Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. (born January 7, 1997) is an
American football
American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team wi ...
quarterback
The quarterback (commonly abbreviated "QB"), colloquially known as the "signal caller", is a position in gridiron football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive platoon and mostly line up directly behind the offensive line. In modern Ame ...
for the
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays it ...
of the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 teams, divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The NFL is one of the ...
(NFL). He played
college football at
Louisville
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border.
...
, where he won the
Heisman Trophy during his sophomore year, and was selected by the Ravens as the final first round pick of the
2018 NFL Draft. Jackson became the Ravens' starting quarterback in his rookie season after an injury to incumbent
Joe Flacco and clinched a division title with the team, also becoming the youngest NFL quarterback to start a playoff game at age 21.
The next year, Jackson set the season record for quarterback rushing yards and led the league in touchdown passes while bringing the Ravens to the top seed of the
American Football Conference (AFC). For his success, he became the second unanimous
Most Valuable Player (MVP)
and the fourth African-American quarterback to win the award. Jackson followed up his MVP campaign by becoming the first quarterback to have multiple 1,000 yards rushing seasons and led the Ravens to a third consecutive playoff appearance.
Early years
Jackson was born to Felicia Jones and Lamar Jackson Sr. on January 7, 1997.
He grew up in the center of an economically distressed section of
Pompano Beach, Florida. Jackson's father died from a heart attack on the same day his grandmother died in 2005, when Jackson was 8 years old. His siblings and he were raised by their mother.
[
He attended public schools and played ]Pop Warner football
Pop Warner Little Scholars, commonly known simply as Pop Warner, is a nonprofit organization that provides activities such as American football, for over 425,000 youths aged 5 to 16 years old, in several nations. It is the largest youth footbal ...
in the same Florida league with future teammate Marquise Brown. When he was 8 years old, Jackson could throw a football 20 yards. In high school, Jackson threw a football 100 yards.
High school career
Jackson was a standout quarterback at Boynton Beach High School
Boynton Beach Community High School is a public high school located in Boynton Beach, Florida, United States, and it serves grades 9–12 in the School District of Palm Beach County. Students have the opportunity to tackle AICE and Advance Plac ...
in Boynton Beach, Florida. At Boynton Beach, Jackson was a successful read-option quarterback who could run and throw the ball equally well. He improved passing accuracy and decision-making by watching hours of film each week. In two years at Boynton Beach, Jackson threw for 2,263 yards and 31 touchdowns with nine interceptions. Additionally, he ran for 1,624 yards and 22 touchdowns, and had a quarterback rating of 102.7. Jackson's last high school game came against a nationally ranked Miami Central High School
Miami Central Senior High School is a secondary school located at 1781 NW 95th Street in West Little River, Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States.0.1%
80.7% of students were eligible for free or reduced lunch.
Miami Central has a large Hait ...
team during the first round of the 2014 Florida High School Football Playoff 6A tournament. Boynton Beach was soundly defeated 49–6, with Jackson throwing two interceptions. He also competed for his high school track team, posting a personal record of 11.45 seconds in the 100 meter dash in one track meet. Jackson was named the Lou Groza
Louis Roy Groza (January 25, 1924 – November 29, 2000), nicknamed "the Toe", was an American professional football player who was a placekicker and offensive tackle while playing his entire career for the Cleveland Browns in the All-America F ...
Palm Beach County High School Player of the Year in 2014.
Recruiting
Jackson was rated three stars by ESPN.com and 247Sports, but four stars by Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting in the United States. The network was started in 1998 and employs more than 300 personnel.
History
Rivals.com was founded in 1998 by Jim Heckma ...
. Despite the disagreement by recruiting companies over his caliber, he received offers from both Power Five schools like Louisville
Louisville ( , , ) is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the 28th most-populous city in the United States. Louisville is the historical seat and, since 2003, the nominal seat of Jefferson County, on the Indiana border.
...
, Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, Auburn, and Clemson, and mid-major
Mid-major is a term used in American NCAA Division I college sports, particularly men's basketball, to refer to athletic conferences that are not among the "Power Five conferences" (the ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC), which are alternativ ...
programs like Akron
Akron () is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Summit County. It is located on the western edge of the Glaciated Allegheny Plateau, about south of downtown Cleveland. As of the 2020 Census, the city ...
, Western Kentucky
Western Kentucky is the western portion of the U.S. state of Kentucky. It generally includes part or all of several more widely recognized regions of the state.
;Always included
* The Jackson Purchase, the state's westernmost generally recogniz ...
, and Marshall
Marshall may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria
Canada
* Marshall, Saskatchewan
* The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia
Liberia
* Marshall, Liberia
Marshall Islands
* Marshall Islands, an i ...
. All of the major recruiting companies listed Jackson as a top 20 dual-threat quarterback
In gridiron football, a dual-threat quarterback, also known as a running quarterback, is a quarterback (QB) who possesses the skills and physique to run with the ball if necessary. With the rise of several blitz heavy defensive schemes and increa ...
, with 247Sports ranking him as high as #12. Jackson's in-state ranking also varied greatly, from as high as #51 from Rivals to as low as #80 by ESPN. Jackson visited only four schools (Louisville, Florida, Nebraska
Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
, and Mississippi State
Mississippi State University for Agriculture and Applied Science, commonly known as Mississippi State University (MSU), is a public land-grant research university adjacent to Starkville, Mississippi. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Univer ...
), and after it appeared he might sign with Florida, Jackson ultimately committed to the University of Louisville
The University of Louisville (UofL) is a public research university in Louisville, Kentucky. It is part of the Kentucky state university system. When founded in 1798, it was the first city-owned public university in the United States and one o ...
after head coach Bobby Petrino
Robert Patrick Petrino (born March 10, 1961) is an American football coach. He currently serves as the Offensive Coordinator for the Texas A&M Aggies. He is the former head coach for the Missouri State Bears. Previously, he served as the head co ...
promised Jackson's mother that her son would be playing quarterback and nothing else.
College career
2015 season
As a freshman at Louisville in 2015 (he was a communications major), Jackson played in 12 games and made eight starts in the Cardinals' 8–5 season. He completed 135-of-247 passes for 1,840 yards with 12 touchdown
A touchdown (abbreviated as TD) is a scoring play in gridiron football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone. In Amer ...
s and eight interception
In ball-playing competitive team sports, an interception or pick is a move by a player involving a pass of the ball—whether by foot or hand, depending on the rules of the sport—in which the ball is intended for a player of the same team ...
s and ran for 960 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He was named the MVP of the 2015 Music City Bowl
The 2015 Music City Bowl was an American college football bowl game played on December 30, 2015 at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. The 18th edition of the Music City Bowl began at approximately 6:00 p.m. CST and was broadcast nation ...
after passing for 227 yards with two touchdowns and rushing for a Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998. Since 2020, it has been sponsored by TransPerfect and is officially known as the ''TransPer ...
-record 226 yards and two touchdowns.
2016 season
During the first game of his sophomore year, against the Charlotte 49ers
The Charlotte 49ers are the college athletics in the United States, intercollegiate athletics teams that represent the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in Charlotte, North Carolina. The 49ers compete at the National Collegiate Athletic A ...
, Jackson set a university record for total touchdowns with eight, all of them in the first half. Against Syracuse, Jackson completed 20 of 39 passes for 411 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, with 199 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, with all five touchdowns coming in the first half as the Cardinals routed the Orange 62–28. One of those touchdowns came when he hurdled over a Syracuse defender into the end zone.
Against #2 Florida State
Florida State University (FSU) is a public university, public research university in Tallahassee, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida. Founded in 1851, it is located on the oldest continuous site of higher e ...
, Jackson completed 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards, threw one touchdown and one interception, and had 146 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. He scored four of the five total touchdowns in the first half in a 63–20 route of the Seminoles, the most points that the Seminoles had ever surrendered at the time.[ The game made Jackson the Heisman front runner, and gave the Cardinals a No. 3 ranking, their highest since 2006. Against ]Marshall
Marshall may refer to:
Places
Australia
* Marshall, Victoria, a suburb of Geelong, Victoria
Canada
* Marshall, Saskatchewan
* The Marshall, a mountain in British Columbia
Liberia
* Marshall, Liberia
Marshall Islands
* Marshall Islands, an i ...
, Jackson completed 24 of 44 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns, and had 62 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Against No. 5 Clemson, Louisville's offense totaled 586 yards, with Jackson accounting for 295 passing yards, 162 rushing yards, and three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing). The Cardinals eventually lost the game 42–36. On December 8, Jackson was awarded the Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football player of the year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I FBS head coaches and sports information directo ...
as the player of the year and the Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best al ...
as the best all-around player in college football.
On December 10, 2016, Jackson was selected as the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner over fellow finalists Deshaun Watson
Derrick Deshaun Watson (born September 14, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson, where he led the team to a national championship in 2 ...
, Dede Westbrook
Decrick De'Shawn "Dede" Westbrook (; born November 21, 1993) is an American football wide receiver and return specialist who is a free agent. He played college football at Oklahoma. He was drafted 110th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Jacks ...
, Jabrill Peppers
Jabrill Ahmad Peppers (born October 4, 1995) is an American football strong safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Michigan, and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first r ...
, and Baker Mayfield. He became Louisville's first Heisman Trophy winner in school history, and the youngest-ever recipient of the award at the age of 19 years and 337 days. Jackson finished Louisville's 9–4 season with 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with 260 carries for 1,571 rushing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.
Aside from nationally recognized awards, Jackson also won prestigious awards within the University of Louisville. In 2017, Jackson won a Louie for being named the Adidas High Performance Male Athlete of the Year for his outstanding sophomore campaign. He also won a Louie for Play of the Year after the leap he made in the 2016 Syracuse game.
2017 season
When Jackson entered the 2017 season, his fan base and media had high expectations of his performance. '' College GameDay'' announced their return to the University of Louisville to host the opening matchup on September 16 between the returning National Champions, Clemson Tigers
The Clemson Tigers are the athletic teams that represent Clemson University, located in Clemson, South Carolina. They compete as a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level (Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) s ...
, and the Cardinals. Despite the 47–21 blowout the Tigers achieved, Jackson did not let the numbers affect his playing ability. His remarkable statistics for the season resulted in his being a Heisman finalist for the 2017 season. He finished in third place in the Heisman voting, losing out to Baker Mayfield and Bryce Love
Jonathan Bryce Love (born July 8, 1997) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Stanford and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft, although he ...
. Jackson played in 13 games, finishing with 3,660 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, and 10 interceptions to go along with 232 carries for 1,601 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns in the Cardinals' 8–5 season.
Following the 2017–18 school year, Jackson was named the men's ACC Athlete of the Year
The Atlantic Coast Conference Athlete of the Year award is given to the male and female athlete who show extraordinary talent throughout the entire season. The award is decided by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
Anthony J. ...
for all conference sports, sharing honors with women's winner Arike Ogunbowale
Arike Ogunbowale (born March 2, 1997) is an American professional basketball player for the Dallas Wings of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, before being drafted ...
of Notre Dame basketball.
Collegiate statistics
Professional career
On January 5, 2018, Jackson announced that he would enter the 2018 NFL Draft. Some draft pundits doubted Jackson's quarterback abilities and suggested that he switch positions to wide receiver due to his athleticism, but he remained adamant about his intention to play quarterback professionally. He declined to run drills such as the 40-yard dash
The 40-yard dash is a sprint covering . It is primarily run to evaluate the speed and acceleration of American football players by scouts, particularly for the NFL Draft but also for collegiate recruiting. A player's recorded time can have a h ...
during the NFL Scouting Combine
The NFL Scouting Combine is a week-long showcase occurring every February at Lucas Oil Stadium (and formerly at the RCA Dome until 2008) in Indianapolis, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Foo ...
, in order to focus on displaying his passing skills. Jackson reportedly clocked in a 4.34 40 yard dash time in 2017 at Louisville which would have been the fastest time in NFL history for a quarterback.
Jackson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays it ...
in the first round with the 32nd overall pick in the draft, after trading up for the selection with the Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. The team play ...
. He was the fifth quarterback selected that year. On June 5, 2018, Jackson signed his rookie contract, reportedly worth $9.47 million with a $4.97 million signing bonus.
2018 season
Jackson made his NFL debut relieving starting quarterback Joe Flacco in the second half of a 47–3 victory against the Buffalo Bills, finishing with 24 passing yards and 39 rushing yards, in the season opener. During Week 7, Jackson scored his first NFL touchdown on a 1-yard run as the Ravens narrowly lost to the New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. Since 1975, the te ...
by a score of 23–24. Jackson threw his first NFL touchdown pass, a 26-yard completion to fellow rookie tight end Hayden Hurst
Hayden Randle Hurst (born August 24, 1993) is an American football tight end for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at South Carolina and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round ...
, the next week in relief of Flacco in the fourth quarter of a 36–21 loss to the Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL), as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) South division. ...
.
On November 18, 2018, Jackson made his first NFL start against the Cincinnati Bengals in place of the injured Joe Flacco, who injured his hip two weeks prior against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Jackson went 13 for 19 for 150 yards and an interception and rushed for 117 yards, which was a Ravens franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game in a 24–21 victory. The following week against the Oakland Raiders, Jackson threw for 178 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He also rushed for 71 yards and a rushing touchdown. The Ravens won by a score of 34–17. During Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, Jackson passed for 125 yards and rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown in a 26–16 victory. In a Week 14 24–27 overtime loss to the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The ...
, Jackson threw two touchdowns for the first time in his career.
Jackson helped the Ravens defeat the Los Angeles Chargers
The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division, and ...
in Week 16, completing 12 of 22 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown in a 22–10 upset victory. The following week against fellow rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (A ...
, Jackson passed for 179 yards and rushed for two touchdowns on 95 rushing yards, despite fumbling a third potential touchdown at the goal line, as the Ravens beat the Browns 26–24 to clinch the AFC North title. In the seven regular season games in which Jackson had started, the Ravens went 6–1 to close out the 2018 season. Overall, he finished the season with 1,201 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. In addition, he led all quarterbacks with 695 rushing yards and added five rushing touchdowns.
Postseason
Taking the field the day before his 22nd birthday, Jackson became the youngest quarterback start an NFL playoff game in a Wild Card rematch against the Chargers. Despite being held to just 25 passing yards at one point in the fourth quarter by a stout Chargers defense, Jackson then passed for two touchdowns in four minutes to bring the Ravens back from a 20-point deficit to within a touchdown. After forcing the Chargers to punt with less than a minute left, the Ravens had one last chance to win the game down six points, but Jackson was strip-sacked by Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu. With the Chargers recovering the ball, the Ravens lost 23–17 and were knocked out of the playoffs. He finished the game completing 14 of 29 passes for 194 yards, the two aforementioned touchdowns, and an interception while rushing for 54 yards, losing one fumble.
Once the 2018 season was over, the Ravens's coaching staff decided to abandon the offensive strategy that had been designed for Joe Flacco and create a new offensive philosophy centered around the specific skills of Jackson. That philosophy included changing every play in the playbook, the terminology used and drafting players or acquiring free agents that would complement Jackson's skills.
2019 season: Unanimous NFL MVP
In the season-opener against the Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member team of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) East division. The team p ...
, Jackson went 17 of 20 for career-highs of 324 yards and five touchdowns, making him the youngest quarterback to achieve a perfect passer rating
In the National Football League (NFL), the highest official passer rating that a quarterback can achieve is 158.3, which is called a "perfect passer rating". To qualify, during a single game a quarterback must attempt at least 10 passes, have zero ...
in the 59–10 road victory. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. During Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals, Jackson rushed for 120 yards and threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, as the Ravens won by a score of 23–17. His two touchdown passes set the Ravens' franchise record for the most touchdown passes in the team's first two games of a season. Jackson became the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 250 yards and rush for 120 yards in one game.
During Week 6 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson finished with 236 passing yards, 152 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown as the Ravens won 23–17. He also became the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 200 yards and rush for 150 yards in a regular-season game, and had more rushing yards than any player at any position in Week 6. During Week 7 against the Seattle Seahawks, Jackson finished with 143 passing yards and 116 rushing yards with a rushing touchdown as the Ravens won 30–16. After a Week 8 bye, the Ravens faced the unbeaten New England Patriots. In that game, Jackson threw for 163 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 61 yards and two touchdowns in the 37–20 victory. For his performance, Jackson earned his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.
In the next game, the Ravens routed the Bengals 49–13 with Jackson throwing for 223 yards and three touchdowns and rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown, finishing with a perfect passer rating. He became only the second player in NFL history to produce two perfect passer ratings in the same season. Jackson joined Aaron Rodgers (2019) and Joe Montana
Joseph Clifford Montana Jr. (born June 11, 1956) is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Nicknamed "Joe Cool" and "the Comeback Kid", ...
(1989) as the only players in the Super Bowl era with 15-plus completions, 3-plus passing touchdowns, 1-plus rushing touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating in a single game. Jackson also earned his third total, and second consecutive, AFC Offensive Player of the Week award, matching his predecessor Joe Flacco's career total.
During Week 11 against the Houston Texans, Jackson became the first quarterback in franchise history to throw four or more touchdowns in a game multiple times during the regular season after he threw for 222 yards and four touchdowns in a 41–7 victory. Jackson also rushed for 86 yards during the victory over the Texans, making him the only quarterback in NFL history to rush for more than 60 yards in seven consecutive games. In the next game against the Los Angeles Rams, Jackson threw for 169 yards and five touchdowns in the 45–6 road victory, making him the first player with that many touchdowns in a ''Monday Night Football
''ESPN Monday Night Football'' (abbreviated as ''MNF'' and also known as ''ESPN Monday Night Football on ABC'' for simulcasts) is an American live television broadcast of weekly National Football League (NFL) games currently airing on ESPN, A ...
'' debut and the youngest player with multiple five touchdown passing games in NFL history. He earned his fourth AFC Offensive Player of the Week award due to his performance. He was named the AFC's Player of the Month for November. In the next game against the San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (also written as the San Francisco Forty-Niners) are a professional American football team based in the San Francisco Bay Area. The 49ers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the league's National ...
, Jackson finished with 105 passing yards, 101 rushing yards, and two total touchdowns as the Ravens won 20–17, and Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history with four 100-yard rushing games in a season. In Week 14, in the 24–17 victory over the Buffalo Bills, Jackson became the first quarterback since Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's firs ...
to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.
Against the New York Jets in Week 15, Jackson had 212 passing yards for five touchdowns, and eight rushes for 86 yards during the 42–21 win, breaking Vick's single-season rushing record for a quarterback. His five passing touchdowns in the game made him the sixth player since the merger to have three games with at least five passing touchdowns in a season, and tied the Ravens franchise season record with 33. After his performance against the Jets, Jackson was named AFC Player of the Week for week 15.[ In Week 16 against the ]Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (A ...
, Jackson was held to 38 passing yards and a lost fumble in the first 28 minutes, before exploding for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the last two minutes before halftime. He added a third touchdown pass in the second half of the 31–15 win, setting the Ravens single season record for touchdown passes at 36, finishing with 238 passing yards and 103 rushing yards. On the day after the Ravens' victory over the Browns, and due to the Ravens' having clinched home-field advantage, head coach John Harbaugh
John William Harbaugh (born September 23, 1962) is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Previously, he coached the defensive backs for the Philadelphia Eagles and served ...
announced that Jackson, guard Marshal Yanda
Marshal John Yanda (born September 15, 1984) is an American former football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Baltimore Ravens. He played college football at the University of Iowa, and was drafted by the Ravens i ...
, safety Earl Thomas and defensive tackle Brandon Williams would be inactive for the Week 17 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Even without playing in the Ravens' final game, Jackson led all quarterbacks with 36 touchdown passes and a QBR of 81.10; he also led all rushers with a 6.9 yards per carry average. During the 2019 season he was also first with 43 total touchdowns and a 9.0 passing touchdown percentage.[
Jackson was the starting quarterback at the ]2020 Pro Bowl
The 2020 Pro Bowl was the National Football League's all-star game for the 2019 NFL season. It was played on January 26, 2020, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and was televised nationally by ESPN, while being simulcast on ABC and Di ...
in Orlando, Florida. He threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns with one interception and was named the offensive Most Valuable Player. He became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to start a Pro Bowl game.
Jackson was voted the MVP
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
of the 2019 season. He became the second player after Tom Brady
Thomas Edward Patrick Brady Jr. (born August 3, 1977) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He spent his first 20 seasons with the New England Patriots organization, with which ...
in 2010 to be voted unanimously and the second-youngest player to win, behind only Jim Brown. Jackson, along with Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played c ...
, Cam Newton
Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He has played for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "Super Cam", he is the NF ...
and Steve McNair
Stephen LaTreal McNair (February 14, 1973 – July 4, 2009),[Steve McNair Found Dead](_blank)
...
, is one of the four African-American quarterbacks to win the AP MVP award.
Postseason
In the Divisional Round versus the Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (AFC) South division, and play their hom ...
, Jackson and the Ravens were not able to recreate the same success that they had in the regular season, losing 28–12. Jackson finished the game completing 31 of 59 passes for 365 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions while also losing a fumble on a strip sack. He also rushed 20 times for 143 yards becoming the first player to throw for 300+ yards and rush for 100+ yards in a playoff game. In total, Jackson personally accounted for over 500 yards of offense.
2020 season
In the season-opener against the Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. Named after original coach and co-founder Paul Brown, they compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the American Football Conference (A ...
, Jackson went 20 for 25 for 275 yards and three touchdowns in the Ravens 38–6 victory. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week due to his performance. In Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) West division.
The ...
, Jackson threw for a career-low 97 yards and a touchdown during the 20–34 loss. In the Ravens Week 4 31–17 victory over the Washington Football Team
The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) E ...
, Jackson threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed for 52 yards and one touchdown, making him the fastest player in NFL history to reach 5,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing. In Week 8 against the 2020 Pittsburgh Steelers season, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jackson threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions, including his first career pick six, and lost two fumbles during the 24–28 loss. On November 26, 2020, Jackson tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He was activated on December 7.
Jackson made his return in Week 13 against the 2020 Dallas Cowboys season, Dallas Cowboys. During the game, Jackson threw for 107 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception and rushed for 94 yards and a touchdown in the 34–17 win. The next week, Jackson set an NFL record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback on ''Monday Night Football
''ESPN Monday Night Football'' (abbreviated as ''MNF'' and also known as ''ESPN Monday Night Football on ABC'' for simulcasts) is an American live television broadcast of weekly National Football League (NFL) games currently airing on ESPN, A ...
'' as he rushed for 124 yards in a thriller against the Cleveland Browns. However, Jackson then left the game late in the third quarter due to leg cramps. He was out of the game for most of the fourth quarter, and Cleveland was able to come back from 14-down and take a 35–34 lead. After backup Trace McSorley suffered a left knee sprain with two minutes left in regulation, Jackson re-entered the game and, on 4th down and 5, threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Brown. After the Browns drove down and tied the game at 42, Jackson followed up with a short drive to get the Ravens into field goal range, allowing them to get the win by the score of 47–42. Jackson had two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown in the game and was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in Week 14. In Week 15 against the 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season, Jacksonville Jaguars, Jackson threw for 243 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception and rushed for 35 yards and a touchdown during the 40–14 win. In Week 17 against the 2020 Cincinnati Bengals season, Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson threw for 113 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception and rushed for 97 yards during the 38–3 win. During the game, Jackson became the first NFL quarterback to have multiple seasons surpassing 1,000 rushing yards.
Postseason
In the 2020–21 NFL playoffs#AFC: Baltimore Ravens 20, Tennessee Titans 13, Wild Card Round, Jackson won his first career playoff game by defeating the 2020 Tennessee Titans season, Tennessee Titans in a rematch of the previous year's Divisional Round matchup. He threw for 179 yards and one interception and rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown during the 20–13 win. In the 2020–21 NFL playoffs#AFC: Buffalo Bills 17, Baltimore Ravens 3, Divisional Round against the 2020 Buffalo Bills season, Buffalo Bills, Jackson threw for 162 yards and rushed for 34 yards, but threw a costly red zone pick-six to Taron Johnson late in third quarter. He then sustained a concussion on the last play of the third quarter, effectively ending his season as the Ravens would lose 17–3.
2021 season
On April 30, 2021, the Ravens exercised the fifth-year option on Jackson's contract, worth a guaranteed $23 million for the 2022 season. Jackson was diagnosed with COVID-19 around the start of training camp, the second time he had contracted the virus.
In Week 1, against the 2021 Las Vegas Raiders season, Las Vegas Raiders, Jackson finished with 235 passing yards, 86 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, but also lost two of three fumbles as the Ravens lost in overtime 27–33. Against the 2021 Kansas City Chiefs season, Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, Jackson finished with 239 passing yards, 107 rushing yards, two interceptions, and three total touchdowns as the Ravens won 36–35, marking Jackson's first win over Patrick Mahomes
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II (born September 17, 1995) is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played c ...
. In Week 3, against the 2021 Detroit Lions season, Detroit Lions, Jackson finished with 287 passing yards, 58 rushing yards, a passing touchdown in a close 19–17 win, as Ravens kicker Justin Tucker made an NFL record 66-yard field goal in the last seconds to win the game. In Week 5 against the 2021 Indianapolis Colts season, Indianapolis Colts, Jackson threw for a career-high and Ravens franchise record 442 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 62 yards, helping the Ravens erase a 19-point deficit and win in overtime 31–25. Jackson also became the first quarterback to have a 85%+ completion rate while throwing 40+ passes. Ravens coach John Harbaugh called it one of the greatest performances he had ever seen. The next week, Jackson set the record for the most victories as a starting quarterback under the age of 25 at 35 in 34–6 rout of the 2021 Los Angeles Chargers season, Los Angeles Chargers. In Week 12 against the 2021 Cleveland Browns season, Cleveland Browns, Jackson threw a career high four interceptions. However, the Ravens outmatched the Browns winning 16–10. Against the Browns in Week 14, Jackson suffered an ankle injury after being hit by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah in the first quarter and was ruled out during the 22–24 loss. He missed the remainder of the game and, ultimately, the rest of the season. Jackson was named to his second 2021 Pro Bowl, Pro Bowl after his first coming of his unanimous MVP season.
2022 season
Jackson turned down a contract extension due to his belief that he could improve and earn more. In Week 1, he faced former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and the 2022 New York Jets season, New York Jets. He threw for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception while adding 17 rushing yards in a 24–9 win. The next week against the 2022 Miami Dolphins season, Miami Dolphins, Jackson threw for 318 yards, three touchdowns, and rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown in the 38–42 loss. In the game, Jackson surpassed Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's firs ...
for the most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback with his 79-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. In Week 3 against the 2022 New England Patriots season, New England Patriots, Jackson threw for 218 yards, four touchdowns, an interception, rushed for 107 yards, and a rushing touchdown in the 37–26 win. For the first month of the 2022 NFL season, Jackson led the league in quarterback rating (119.0) and passing touchdowns (10). In addition, Jackson ran for two touchdowns. His 12 combined touchdowns were more than the number of touchdowns scored by 30 NFL teams to that point in the season. As a result, Jackson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
In Week 6 against the 2022 New York Giants season, New York Giants, Jackson threw for 210 yards, threw a touchdown, and rushed for 77 yards, but threw a costly interception to Julian Love and was strip-sacked by Kayvon Thibodeaux in the fourth quarter in the 24-20 loss. It was also Jackson's first loss to an NFC opponent, having been 12-0 previously.
In Week 13 against the 2022 Denver Broncos season, Denver Broncos, Jackson suffered a sprain PCL when he was sacked by Jonathon Cooper.
Player profile
Jackson has been widely regarded as the best running quarterback in the NFL since his rookie season. His Dual-threat quarterback, dual-threat style of play has often earned him comparisons to Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's firs ...
. Except for his rookie season, the Ravens have led the league in rushing each year with Jackson under center. In 2019, the Ravens broke the single-season rushing record, with Jackson breaking Vick's record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season.
Concerns, however, have been raised on his ability to play as a pure pocket passer when the run game is contained. Jackson's passing concerns began during his college tenure with Louisville. Over the years, most analysts have cited improvement in his passing ability, but he is rarely mentioned with the elite passers in the league.
NFL career statistics
Regular season
Postseason
Awards and highlights
College
NCAA Football
* Heisman Trophy (2016)
* Maxwell Award
The Maxwell Award is presented annually to the college football player judged by a panel of sportscasters, sportswriters, and National Collegiate Athletic Association head coaches and the membership of the Maxwell Football Club to be the best al ...
(2016)
* Walter Camp Award
The Walter Camp Player of the Year Award is given annually to the collegiate American football player of the year, as decided by a group of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I FBS head coaches and sports information directo ...
(2016)
* Associated Press College Football Player of the Year, Associated Press Player of the Year (2016)
* Sporting News College Football Player of the Year, ''Sporting News'' Player of the Year (2016)
* Unanimous College Football All-America Team, All-American (2016 College Football All-America Team, 2016)
* 2× Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Player of the Year, ACC Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
* 2× Atlantic Coast Conference football individual awards#Offensive Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
* ACC Athlete of the Year
The Atlantic Coast Conference Athlete of the Year award is given to the male and female athlete who show extraordinary talent throughout the entire season. The award is decided by members of the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association.
Anthony J. ...
(2018)
* Total yards: 5,261 (2017)
Louisville Cardinals football
* Unanimous selection to Louisville Cardinals football, Louisville Cardinals Team of the Decade (2010–2019)
* First Louisville Cardinals football, Louisville Cardinals quarterback named to College Football All-America Team, All-American team: (2016 College Football All-America Team, 2016)
* Most career rushing attempts by a quarterback: 655 (2015–2017)
* Most career rushing yards: 4,132 (2015–2017)
* Most career rushing touchdowns: 50 (2015–2017)[
* Most passing touchdowns in a game: 6 (tied with Chris Redman) (2016)]
*Number 8 retired by Louisville Cardinals football, the Louisville Cardinals
NFL
* National Football League Most Valuable Player Award, NFL Most Valuable Player (2019)
* Bert Bell Award (2019)
* 8× AFC Offensive Player of the Week (2019: Week 1, Week 9, Week 10, Week 12, Week 15) (2020: Week 1, Week 14) (2021: Week 5)
* 3x AFC Offensive Player of the Month (December 2018) (November 2019)(September 2022)
* NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (December 2018)
* FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week, FedEx Air Player of the Year (2019)
* Kansas City Committee of 101 awards AFC Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
* Pro Bowl (2020 Pro Bowl, 2019)
* Pro Bowl Offensive MVP (2020 Pro Bowl, 2019)
* First-team 2019 All-Pro Team, All-Pro (2019)
* Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year (2019)
* NFL Top 100 rankings: #1 (NFL Top 100 Players of 2020, 2020), #24 (NFL Top 100 Players of 2021, 2021), #36 (NFL Top 100 Players of 2022, 2022)
NFL records
* First quarterback with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons: (2019, 2020)
* First quarterback with 4, 700+ rushing yards seasons in a career: (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
* First player with 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season: (2019)
* First player with 400 yards passing, four touchdown passes, no interceptions and 50 yards rushing in a game: (Week 5, 2021 vs Indianapolis Colts)
* First player in the Super Bowl era with 10-plus passing touchdowns and 100-plus rushing yards in his first three games of a season: (2022)
* First player with 300 passing yards, 3 passing TDs and 100 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD in a single game: (Week 2, 2022 vs Miami Dolphins
* First player to record a passing TD and rushing TD of 75-plus each: (Week 2, 2022 vs Miami Dolphins
* Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season: 1,206 (2019)
* Most rushing attempts by a quarterback in a season: 159 (2019)
* Most regular season 100+ rushing yards games by a quarterback: 5 (2019)
* Most career 75+ rushing yard games by a quarterback: 22
* Most career 100+ rushing yards games by a quarterback: 12
* Most perfect passer rating
In the National Football League (NFL), the highest official passer rating that a quarterback can achieve is 158.3, which is called a "perfect passer rating". To qualify, during a single game a quarterback must attempt at least 10 passes, have zero ...
s in a season (tied with Ben Roethlisberger): 2 (2019)
* Most wins by a quarterback under the age of 25: 35
* Most consecutive wins by a QB vs. NFC to begin a career: 12 (tied with Ken Stabler)
* Most games with at least 250 passing yards and 100 rushing yards: 3 (tied with Cam Newton
Cameron Jerrell Newton (born May 11, 1989) is an American football quarterback who is a free agent. He has played for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Nicknamed "Super Cam", he is the NF ...
)
* Most games with 200+ passing yards and 75+ rushing yards: 9 (tied with Russell Wilson)
* Most games with 3+ passing TD's and 100+ rushing yard performances (9/25/22 at NE, 9/18/22 vs. Mia., 11/7/21 vs. Min. & 12/22/19 at Cle.)
* Youngest quarterback to ever start a playoff game: 21 years, 364 days (2018 Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers)
* Youngest quarterback to achieve a perfect passer rating
In the National Football League (NFL), the highest official passer rating that a quarterback can achieve is 158.3, which is called a "perfect passer rating". To qualify, during a single game a quarterback must attempt at least 10 passes, have zero ...
: 22 years, 244 days (Week 1, 2019)
* Youngest quarterback to start a Pro Bowl game.[
* Highest completion percentage (86%) in a 400-yard passing game (Week 5, 2021 vs Indianapolis Colts)
* Highest completion percentage (86%) when attempting more than 40 passes (Week 5, 2021)
* Highest touchdown passing percentage (7.4%) in the Super Bowl Era (minimum 500 attempts)
]
Ravens franchise records
* First quarterback to start in a Pro Bowl game.
* First quarterback to make First-team All-Pro.
* Most passing yards by a quarterback in a game: 442 (Week 5, 2021)
* Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game: 152 (Week 6, 2019)
* Most passing touchdowns in a season: 36 (2019)[
* Most games with a perfect passer rating: 2]
* Most passing touchdowns in a game: 5 (tied with Joe Flacco and Tony Banks (American football), Tony Banks)[
* Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass: 15]
* Highest completion percentage in a game: 88.2[
* Highest completion percentage in a season: 66.1 (2019)
* Highest completion percentage, career: 64.0 (2018–2020)]
* Highest passer rating, season: 113.3 (2019)[
* Highest passer rating, career: 102.6 (2018–2020)]
* Lowest percentage of passes intercepted, season: 1.5 (2019)
* Lowest percentage of passes intercepted, career: 1.6 (2018–2019)
In popular culture
Prior to the start of the 2019 NFL season, Jackson appeared on American Broadcasting Company, ABC's ''Celebrity Family Feud'', pitting current NFL players against former NFL players. During the 2019 NFL season, Jackson's ''Madden NFL'' character speed was upgraded to 96, making Jackson the fastest quarterback in that game's history. Jackson was the cover athlete in the ''Madden NFL 21'' video game.
In 2019, Pope Francis was gifted a signed Lamar Jackson Ravens jersey.
In February 2020, BET, BET Digital highlighted Jackson as one of 40 of the most inspiring and innovative vanguards in African American culture and who are redefining what it means to be "unapologetically young, gifted & Black".
Personal life
As of 2019, Jackson lives in Owings Mills, Maryland, about 20 minutes from the Ravens training complex with his mother, brother, and sisters. Adoree' Jackson is his first cousin once removed. As a child, Jackson's favorite player was Michael Vick
Michael Dwayne Vick (born June 26, 1980) is a former American football quarterback. Regarded as having transformed the quarterback position with his rushing abilities, he is the NFL leader in quarterback rushing yards and was the league's firs ...
. Vick inspired Jackson to mould his dual-threat style of play to his advantage as a quarterback in the NFL.
Business ventures
In 2018, Jackson announced the launch of his sportswear line, Era 8 Apparel. In March 2020, Jackson filed a federal lawsuit against Amazon (company), Amazon, charging the corporate giant with engaging in the “deliberate and unauthorized use” of Jackson's name, image and persona. The suit also alleges that Amazon had unlawfully infringed on his right of publicity in connection with alleged “false advertising and endorsement of unlicensed and infringing articles of clothing.”
In August 2020, Jackson signed an endorsement deal with Oakley, Inc., a company that produces sunglasses, sports goggles and football helmet visors.
In May 2022, it was announced that Jackson had entered the restaurant business with the purchase of a soul food restaurant in his home state of Florida. Tasty's Soul Food Sports Bar & Grill in Pompano Beach will change its name to Play Action Soulfood and More; and asking the question "You 8 yet?"
In September 2022, Jackson posted on his Twitter that he will be the cover star of NFL's first virtual reality (VR) game. "NFL Pro Era" is the first VR NFL game is said to let users 'experience what it's like to compete as the QB of their favorite NFL team.' The game is slated to launch September 15, 2022, on PlayStation VR and Meta Quest.
See also
* List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders
* List of NCAA Division I FBS career rushing touchdowns leaders
Notes
References
External links
*
*
Baltimore Ravens bio
Louisville Cardinals bio
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*
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Lamar
1997 births
Living people
African-American Christians
African-American players of American football
All-American college football players
American Conference Pro Bowl players
American football quarterbacks
American philanthropists
Baltimore Ravens players
Heisman Trophy winners
Louisville Cardinals football players
Maxwell Award winners
National Football League Most Valuable Player Award winners
People from Owings Mills, Maryland
People from Pompano Beach, Florida
Players of American football from Florida
Sportspeople from Boynton Beach, Florida