Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. is a quarterback in the National Football League for the Baltimore Ravens.
Jackson is one of the most explosive players to ever play the quarterback position. His ability to throw and run at any time makes him incredibly difficult to defend, which has earned him accolades in both college football and in the professional ranks. He won the NFL MVP in 2019, his second season in the league.
Jackson’s numbers dipped after his MVP campaign, but the quarterback did win his first playoff game in the 2020 season. After throwing for 2,757 yards, 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions, Jackson led the Ravens to a win in the wild-card round over the Tennessee Titans, the team that eliminated Baltimore the year prio. Jackson had his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season.
Jackson’s 2021 and 2022 seasons were marred by injuries. The quarterback missed five games each year, and he didn’t make his expected return for the Ravens’ last playoff game. Jackson went 15-9 with 33 passing touchdowns and 20 interceptions during that stretch.
Jackson heads into the 2023 offseason as a free agent after making $23 million in his last season.
Lamar Jackson played two seasons of high school football at Boynton Beach High School. His high school career was cut short as a result of Jackson transferring in from another school halfway through his high school education. But Jackson made an impact in two years at Boynton Beach, accounting for over 50 total touchdowns in his two seasons.
He was rated as a 4-star prospect and signed with Louisville as a dual-threat quarterback to play college football.
Lamar Jackson spent three seasons playing college football at the University of Louisville. Recruited by Bobby Petrino and Lamar Thomas, Jackson will be remembered as one of the most electrifying players in league history in the ACC. Jackson played 38 games in three seasons, including 12 as a true freshman, where he accounted for 2,800 total yards in his first season. His freshman season ended with a victory in the Music City Bowl over Texas A&M.
In his sophomore year, Jackson started to evolve into one of the most electrifying players in college football history. In his sophomore season opener, Jackson accounted for eight total touchdowns in a half against Charlotte, a school record for touchdowns in a game. His signature game that season was a five touchdown performance against Florida State.
Jackson finished his sophomore season with 51 total touchdowns, winning the Walter Camp Award, Maxwell Award and becoming a Heisman Trophy winner. Jackson won back-to-back ACC Offensive Player of the Year awards in his sophomore and junior seasons before leaving for the NFL Draft.
Lamar Jackson was drafted with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Jackson was the starting quarterback from the beginning of his pro career, with the Baltimore Ravens making the playoffs in his rookie season. Despite a strong regular season in his rookie campaign, the Ravens were upset by the Los Angeles Chargers in the first playoff game of Jackson’s career.
Jackson’s second season was even better, as the Ravens had a historic season in going 14-2 in the regular season. Jackson was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2019, earning the NFL MVP award unanimously by amassing over 4,000 total yards and a career-high 43 total touchdowns thanks to weapons like Marquise Brown and South Carolina product Hayden Hurst. Jackson is second to Jim Brown in terms of being the youngest player to ever win the MVP award in the NFL.
In each year from 2020-2022, Jackson and the Ravens have experienced a disappointing end to their season. Jackson made the 2021 Pro Bowl but he hasn’t come close to replicating the success he found during his MVP season.
When Jackson is on the field, he’s one of the winningest and most dynamic quarterbacks in football. The Ravens are 45-16 when Jackson starts. He’s gone at least two games over .500 in every season. In addition to 12,209 passing yards, 101 passing touchdowns and a 96.7 passer rating, Jackson has 4,437 career rushing yards on 6.1 yards per attempt.
Jackson’s inability to stay healthy and failings in the playoffs have prevented him from being recognized as an elite quarterback. He has all the talent to become a Super Bowl winner.
Lamar Jackson has finished his rookie contract, a four-year deal signed after the 2018 NFL Draft. The rookie deal was worth approximately $9.5 million, with a signing bonus of just under $5 million. The Ravens picked up Jackson’s fifth-year option and paid him $23 million in 2022.
Jackson’s net worth is estimated at $6 million, a number that stands to increase when he signs his next contract. Jackson has an endorsement deal with Oakley, but does not have as many endorsements as other popular quarterbacks in the NFL. He was the Madden 21 cover athlete as well.
Lamar Jackson was born to Felicia Jones and Lamar Jackson Sr. in Pompano Beach in South Florida. Jackson has a brother and two sisters.
He is also reported to have a girlfriend, named Jaime Taylor. He lives in Maryland with his mother and siblings, not far from the Ravens’ practice facility.
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