OPINION: Criticized throughout his career for not being a “traditional” quarterback, Lamar Jackson is on the verge of making NFL history if he can snag the Most Valuable Player trophy again to become the first Heisman Trophy winner with multiple MVP awards.
Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the author’s own. Read more
But his success still comes with skepticism and scrutiny based on injuries in 2021 and 2022, and his 1-3 career record in playoff games.
Jackson’s future in Baltimore was uncertain last offseason when contract negotiations stalled and he requested a trade. Instead, the Ravens used a non-exclusive franchise tag on him, allowing him to be an unrestricted free agent but giving them the right to match any team’s offer. Except no other teams even attempted to sign him.
In fact, several quarterback-needy teams couldn’t wait to express their disinterest in the 2019 MVP nearing the prime of his career.
He re-signed in April for $260 million over five years — with $185 mil guaranteed — and since then has played some of his best ball ever, posting career-highs in completion percentage, interception rate and yards per pass attempt. No player has rushed for more yards per carry (5.5). No player causes opposing coaches to lose more sleep.
“He’s unlike anybody else,” Miami defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said before Jackson shredded the Dolphins in Week 17. “The pure definition of a great quarterback is there’s no one way to play him. If there was, everybody would do it.”
Fangio said Vick is the only NFL quarterback like Jackson in the last 50 years. But there aren’t enough compliments or MVP trophies to make Jackson forget going 32nd in the draft, attracting zero interest last offseason and being frequently overlooked in “elite quarterback” conversations.
He can’t forget any of that because it fuels his fire.
“I definitely do have that chip on my shoulder,” Jackson said Monday on Tom Brady’s “Let’s Go!” podcast. “I haven’t accomplished what I wanted to yet, so that’s why that chip is still on my shoulder. I want that Super Bowl. That’s the accolade that I really want so bad.”
Winning a ring won’t make him a traditional QB.
He’ll settle for being a champion.
Deron Snyder, from Brooklyn, is an award-winning columnist who lives near D.C. and pledged Alpha at HU-You Know! He’s reaching high, lying low, moving on, pushing off, keeping up, and throwing down. Got it? Get more at blackdoorventures.com/deron.
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