Lamar Jackson

At 27 years old, Lamar Jackson has this physical status:

High school career

Jackson was a standout quarterback at Boynton Beach High School in Boynton Beach, Florida, and was a standout quarterback. Jackson, a successful read-option quarterback who could run and throw the ball as well as at Boynton Beach, was a tenacious read-option quarterback who was able to run and throw the ball at the same time. By watching hours of film each week, he improved passing accuracy and decision-making. Jackson threw for 2,263 yards and 31 touchdowns in two years at Boynton Beach, threw for nine interceptions. In addition, he ran for 1,624 yards and 22 touchdowns, while having a quarterback rating of 102. During the first round of the 2014 Florida High School Football Playoff 6A tournament, Jackson's last high school game came against a nationally ranked Miami Central High School team. Boynton Beach was soundly defeated 49–6, with Jackson throwing two interceptions. He also ran for his high school track team, running a personal record of 11.45 seconds in the 100 meter dash in a single track meet. In 2014, Jackson was named the Lou Groza Palm Beach High School Player of the Year.

By ESPN.com and 247Sports, Jackson was rated three stars, but Rivals.com is a website that publishes four actors. Despite the differences between recruiting companies over his caliber, he received offers from both Power Five schools like Louisville, Florida, Auburn, and Clemson, as well as mid-major programs such as Akron, Western Kentucky, and Marshall. Jackson was listed as one of the top 20 best-threat quarterbacks in the country's top 20 for both teams, with 247Sports naming him as the top 20 top-threat quarterback. Jackson's in-state rankings also varied, from being ranked as high as #51 from Rivals to as low as #80 by ESPN. Jackson went to just four colleges (Louisville, Florida, Nebraska, and Mississippi State), and after it seemed he might sign with Florida, Jackson's mother informed him that her son would play quarterback rather than elsewhere.

College career

Jackson played in 12 games and made eight starts in the Cardinals' 8-5-0 season as a freshman at Louisville (he was a communications major). He completed 135-of-247 passes for 1,840 yards with 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions, as well as running for 960 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. After passing for 227 yards with two touchdowns and rushing for a Music City Bowl record 226 yards and two touchdowns, he was named MVP of the 2015 Music City Bowl.

Jackson set a school record for total touchdowns with eight against the Charlotte 49ers in his first game of his sophomore season, all of which were in the first half. Jackson had 20 of 39 passes for 411 yards, one touchdown, and one interceptor, with 199 passing yards and four running touchdowns in the first half as the Cardinals defeated Syracuse 62-28. One of those touchdowns came when he hurdled a Syracuse defender into the end zone.

Jackson had 146 passing yards and four running touchdowns against #2 Florida State, who had 13 of 20 passes for 216 yards, one touchdown and one interceptor, and four rushing touchdowns. He scored four of the five touchdowns in the first half of a 63-20 route of the Seminoles, the most points the Seminoles had ever surrendered at the time. Jackson was the front runner in the game, and the Cardinals were given a No. 10. The highest ranking since 2006. Jackson finished 24 of 44 passes for 417 yards and five touchdowns against Marshall, totaling 621 yards and five touchdowns. No. Against No. 2. Jackson's offense totaled 586 yards, 162 passing yards, and three touchdowns, with one passing and two rushing). The Cardinals eventually lost the game 42-36. On December 8, Jackson was named both the player of the year and the Maxwell Award as the best all-around player in college football.

Jackson was named the 2016 Heisman Trophy champion over fellow finalists Deshaun Watson, Dede Westbrook, Jabrill Peppers, and Baker Mayfield on December 10, 2016. He was Louisville's first Heisman Trophy winner in school history and the youngest-ever winner of the honor at the age of 19 years and 337 days. Jackson finished 9-44 years with 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with 260 passing yards and 21 rushing touchdowns.

Jackson earned prestigious awards within the University of Louisville, in addition to nationally recognized accolades. Jackson received the prestigious accolade of the year in 2017 for his outstanding sophomore campaign. Since taking the jump in the 2016 Syracuse game, he also received a Louie for Play of the Year.

As Jackson's fanbase and media had a high hopes for his success in the 2017 season. The University of Louisville has announced their return to the University of Louisville to host the first matchup between the returning National Champions, the Clemson Tigers, and the Cardinals on September 16. Despite the Tigers' 47-21 loss, Jackson did not allow the numbers to influence his playing ability. Heisman finalist for the 2017 season after his outstanding results for the season. He came in third place in the Heisman voting, losing out to Baker Mayfield and Bryce Love. In the Cardinals' 8-56 season, Jackson played in 13 games, totaling 3,660 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions to go along with 232 passes for 1,601 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.

Jackson was named Men's ACC Athlete of the Year for all conference sports, as well as shares with Women's Champion Arike Ogunbowale of Notre Dame basketball.

Professional career

Jackson announced on January 5, 2018 that he would draft the 2018 NFL Draft. Some draft pundits doubted Jackson's quarterback skills and suggested that he move to wide receiver due to his athleticism, but he remained adamant about his commitment to playing quarterback professionally. In order to concentrate on his passing skills, he decided against running drills like the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scout Combine to concentrate on his passing skills. Jackson clocked in a 4.34 40 yard dash time in 2017 at Louisville, the fastest time for a quarterback in NFL history.

After trading up for the Philadelphia Eagles' selection, Jackson was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round with the 32nd overall pick in the draft. He was the fifth quarterback selected that year. Jackson signed his rookie deal on June 5, 2018, reportedly worth $9.47 million with a $4.97 million signing bonus.

In the second half of a 47–3 victory over the Buffalo Bills, Jackson made his NFL debut as a starting quarterback, leading with 24 passing yards and 39 rushing yards in the season opener. As the Baltimore Ravens barely lost to the New Orleans Saints by a score of 23–24 on week 7, Jackson scored his first NFL touchdown on a 1-yard run. In the fourth quarter of a 36–21 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Jackson threw his first NFL touchdown pass, a 26-yard completion to fellow rookie tight end Hayden Hurst, the next week in relief of Flacco.

Jackson made his first NFL appearance against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 18, 2018, replacing the injured Joe Flacco, who suffered his hip against the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks earlier. Jackson finished 13 for 19 for 150 yards, an intercept, and rushed for 117 yards, a Ravens franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game in a 24-21 win. Jackson threw for 178 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions against the Oakland Raiders this week. He also passed for 71 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens won by a score of 34–17. In a 26–16 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Week 13, Jackson passed for 125 yards and rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown. Jackson threw two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs on Week 14-24-27 for the first time in his career.

In a 22-10 upset victory, Jackson helped the Ravens beat the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16, totaling 12 of 22 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. Jackson, a rookie quarterback with Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns, ran for 179 yards and rushed for two touchdowns on 95 rushing yards, despite fumbling for his third touchdown at the goal line, as the Ravens defeated the Browns 26-24 to clinch the AFC North championship. The Ravens won 6–1 in seven regular season games where Jackson had started. He had 1,201 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and three interceptions on the season. In addition, he led all quarterbacks with 695 passing yards and five touchdowns.

Jackson, who was playing in a Wild Card rematch against the Chargers on the day before his 22nd birthday, became the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff match against the Chargers. Despite being limited to just 25 passing yards at one point in the fourth quarter by a stout Chargers defense, Jackson went on for two touchdowns in four minutes to bring the Ravens back from a 20-point deficit to within a touchdown. The Ravens had a last chance to win the game down six points after compeling the Chargers to punt with less than a minute left, but Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu had to dismiss Jackson, but Chargers linebacker Uchenna Nwosu dropped Jackson by a score. The Ravens lost 23–17 and were knocked out of the playoffs after the Chargers returned the ball. He finished the game with 14 of 29 passes for 194 yards, the two aforementioned touchdowns, and an intercept intercept while rushing for 54 yards, losing one fumble.

The Ravens' coaching staff decided to abandon Joe Flacco's offensive plan and develop a new offensive philosophy based on Jackson's particular abilities. Part of this strategy was to change every play in the playbook, the vocabulary used, and drafting players, or finding free agents that would match Jackson's abilities.

Jackson finished 17 of 20 for career-highs of 324 yards and five touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins, making him the youngest quarterback to win a perfect passer rating in the 59-2010 road victory. For his play, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his week. Jackson rushed for 120 yards and two touchdowns against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2 as the Ravens defeated 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 was the first football player to pass for more than 250 yards and rush for 120 yards in one game.

The Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 23-17 on Week 6 with 236 passing yards, 152 rushing yards, and a running touchdown. In addition, he was the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 200 yards and rush for 150 yards in a regular-season game, and he had more rushing yards than any other position in Week 6. Jackson finished with 143 passing yards and 116 passing yards with a rushing touchdown against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 7 as the Ravens defeated the Seattle Seahawks 30–16. The Ravens faced the New England Patriots, who had won in Week 8. Jackson threw for 163 yards and a touchdown in the 37-20 victory, rushing for 61 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson received his second AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for his efforts.

Jackson threw for 323 yards and three touchdowns, while rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown, leading to a perfect passer rating in the next game. He was the second player in NFL history to have two perfect passer ratings in the same season. Jackson made his Super Bowl debut with 15-plus completions, 3-plus passing touchdowns, 1-plus rushing touchdowns, and a perfect passer rating in a single game. Jackson also received his third and second consecutive AFC Offensive Player of the Week accolade, matched his predecessor Joe Flacco's career total.

After throwing for 222 yards and four touchdowns in a 41–7 victory, Jackson became the first quarterback in franchise history to throw four or more touchdowns in a game multiple times during the regular season. During the victory over the Texans, Jackson rushed for 86 yards, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for more than 60 yards in seven straight games. Jackson threw for 169 yards and five touchdowns in his first game against the Los Angeles Rams, making him the first player with that many touchdowns in a Monday Night Football debut and the youngest player to play in multiple touchdown games in NFL history. Due to his appearance, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his fourth week in a row. For November, he was named AFC Player of the Month for the Month. Jackson finished with 105 passing yards, 102 passing yards, and two total touchdowns in the Ravens' 20-17 victory, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to play in four 100-yard games in a season. Jackson became the first quarterback since Michael Vick to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season in Week 14, defeating the Buffalo Bills 24-17.

During the 42–21 victory over the New York Jets, Jackson had 212 passing yards for five touchdowns and eight rushes for 86 yards, breaking Vick's single-season rushing record for a quarterback. His five touchdowns in the game made him the sixth player since the league to have at least three passing touchdowns in a season, and tied the Ravens franchise season record of 33. Jackson was named AFC Player of the Week for Week 15 after his performance against the Jets. Jackson was limited to 38 passing yards and a missed fumble in the first 28 minutes before exploding for 142 yards and two touchdowns in the final two minutes before halftime in Week 16. In the second half of the 31–15 victory, he made his third touchdown pass, setting the Ravens single season record for touchdown passes at 36. Jackson, guard Marshal Yanda, safety Earl Thomas, and defensive tackle Brandon Williams will be inactive for the Baltimore Ravens' Week 17 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, on the day after the Ravens' victory over the Browns and the Ravens' home-field advantage. Even without playing in the Ravens' last 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. He was also first with 43 total touchdowns and a 9.0 passing percentage during the 2019 season.

Jackson was the starting quarterback at the 2020 Pro Bowl in Orlando, Florida. He threw for 185 yards and two touchdowns with just one intercept, and was named the offensive Most Valuable Player of the game. He became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to play in a Pro Bowl game.

Jackson was named the 2019 MVP of the NBA. He was the second player after Tom Brady in 2010 to be voted unanimously and the second-most valuable player to win, behind only Jim Brown. Jackson, along with Patrick Mahomes, Cam Newton, and Steve McNair, is one of the four African-American quarterbacks to win the AP MVP award.

Jackson and the Ravens were unable to replicate the same success as they did in the regular season, losing 28-12. Jackson finished the game on 31 of 59 passes for 365 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, as well as losing a fumble on a strip sack. In a playoff game, he rushed 20 times for 143 yards, becoming the first player to throw for 300+ yards and rush for 100+ yards. Jackson was personally responsible for over 500 yards of offense.

In the Ravens' 38–6 victory, Jackson went 20 for 25 for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Because of his play, he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. During Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs, Jackson threw for a career-low 97 yards and a touchdown. Jackson threw for 193 yards and two touchdowns, as well as running for 52 yards and one touchdown in Week 431-17, making him the fastest player in NFL history to reach 5,000 yards passing and 2,000 yards rushing. Jackson threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8, but he also threw two interceptions, including his first career pick six, and lost two fumbles during the 24–28 loss. Jackson tested positive for COVID-19 on November 26, 2020, and was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He was activated on December 7.

Jackson made his return against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13. Jackson threw for 107 yards, two touchdowns, an interceptor, and a touchdown, as well as a touchdown, while running for 94 yards and a touchdown in the 34–17 victory. On Monday Night Football, Jackson set a new NFL record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback as he rushed for 124 yards against the Cleveland Browns. However, Jackson called the game late in the third quarter due to leg cramps. He was out of the game for the majority of the fourth quarter, but Cleveland was able to come back from 14-down and take the lead by 35-34. Jackson re-entered the game and threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Brown after backup Trace McSorley suffered a left knee injury with two minutes remaining in regulation. Jackson stepped up after the Browns sat down and tied the game at 42, allowing the Ravens to win by a score of 47–42. Jackson had two rushing touchdowns and a passing touchdown in the game, and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his play in Week 14. During Week 15, Jackson threw for 243 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a touchdown, as well as rushing for 35 yards and a touchdown. During Week 17, Jackson threw for 113 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and rushed for 97 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. Jackson made history by becoming the first NFL quarterback to have multiple seasons over 1,000 rushing yards during the game.

Jackson won his first playoff game by defeating the Tennessee Titans in a rematch of last year's Divisional Round matchup. During the 20-13 victory, he threw for 179 yards and one interception, while the others rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown. Jackson threw for 162 yards and 34 yards in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, but late in the third quarter, he threw a costly red zone pick-six to Taron Johnson, but late in the third quarter. He sustained a concussion on the last play of the third quarter, effectively ending his season as the Ravens will lose 17–3.

The Ravens tried the fifth-year option on Jackson's deal, worth a guaranteed $23 million for the 2022 season. Jackson was diagnosed with COVID-19 right at the start of training camp, the second time he had contracted the virus.

Jackson finished with 235 passing yards, 86 passing yards, and a touchdown, but he also lost two of three fumbles as the Ravens lost in overtime 27–33. Jackson had 239 passing yards, 107 total yards, two interceptions, and three touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 2, marking Jackson's first victory over Patrick Mahomes. Jackson finished with 287 passing yards, 58 passing yards, and a passing touchdown in a close 19–17 victory, as Ravens kicker Justin Tucker scored a record 66-yard field goal in the last seconds to win the game. Jackson threw for a career-high and four touchdowns in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts, while still running for 62 yards, assisting the Ravens in defeating a 19-point deficit and defeating the Ravens in overtime 31-25. When throwing 40+ passes, Jackson became the first quarterback to have a 85% completion rate. It was one of the best performances he's ever seen, according to Ravens coach John Harbaugh. In 34–6 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers, Jackson tied for the most victories as a starting quarterback under the age of 25. Jackson had a career-best four interceptions against the Cleveland Browns in Week 12. However, the Ravens defeated the Browns by beating them 16–10. Jackson sustained an ankle injury after being struck 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, eventually, the entire season. Since his first appearance of his unanimous MVP season, Jackson was named to his second Pro Bowl.

Jackson turned down a deal extension due to his belief that he could advance and earn more money. Joe Flacco of the Ravens and the New York Jets met in Week 1 on Monday. In a 24-9 victory, he threw for 213 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception, as well as adding 17 rushing yards. In the 38–42 loss, Jackson threw for 318 yards, three touchdowns, and rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown. Jackson tied for the most 100-yard rush games by a quarterback in the third quarter with his 79-yard touchdown run. In Week 3 against the New England Patriots, Jackson threw for 218 yards, four touchdowns, an intercept, rush for 107 yards, and a running touchdown. Jackson led the way in quarterback rating (119.0) and passing touchdowns (10) for the first month of the 2022 NFL season. In addition, Jackson had two touchdowns on the track. His 12 combined touchdowns total number exceeded the number of touchdowns scored by 30 NFL teams to that point in the season. As a result, Jackson was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month.

Jackson threw for 210 yards, tossed a touchdown, and rushed for 77 yards in Week 6, but Kayvon Thibodeaux sacked Julian Love in the fourth quarter, but lost a costly interception to Julian Love and was strip-sacked by Kayvon Thibodeaux in the fourth quarter. Since being 12-0 before, Jackson's first loss to an NFC foe was also his first defeat to an NFC opponent.

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