Lamar Jackson was selected 32nd overall in the 2018 NFL Draft after Ozzie Newsome traded back into the first round. He arrived in Baltimore with high expectations and a distinctive skill set. When veteran Joe Flacco was injured midway through Jackson's rookie season, the Louisville Heisman winner stepped in, finishing with a 6-1 record and becoming the youngest quarterback in NFL history to start a playoff game. What started as a temporary role quickly changed the franchise's future.

Jackson revolutionized backfield versatility by blending elite track-star speed with quick, elusive agility in space. This forced defensive coordinators to drastically change their defensive strategies against option plays. However, speed is only part of his skill set. As he developed, Jackson proved himself as a top-tier pocket passer, with a quick wrist flick and impressive deep-ball accuracy. He frequently adjusts his arm angles to evade edge rushers, making sidearm throws on the move without setting his feet. In addition to his off-platform arm talent, Jackson demonstrates excellent pre-snap processing, subtly holding safeties with eye discipline and using lateral movements in the pocket to extend passing plays downfield.

His rise peaked in 2019 during his first full season as a starter. Leading a 14–2 regular season, Jackson became only the second player in league history to be a unanimous AP NFL MVP. He led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes, with just six interceptions, and broke Michael Vick's single-season quarterback rushing record with 1,206 yards and 7 touchdowns on the ground. Jackson confirmed his explosive breakout was no fluke in 2020, posting a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season (1,005 yards, 7 TDs) and passing for 2,757 yards and 26 touchdowns, earning his first postseason win.

Despite ankle and knee injuries that impacted his 2021 and 2022 seasons, Jackson remained a crucial player for Baltimore, earning a Pro Bowl in 2021 and keeping the team competitive whenever he was on the field. In 2023, with offensive coordinator Todd Monken's revamped passing approach, he reached his best performance. Jackson secured his second AP NFL MVP award after throwing for 3,678 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions, and rushing for 821 yards, helping Baltimore reach the AFC Championship Game.

That momentum led to a historic statistical achievement in 2024. Jackson had his best passing season yet, achieving career highs with 4,172 yards and 41 touchdown throws, with only four interceptions. He also ran for 915 yards and scored four times on the ground. His league-best 119.6 passer rating established him as the top quarterback of his generation, narrowly missing out on MVP honors. During the 2025 season, despite a midseason hamstring injury, Jackson demonstrated great resilience over 13 games, passing for 2,549 yards and 21 touchdowns with a 103.8 rating.

Jackson stands as the only player in NFL history to combine multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons with multiple AP MVP awards, holding the record for the most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback.

Heading into the 2026 season, Jackson enters his ninth year in Baltimore holding franchise records with 22,608 passing yards, 187 touchdown passes, and 6,522 rushing yards.

All that he is missing is that elusive Super Bowl!