Lamar Jackson Bio
Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. is an American professional football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Born on January 7, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida, he played college football at the University of Louisville, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2016 as a sophomore. Selected by the Ravens with the 32nd overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson has become one of the most decorated quarterbacks of his era, earning two NFL Most Valuable Player awards and being widely recognized as the top dual-threat quarterback in league history.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 205 pounds, Jackson is listed at 188 centimeters and 93 kilograms according to official measurements. He resides in Owings Mills, Maryland, near the Ravens’ training facility. A two-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-team All-Pro, he signed a five-year, $260 million contract extension in 2023 that runs through the 2028 season.
Early Life and Background
Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. was born on January 7, 1997, to Felicia Jones and Lamar Jackson Sr. in Pompano Beach, Florida. He grew up in an economically distressed section of the city, where his mother encouraged him and his younger brother, Jamar, to play football at an early age. According to Jackson, his mother served as his first coach, putting both boys through demanding workouts starting at age seven. When Jackson was eight years old, his father died from a heart attack on the same day his grandmother passed away, leaving his mother to raise him and his two younger sisters on her own.
Jackson attended public schools in Florida and played Pop Warner football in the same youth league as future Baltimore Ravens teammate Marquise Brown. By age eight, he could throw a football 20 yards, and at age 11, he led the Northwest Broward Raiders to a South Florida FYFL Super Bowl victory over the previously unbeaten Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes, throwing two touchdowns and kicking extra points in a 14–6 win. He later attended Santaluces Community High School for his first two years before transferring to Boynton Beach Community High School, where he starred as a read-option quarterback and was named the Lou Groza Palm Beach County High School Player of the Year in 2014.
Recruiting analysts offered mixed evaluations, with Rivals.com rating him a four-star prospect and ESPN.com listing him as a three-star recruit, though all major outlets ranked him among the top 20 dual-threat quarterbacks nationally. Despite reported interest from Florida, Auburn, and Clemson, Jackson committed to the University of Louisville after head coach Bobby Petrino assured his mother that her son would play quarterback and nothing else.
Path to Professional Football
Jackson arrived at Louisville in 2015 as a communications major and quickly established himself as a dynamic playmaker. As a freshman, he played in 12 games and made eight starts, finishing the season with 1,840 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 960 rushing yards, and 11 rushing touchdowns. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 Music City Bowl after a record-setting performance that included 227 passing yards and 226 rushing yards.
His sophomore season in 2016 was historic. Jackson opened the year by setting a Louisville record with eight total touchdowns in a single game against the Charlotte 49ers and later produced a 411-yard passing, 199-yard rushing effort against Syracuse that included a viral hurdle over a defender. He led the Cardinals to a 63–20 rout of second-ranked Florida State and finished the year with 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, 1,571 rushing yards, and 21 rushing touchdowns. On December 10, 2016, he was awarded the Heisman Trophy, becoming Louisville’s first winner and the youngest recipient in the award’s history at 19 years and 337 days old.
As a junior in 2017, Jackson was again a Heisman finalist, finishing third in the voting behind Baker Mayfield and Bryce Love. He posted 3,660 passing yards, 27 passing touchdowns, 1,601 rushing yards, and 18 rushing touchdowns. Following the season, he was named the ACC Athlete of the Year for all conference sports before declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft on January 5, 2018.
Lamar Jackson Career
Early Career (2018)
Jackson was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, after the team traded up with the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed his rookie contract on June 5, 2018, and made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, relieving injured starter Joe Flacco in the second half. He scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard rush during a Week 7 loss to the New Orleans Saints and earned his first career start the following week against the Cincinnati Bengals, setting a Ravens franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 117 yards.
After starting seven games to close the regular season, Jackson led the Ravens to a 6–1 record and an AFC North title. He finished his rookie year with 1,201 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, 695 rushing yards, and five rushing touchdowns. In the Wild Card Round against the Los Angeles Chargers, he became the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game, throwing two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a comeback attempt that fell short. Following the season, the Ravens overhauled their offensive philosophy to build around Jackson’s unique skill set.
2019: First MVP Season
Jackson’s first full season as a starter produced one of the most prolific individual campaigns in league history. He opened the year with a perfect passer rating against the Miami Dolphins, becoming the youngest quarterback to achieve the feat, and he never slowed down. He broke the single-season rushing record for a quarterback and led the NFL in touchdown passes, earning unanimous NFL Most Valuable Player honors. He became the fourth Black quarterback to win the MVP award and the second player in NFL history to post two perfect passer ratings in a single season.
Jackson led the Ravens to a franchise-best 14–2 regular season record and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. He finished the year with 3,127 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while also rushing for 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns. Although the Ravens were upset by the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round, Jackson’s MVP season cemented his status as a transformative talent.
2020–2021 Seasons
In 2020, Jackson led Baltimore to an 11–5 record and another playoff appearance despite missing time after testing positive for COVID-19 in November. He became the first quarterback in NFL history to record multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and he earned his first career playoff victory over the Titans before a concussion ended his season in a Divisional Round loss to the Buffalo Bills. The following year, Jackson was limited by an ankle injury but still produced a career-high 442 passing yards against the Indianapolis Colts and was named to his second Pro Bowl.
His 2021 campaign was cut short after just 12 games due to the ankle injury, but he had already set a new NFL record for the most victories as a starting quarterback under the age of 25, reaching 35 wins. Jackson’s combination of passing efficiency and rushing dominance continued to draw comparisons to Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick, and analysts widely regarded him as the league’s premier running quarterback.
2022–2023 Seasons
Jackson turned down a contract extension in 2022 and played the season on his fifth-year option. He led the league in passer rating and passing touchdowns through the first month of the year and was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September. A sprained PCL suffered in a Week 13 victory over the Denver Broncos forced him to miss the final five games, and he was unable to play in the Wild Card loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. The injury and the stalled contract talks made 2022 a transitional year for both Jackson and the Ravens.
Jackson returned healthy in 2023 and delivered a brilliant campaign, securing his second NFL Most Valuable Player award. He guided the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game, their first appearance since 2012, and set new standards for dual-threat quarterback play. He also signed a five-year, $260 million contract extension during the year, locking him in as the franchise quarterback through 2028.
Baltimore Ravens Era (2018–Present)
Jackson has spent his entire professional career with the Baltimore Ravens after being drafted 32nd overall in 2018. He won his first MVP in 2019 and his second in 2023, becoming one of the few quarterbacks in league history to capture multiple MVP awards. In April 2023, he signed a five-year contract extension worth $260 million that runs through 2028, making him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL at the time of the agreement.
Under Jackson, the Ravens have led the league in rushing offense in every season except his rookie year. He has surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL’s all-time leader in career rushing yards by a quarterback, a record he set on Christmas Day 2024, and he has recorded four perfect passer rating games, tied for the most in league history. Jackson’s partnership with head coach John Harbaugh and his ability to adapt his passing game have been central to the Ravens’ sustained success.
Driving Style and Strengths
Jackson is widely regarded as the best running quarterback in the NFL, and his rare combination of arm talent, mobility, and field vision has drawn frequent comparisons to Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick. Early in his career, analysts raised questions about his ability to operate as a traditional pocket passer, but he has steadily improved his accuracy, anticipation, and pre-snap decision-making. The Ravens have tailored their offensive scheme to maximize his strengths, surrounding him with versatile playmakers and athletic linemen who excel in the run game. His four career perfect passer rating games are tied for the most in NFL history.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Jackson’s most memorable achievements are his 2016 Heisman Trophy win as a sophomore, his 2019 unanimous NFL MVP season, and his 2023 second MVP award. He set the NFL’s all-time record for rushing yards by a quarterback on Christmas Day 2024, surpassing Michael Vick in a victory over the Houston Texans. Jackson also became the first player in league history to rush for more than 800 yards and pass for more than 4,000 yards in a single season during his 2024 campaign, when he set career highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and passer rating.
Lamar Jackson Career Highlights
Jackson’s career is defined by record-breaking performances, individual awards, and a sustained standard of excellence at the quarterback position. He has earned two NFL Most Valuable Player awards, three First-team All-Pro selections, and four Pro Bowl invitations. He is the all-time leader in career rushing yards by a quarterback in the NFL and is tied for the most perfect passer rating games in league history with four. Jackson has also led the league in passing touchdowns, passer rating, and other major statistical categories during his standout seasons.
NFL Career Highlights
Jackson’s first NFL win as a starter came in Week 11 of the 2018 season against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he has since accumulated 73 career regular-season victories against 27 losses through 100 career starts. His first career playoff win came in the 2020 Wild Card Round against the Tennessee Titans, a 20–13 road victory in which he threw for 179 yards and rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown. He captured his first MVP in 2019 after leading the league with 36 passing touchdowns and rushing for a then-record 1,206 yards.
His most recent milestone came on Christmas Day 2024, when he broke Michael Vick’s all-time record for rushing yards by a quarterback during a dominant performance against the Houston Texans. He finished the 2024 regular season with 4,172 passing yards, 41 passing touchdowns, and a 119.6 passer rating, all career highs, while leading the Ravens to a second consecutive AFC North title. Despite narrowly finishing second in Associated Press MVP voting, Jackson was named First-team All-Pro and PFWA MVP for the season.
College Career Highlights
Jackson’s most celebrated college moment came on December 10, 2016, when he was named the Heisman Trophy winner over Deshaun Watson, Baker Mayfield, and Dede Westbrook, becoming Louisville’s first Heisman recipient and the youngest in the award’s history. He also earned the Walter Camp Award and the Maxwell Award that same year. As a junior, he was again a Heisman finalist and was named the ACC Athlete of the Year for all conference sports. His number 8 has been retired by the Louisville Cardinals, and he has been inducted into the Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor.
Lamar Jackson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Jackson was raised in Pompano Beach, Florida, by his mother, Felicia Jones, after his father, Lamar Jackson Sr., died from a heart attack in 2005. He grew up alongside his younger brother, Jamar, and two younger sisters, all of whom credit their mother’s encouragement for introducing them to football. His childhood idol was Michael Vick, whose dynamic dual-threat playing style inspired Jackson to develop his own rushing-based approach at the quarterback position. Jackson’s family ties extend throughout the NFL, with cousins including Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback James Pierre and Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Trayvon Mullen.
Personal Life
Jackson is a devout Christian and has spoken openly about how his faith has guided him through personal and professional challenges. He has a daughter named Milan, whom he affectionately calls by the nickname Lani. As of 2019, Jackson resides in Owings Mills, Maryland, approximately 20 minutes from the Ravens’ training complex, where he lives near his mother and siblings. In 2018, he founded the Forever Dreamers Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports children’s welfare and mental health awareness, and the foundation expanded its work in 2025 with the launch of the Forever Dreamers 8 Scholars apprenticeship program for high school seniors in Baltimore’s Park Heights community.
2025 Season Performance
Jackson’s 2025 season began with a tough 0–2 start before he helped lead the Ravens on a five-game winning streak that featured dominant performances against the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills. A hamstring injury suffered during a Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs forced him to miss three games, but he returned in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins with a four-touchdown performance that earned him his 14th career AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. His start in Week 10 against the Minnesota Vikings marked the 100th of his career, and Baltimore’s 27–19 victory improved his career record as a starter to 73–27.
Jackson’s midseason form has dipped, however, with three consecutive games without a passing touchdown, including a Week 11 loss to the Cleveland Browns in which he posted a 46.5 passer rating, the worst of his career, and a Week 12 loss to the New York Jets. The Ravens have continued to rely on his legs, and he remains the centerpiece of an offense built around his dual-threat skill set. With a contract that runs through 2028 and a roster built to maximize his strengths, Jackson’s long-term outlook in Baltimore remains strong despite the recent slump.
Looking ahead, Jackson and the Ravens are focused on securing another AFC North title and a deep playoff run. Jackson’s mobility, playmaking ability, and continued growth as a passer make him a perennial MVP candidate, and his partnership with head coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore front office provides a stable foundation for sustained success. The 2025 season will test his resilience, but Jackson has already proven throughout his career that he can bounce back from adversity and deliver at the highest level.