Lamar Jackson

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 the youngest recipient in the award’s history at 19 years and 337 days. The Baltimore Ravens selected Jackson with the 32nd overall pick in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has established himself as one of the premier dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history, becoming the league’s all-time leading rusher at the quarterback position while earning two NFL MVP awards in 2019 and 2023. Jackson resides in Owings Mills, Maryland, with his mother and siblings.

Early Life and Background

Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. was born to Felicia Jones and Lamar Jackson Sr. on January 7, 1997. He grew up in the center of an economically distressed section of Pompano Beach, Florida, in a public housing project known as Golden Acres. When Jackson was eight years old, his father died from a heart attack on the same day his grandmother passed away. Jackson, his younger brother, and two younger sisters were raised by their mother, who encouraged him to play football and served as his first coach. At age seven, she put Jackson and his brother through demanding workouts to develop their athletic abilities.

Jackson attended public schools and played Pop Warner football in the same Florida league as future teammate Marquise Brown. By age eight, Jackson could throw a football 20 yards. At age 11, he won the South Florida FYFL Super Bowl with the Northwest Broward Raiders, serving as the starting quarterback while also playing safety and place kicker. He threw two touchdowns and kicked the extra points in a 14-6 victory over the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes, who had been back-to-back champions with a lengthy winning streak. Jackson is a childhood friend of rapper Kodak Black, as the two attended elementary school together and grew up close in their hometown.

Path to the NFL

Jackson began his high school football career relatively late, not joining a team until his junior year. He attended Santaluces Community High School for his first two years before transferring to Boynton Beach Community High School in Boynton Beach, Florida. While at Boynton Beach, Jackson emerged as a successful read-option quarterback equally capable of running and throwing the ball. He improved his passing accuracy and decision-making by watching hours of film each week. In two seasons at Boynton Beach, he threw for 2,263 yards and 31 touchdowns with nine interceptions while rushing for 1,624 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Jackson’s standout performance came against Village Academy, where a touchdown highlight went viral online. In that play, Jackson rolled to his right, pump faked at the line of scrimmage, took off for the end zone, pointed at a defender while beating him to the edge, cut up field, then stopped entirely as the defender flew past him before strutting into the end zone. Jackson was named the Lou Groza Palm Beach County High School Player of the Year in 2014. Despite being rated three stars by ESPN.com and 247Sports and four stars by Rivals.com, he received offers from Power Five schools including Louisville, Florida, Auburn, and Clemson. Jackson ultimately committed to the University of Louisville, where head coach Bobby Petrino promised his mother he would play quarterback and nothing else.

Lamar Jackson Career

College Career at Louisville (2015-2017)

Jackson, a communications major, began his true freshman season at Louisville as the backup quarterback to Reggie Bonnafon. He made his collegiate debut in the season opener against No. 6 Auburn, starting at running back before relieving Bonnafon at quarterback. Jackson completed 9 of 20 passes for 100 yards and an interception while rushing for a team-high 106 yards and a touchdown in the 31-24 loss. After the team opened 0-3 with three different starting quarterbacks, Jackson regained the starting job and led Louisville to victory. He was named MVP of the 2015 Music City Bowl after passing for 227 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for a Music City Bowl-record 226 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-21 victory over Texas A&M. Overall, Jackson completed 135 of 247 passes for 1,840 yards and 12 touchdowns with eight interceptions while rushing for 960 yards and 11 touchdowns during his freshman season.

During his sophomore year in 2016, Jackson delivered a historic season. Against Charlotte, he set a university record with eight total touchdowns in the first half. Against No. 2 Florida State, Jackson accounted for five total touchdowns in a 63-20 rout, the most points the Seminoles had ever surrendered. On December 10, 2016, Jackson was awarded the Heisman Trophy, becoming Louisville’s first winner in school history and the youngest-ever recipient. He finished the season with 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions to go along with 1,571 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. In 2017, Jackson returned as a Heisman finalist and finished third, becoming the first defending champion to finish in the top 3 in Heisman voting since Tim Tebow. He completed the season with 3,660 passing yards for 27 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while rushing for 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Rookie Season (2018)

On January 5, 2018, Jackson announced he would enter the NFL Draft. Many draft pundits doubted his quarterback abilities and suggested he switch positions to wide receiver due to his athleticism, but Jackson remained adamant about playing quarterback professionally. He declined to run drills such as the 40-yard dash during the NFL Scouting Combine to focus on displaying his passing skills. The Baltimore Ravens drafted Jackson in the first round with the 32nd overall pick, acquiring the selection from the Philadelphia Eagles. He signed his rookie contract on June 5, 2018, reportedly worth $9.47 million with a $4.97 million signing bonus.

Jackson made his NFL debut relieving starting quarterback Joe Flacco in the second half of the season-opening 47-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills. During a Week 11 24-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson made his first NFL start in place of the injured Joe Flacco, completing 13 of 19 passes for 150 yards and an interception while rushing for 117 yards, setting a Ravens franchise record for rushing yards by a quarterback in a single game. In the seven regular season games he started, the Ravens went 6-1 to close out the season. Overall, Jackson finished his rookie season with 1,201 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and three interceptions while leading all quarterbacks with 695 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. He became the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game at 21 years old in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Chargers.

2019 MVP Breakthrough

The 2019 season marked Jackson’s historic breakthrough. In the season-opening 59-10 victory over the Miami Dolphins, he completed 17 of 20 passes for career-highs of 324 yards and five touchdowns, becoming the youngest quarterback to achieve a perfect passer rating and earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week. Jackson became the first player in NFL history to pass for more than 250 yards and rush for 120 yards in a single game. Against the New York Jets, he broke Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record for a quarterback with 1,206 rushing yards. Jackson set the Ravens single-season record for touchdown passes with 36, leading all quarterbacks with 43 total touchdowns and a 9.0 passing touchdown percentage.

Jackson was voted the NFL MVP of the 2019 season, becoming the second player after Tom Brady in 2010 to be voted unanimously and the second-youngest player to win, behind only Jim Brown. He became the fourth Black quarterback to win the AP MVP award. In the Divisional Round against the Tennessee Titans, Jackson became the first player to throw for 300+ yards and rush for 100+ yards in a playoff game, accounting for over 500 yards of total offense. However, the Ravens lost 28-12, and Jackson finished the game completing 31 of 59 passes for 365 yards with two interceptions and a fumble.

Baltimore Ravens Era (2020-Present)

During the 2020 season, Jackson became the first NFL quarterback to have multiple seasons surpassing 1,000 rushing yards. In the Wild Card Round, he won his first career playoff game by defeating the Tennessee Titans 20-13, rushing for 136 yards and a touchdown. However, in the Divisional Round against the Buffalo Bills, Jackson sustained a concussion on the last play of the third quarter, effectively ending his season as the Ravens lost 17-3. In 2021, Jackson threw for a career-high and Ravens franchise record 442 yards and four touchdowns against the Indianapolis Colts, helping the team erase a 19-point deficit. He was named to his second Pro Bowl but missed the rest of the season after suffering an ankle injury against the Cleveland Browns.

The 2022 season saw Jackson turn down a contract extension. During a Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins, he threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown, surpassing Michael Vick for the most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback. Jackson suffered a sprained PCL during a Week 13 victory over the Denver Broncos and missed the final five games of the regular season. On March 27, 2023, Jackson publicly stated he had requested a trade, saying the Ravens front office had not been interested in meeting his value. The stalemate ended on April 27, 2023, when he signed a five-year, $260 million contract with $185 million guaranteed, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at that time.

The 2023 season brought Jackson his second NFL MVP award in a near-unanimous vote, receiving 49 of 50 first-place votes. He led the Ravens to their first AFC Championship Game appearance since 2012. Against the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship, he completed 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards with one touchdown while rushing for 54 yards. One of his completed passes was batted into the air and caught by Jackson himself for 14 yards, a play that was named the best play at the 2024 ESPY Awards. However, he lost a fumble and threw an interception in the fourth quarter as the Ravens lost 17-10.

Quarterback Style and Strengths

Jackson has been widely regarded as the best running quarterback in NFL history. His dual-threat playstyle has earned him comparisons to Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick, the latter of whom inspired Jackson’s style as a child. Jackson holds the NFL record for most perfect passer rating games with four, tied with several other players. His exceptional rushing ability has transformed the Ravens’ offense, with the team leading the league in rushing each year except his rookie season. In 2019, the Ravens broke the single-season rushing record, and in 2024, Jackson broke Vick’s career rushing yards record for quarterbacks. Analysts have noted significant improvement in Jackson’s pure pocket-passing ability over his career, addressing early concerns about his passing when the run game is contained.

Notable Events and Milestones

On Christmas Day 2024, Jackson surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher at quarterback in a 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans. He became the first player in NFL history to record over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a single season. Additionally, he threw 41 touchdown passes with only four interceptions, setting a new record for the fewest interceptions with over 40 touchdown passes. Jackson also achieved the fourth-highest single-season passer rating and became the first player to lead the league in both yards per pass attempt and yards per rush attempt in the same season. His 2024 season included a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback against the Cincinnati Bengals, where he threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns in the final quarter to rally the Ravens from a 14-point deficit to a 35-34 victory.

Lamar Jackson Career Achievements

Jackson has accumulated an impressive array of accolades across his college and professional career, establishing himself as one of the most decorated quarterbacks of his generation and among the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history.

NFL Highlights

Jackson is a two-time NFL MVP, earning the award in 2019 and 2023. His 2019 MVP was nearly unanimous, and his 2023 MVP came with 49 of 50 first-place votes. He is a four-time Pro Bowl selection and a three-time First-team All-Pro honoree. Jackson became the NFL’s all-time leading rusher at quarterback on Christmas Day 2024, surpassing Michael Vick’s previous record. He ranks first on the NFL’s all-time regular-season career passer rating list. In 2024, he set franchise records with 41 passing touchdowns and a 119.6 passer rating while becoming the first player in NFL history with 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in a single season. He has recorded four perfect passer rating games in his career, tied for the most in NFL history.

College Achievements

Jackson won the Heisman Trophy in 2016 as a sophomore, becoming Louisville’s first Heisman winner and the youngest recipient in award history at 19 years and 337 days. He was a unanimous All-American in 2016 and earned ACC Athlete of the Year honors in 2018. Jackson was a two-time ACC Player of the Year and two-time ACC Offensive Player of the Year. Louisville has retired his number 8 jersey and inducted him into the Cardinals Ring of Honor.

Lamar Jackson Family

Family Background

Jackson was born to Felicia Jones and Lamar Jackson Sr. in Pompano Beach, Florida. His father died from a heart attack when Jackson was eight years old, the same day his grandmother passed away. Jackson and his siblings were raised by their mother, who played a pivotal role in his athletic development by encouraging him to play football and serving as his first coach. Jackson has a younger brother and two younger sisters. Trayvon Mullen and Tiawan Mullen are Jackson’s first cousins through his mother’s side of the family. Adoree Jackson is his first cousin once removed, and another cousin is James Pierre, a cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Personal Life

Jackson has a daughter named Milan, whom he calls by her nickname, Lani. As of 2019, he lives in Owings Mills, Maryland, about 20 minutes from the Ravens training complex, with his mother and siblings. Jackson is a Christian and has cited his faith as important in his life. He is known for his Philanthropy through The Forever Dreamers Foundation, which he founded in 2018 to support children’s welfare and mental health awareness. In December 2020, Jackson and his foundation distributed gifts and toys to more than 150 families in the Baltimore area. In April 2025, his Dreamers Foundation launched the Forever Dreamers 8 Scholars program, an apprenticeship program giving high school seniors in the Park Heights community opportunities to work in Maryland’s thoroughbred racing industry.

Jackson launched his sportswear line, Era 8 Apparel, in 2018. He signed an endorsement deal with Oakley in August 2020. In May 2022, he purchased a soul food restaurant in Pompano Beach, Florida, renaming it Play Action Soulfood and More. Jackson was the cover athlete for Madden NFL 21 and has appeared on ABC’s Celebrity Family Feud. In March 2025, he made a cameo appearance as E-Tone in the Starz crime drama series Power Book III: Raising Kanan.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season has presented challenges for Jackson and the Ravens. During Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he threw for 147 yards with one touchdown and an interception before leaving the game with a hamstring injury in the 20-37 loss. Jackson missed the next three games before returning in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, where he threw for 204 yards and four touchdowns in the 28-6 victory. That performance garnered him his 14th career AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. His start in the Week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings marked the 100th start of his career, with the 27-19 victory running his career starting record to 73 wins and 27 losses.

Following his strong return, Jackson experienced a mid-season slump. In Week 11 against the Browns, he had one of his worst outings, missing 4 of his first 8 passes, being sacked 5 times, throwing 2 interceptions, and finishing with no touchdowns and a 46.5 passer rating, the worst of his career. For the second straight week, he threw no touchdown passes the following game against the New York Jets, posting a 76.9 passer rating. Jackson’s struggles continued in the Week 13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he lost 2 fumbles, was intercepted once, and finished without a touchdown pass for the third week in a row with a QBR of 22.2, his lowest of the season.