations about our players in the conversations
with you and others in this space. How have you
seen this focus grow over the last you know, decade.
Speaker 6 (34:19):
You know, I would say that one of the things
I've seen is that our young people come here already
having been introduced to the world of mental health and
feeling a little bit more willing to talk about it,
and I honestly think part of that is the aftermath
of COVID, you know, I think that time period was
(34:42):
really tough for a lot of people, and one of
the things I think that we see now are folks
being able to have that conversation a little bit more freely.
I mean, certainly there's still mental health stigma, and that's
why having days like this are so important. At the
same time, you know, I'm a believer that so much
is driven from our young people, our players, who come
(35:04):
here ready and prepared to have that conversation and talking
more freely about what they may have going on, so
that we can be a good resource and support to them.
So I just think that, you know, there's a lot
that's happened in the world. The world has changed a
little bit around this topic, and I'm excited that our players,
(35:25):
especially are out talking about it openly. I love that.
Speaker 2 (35:29):
That's awesome.
Speaker 1 (35:30):
I think the work that you're doing is really awesome,
and I love to learn more about people's jobs and
like what goes into their typical workday. Right, So I guess, first,
you know, what does a game day look like for you?
Speaker 6 (35:43):
So for game day for me, I am, you know,
making sure that I have some touch point with the
majority of our players, whether that is on a text
or on the field. So pre game, just being available
talking to guys, just just being a resource to them
before our game. And that's whether we're here or if
(36:06):
we're on the road, you know, just being able to
be present and available to them if they need anything.
And then also I try to say speaking into them
during you know, ahead of game day, just to be
an encouraging voice. And then and then after game, you know,
after the game being available. I think the only thing
that might be a little bit different is, you know,
if there's something that happens on the field that would
(36:29):
require my support, then I will be available to them
in the locker room so that they have that additional
support there. For example, if a player gets hurt, I'll
be there, and if a family member needs support around that,
then I'll be there to support them too. So so
just you know, for me, my days are planned, but
(36:49):
at the same time, whatever kind of happens, I just
kind of move into it. And that's what it's like
for me on game day two. I don't necessarily know
what I'm walking into, but we're going to go for
it and make the best of whatever the situation is.
Speaker 1 (37:02):
And do you find that players most often come to
you for on field help or off field kind of life.
Speaker 6 (37:09):
Help the gamut, you know, the gamut. I think that
one of the things about this role is you really
have to be able to move in either of those spaces.
We are there to be a support, whether it is
around life issues, whether that's something that has been planned
or an emergency that comes up, and also there to
(37:31):
help support, you know, in terms of their mental performance
and providing them with mental skills training as well. So
just really offering the gamut of what it looks like
for wellness across the continuum.
Speaker 4 (37:43):
Yeah, I think it's it's interesting because you know, fans
may see photos of you or video of you on
the sidelines either before games or at practice even you know,
I think it's that's one of the things that I
think is really cool is that you're you're often in
the mix in these moments, in these situations, and when
we go out to practice here in a little bit,
you know.
Speaker 5 (37:59):
You'll be out there. What are you when you're watching practice?
Speaker 4 (38:03):
You know, like, what do you we look at it
from a from a media, I like, what are you
looking at it from your standpoint and how do you
try to use those observations to help you and coaching
these players on mental health.
Speaker 6 (38:15):
So I think for me, I always say I'm not
there studying everybody like, oh no, But for me, I
do I do pay attention to how a guy might
react in a play, or I pay attention I do
(38:36):
pay attention to body language. Actually, I kind of have
a sense of how our players move and if and
if there's a diversion from that, then I'm gonna probably
reach out and just say, hey, can we just chat
and then I'll share what I observed And if I'm off,
then you know I'm way off. But for the most part,
I've been pretty pretty accurate in those moments. So I
(38:58):
use it as a time just to to see what
the energy is like and what kind of messaging that
I should be providing and offering through the week as
a support and a resource. But yeah, during practice, I'm
kind of paying attention to all of those things and
checking in if need be.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Interesting, and it's it's kind of like an overarching approach,
right Like coaches are coaching the players on the techniques
and the x'es and o's and our strength and conditioning
staff are getting their bodies. You know, in peak physical condition.
You're working on the mental side of things. You know,
in your opinion, in your line of work, how important
is the mental side of football?
Speaker 6 (39:38):
Yeah, So we have a podcast that we offer to
the players, and one of the things that that always
starts with is I always say, you know, if our
play is eighty five is eighty five percent, If the
mental part of our play is eighty five percent of
the game, then we're going to go ahead and tackle
that right. And I don't know if I have like
(40:01):
an exact percentage, but what I will say is that
there's an intricate interplay and that's why being able to
work collaboratively is so important. So you hear me say
a lot our and wei uh. There's only one team
clinician that's me. But I feel like mental health is
an important part of all of the work that we do.
(40:21):
So our Health and Wellness Committee, which includes everyone on
the football site that touches our players, it's an opportunity
for us to collaborate and work together because sometimes there's
just a connection between the body and the mind and
it's important for us to work collaboratively to help support
that player wherever it is that they're at. And so
(40:42):
I think there's definitely a connection. And I don't know.
I wouldn't say that there's a percentage because I think
it could look different for people at different times in
their lives, at different times.
Speaker 2 (40:54):
That's mental too, though, right.
Speaker 6 (40:57):
But I think it's really just about making sure that
we're collaborating, we're working together to support the total wellness
of our players, and that's the approach that we take.
That's why I always say we in our because I
think mental health is something we all have to own
in different ways.
Speaker 4 (41:13):
It's awesome, you know, it's been really cool. You're often
involved on some company wide initiatives, oftentimes around tragedy or
difficult moments, and people turn to you for support and
guidance and advice and a listening year and all those things.
And you've been pretty impactful when we've had some hard times,
you know, in recent years, which is really significant.
Speaker 5 (41:35):
And also good times as well. Of course, it's not
just the hard times.
Speaker 4 (41:39):
But where do you for you like, when you look
at things moving forward, like where do you see mental
health in sports going in the future, given all that
it's grown to get to this point.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
I think that we meaning just how we look at sport.
And incidentally, since you mentioned this is Pro Athlete Mental
Health Awareness Week and that started October third, ends on
October tenth on World Mental Health Day, and brings attention
to just what mental health looks like across sport. And
(42:14):
one of the things that I would say about about
this initiative, it's a collaboration between NFL Total Wellness and
NBA Mind Health, and then you know other professional organizations
that sports organizations that collaborate. I think that we have
to build a mental health infrastructure, right, we have to
build an environment where mental health, where mental health friendly.
(42:37):
I think our athletes demand that in a lot of ways.
Now they're much more aware, they're much more open, and
they're wanting to see an infrastructure and a support team
that's there to support their mental wellness. And so I
think as we move forward sport, different sport organizations are
going to really have to begin to work through whatever
(43:01):
their stigma might be around mental health to be able
to offer those resources. I think there's still some people
who feel like if someone shares that they have a
mental health challenge, they're not as strong, or they're not
as focused, or they won't be as great as they're
in their craft. And what we know really is that
as we approach the wellness of athletes right, they can
(43:23):
be even that much more productive, that much better at
their craft, that much more able to accomplish. And so
I think that we, you know, meaning our again, you know,
as we look at World Mental Health Day in sport,
we have to reconsider how we think about mental health.
I'm grateful because my role here was solidified in twenty fifteen,
(43:47):
which was four years before the CBA required every club
to have a team clinician. I'm one of a few
full time team clinicians in the league, and I think
what I love about being here in our tough days
right and in our great moments, is that there is
support for mental health and what I do here, I
(44:10):
don't feel like there's that stigma. I don't have to
balance that. I just have to show up and offer
the best that I can on any given day.
Speaker 2 (44:19):
Yes, that's what I love.
Speaker 1 (44:20):
That's great. Great, Well, I'm going to have to get
some time on your schedule because I've had to deal
with this guy for thirsty.
Speaker 2 (44:28):
They're in a good I think it's a good Bryth.
Thank you so much for joining us.
Speaker 4 (44:33):
Thank you Doct Trish appreciated well, really good conversation with
doctor Trish. You know, she's somebody here who's an important
person behind the scenes. Uh has the trust of a
lot of players and staff and everybody. And it was
good to just learn about her role, exactly what goes
into it and just the importance of it in this organization.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
It's neat, you know oftentimes not oftentimes, but sometimes you
go down the cap tear and you just see her
in a player or hert a couple of players and
they're just you know, and and you see definitely the
players value her and and what she brings, the resources
that she brings to the table. It's it's it's a
very big deal for teams that I think a lot
of fans probably don't recognize.
Speaker 4 (45:12):
Yeah, so again, this is World Mental Health Day. So
I really enjoy the conversation with doctor Trish. And there's
a big game coming up on Sunday and we're really
excited about that. Raven's Commander's one o'clock a m andt.
Banks Staiti on the Battle of the Beltway.
Speaker 5 (45:24):
It's gonna be at the belt Ways now two belt ways.
Its true.
Speaker 4 (45:28):
There we go.
Speaker 5 (45:29):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 4 (45:30):
Welcome, But that game is coming up on Sunday and
we are going to do our full preview podcast coming
out on Friday morning. We're really diving to the specifics
of that game. So that's it for us here on
the podcast today, but as always, you can email us
at the lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net.
Speaker 5 (45:46):
Thank you so much for listening. We'll be back with
you tomorrow.
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