Lamar Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lamar Jackson

Jackson in 2024
No. 8–Baltimore Ravens
Position	Quarterback
Roster status	Active
Personal information
Born	Script error: No such module "person date". Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
Died	Script error: No such module "person date".
Listed height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Listed weight	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school	Boynton Beach Community (Boynton Beach, Florida)
College	Louisville (2015–2017)
NFL draft	2018: 1st round, 32nd overall pick
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (2018–present)
Awards and highlights
2× NFL Most Valuable Player (2019, 2023) 3× First-team All-Pro (2019, 2023, 2024) 4× Pro Bowl (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024) NFL passing touchdowns leader (2019) NFL passer rating leader (2024) 2× Bert Bell Award (2019, 2023) Heisman Trophy (2016) Maxwell Award (2016) Walter Camp Award (2016) AP College Football Player of the Year (2016) SN Player of the Year (2016) Unanimous All-American (2016) ACC Athlete of the Year (2018) 2× ACC Player of the Year (2016, 2017) 2× ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017) 2× First-team All-ACC (2016, 2017) Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor Louisville Cardinals No. 8 retired Career passer rating (minimum 1,500 attempts): 102.2 Career rushing yards by a quarterback: 6,522 Single-season rushing yards by a quarterback: 1,206 (2019) Games with a perfect passer rating: 4 (tied)
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Passing attempts 2,888 Passing completions 1,870 Completion percentage 64.8% TD–INT 187–56 Passing yards 22,608 Passer rating 102.2 Rushing yards 6,522 Rushing touchdowns 35 Stats at Pro Football ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
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Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. (born January 7, 1997) is an amazing American football quarterback. He plays for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). Lamar is known for his incredible speed and skill, both running and throwing the ball. Many people consider him one of the best "dual-threat" quarterbacks ever.

He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals. In 2016, he won the famous Heisman Trophy. The Ravens chose him in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft. Lamar has won the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice. He is also the player with the most rushing yards for a quarterback in NFL history.

Lamar became the Ravens' main quarterback in his first year. He led his team to win their division. He was the youngest quarterback to start a playoff game at just 21 years old. In 2019, he led the NFL in touchdown passes. He also set a new record for rushing yards by a quarterback in one season. He won his first NFL MVP award that year. In 2023, he won his second MVP award. He led the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game. In 2024, Lamar achieved new personal bests in passing. He also became the all-time leader in quarterback rushing yards. He tied the record for most games with a perfect passer rating.

Lamar Jackson's Childhood

Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. was born on January 7, 1997. He grew up in Pompano Beach, Florida. His mother, Felicia Jones, raised Lamar and his three younger siblings. She was a big inspiration for him. Lamar's mom encouraged him to play football. She was even his first coach! He remembers her putting him and his brother through tough workouts when he was only seven.

Lamar played Pop Warner football as a kid. He played in the same league as his future teammate, Marquise Brown. When he was eight, Lamar could already throw a football 20 yards. At age 11, he led his team, the Northwest Broward Raiders, to win the South Florida FYFL Super Bowl. He was the quarterback, safety, and place kicker for the team. The Raiders won 14–6, with Lamar throwing two touchdowns.

High School Football Star

Lamar started playing high school football a bit later than some. He joined a team in his junior year. He went to Santaluces for two years. Then, he moved to Boynton Beach High School in Boynton Beach, Florida. There, Lamar became a fantastic quarterback. He was great at both running and throwing the ball.

He spent hours watching game films to get better. In two years at Boynton Beach, Lamar threw for 2,263 yards. He scored 31 touchdowns and had nine interceptions. He also ran for 1,624 yards and 22 touchdowns. One of his touchdowns became super famous online. He faked out defenders and then just stopped, letting a player fly past him. Then, he walked into the end zone!

Lamar also ran track for his high school. He was very fast, running the 100-meter dash in 11.45 seconds. In 2014, he was named the Lou Groza Palm Beach County High School Player of the Year. Many top colleges wanted Lamar to play for them. He chose the University of Louisville. The coach promised his mom that Lamar would play quarterback.

High School Statistics

College Football Career

2015 Season: Freshman Year

In 2015, Lamar started his college career at Louisville. He played in 12 games as a freshman. He threw for 1,840 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also ran for 960 yards and 11 touchdowns. Lamar was named the MVP of the 2015 Music City Bowl. He passed for 227 yards and ran for a record 226 yards in that game.

2016 Season: Heisman Trophy Winner

Lamar had an amazing sophomore year in 2016. In his first game, he set a school record with eight touchdowns! Against Syracuse, he threw for 411 yards and ran for 199 yards. He scored five touchdowns in the first half. One famous play involved him leaping over a defender into the end zone.

He led Louisville to a #3 national ranking, their highest since 2006. On December 10, 2016, Lamar won the Heisman Trophy. This award goes to the most outstanding player in college football. He was the first Louisville player to win it. At 19 years old, he was also the youngest player ever to receive the award. He finished the season with 3,543 passing yards and 30 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns.

2017 Season: Another Great Year

Lamar continued to impress in his junior year, 2017. He was a Heisman finalist again, finishing third in the voting. He threw for 3,660 yards and 27 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns. After this season, Lamar was named the ACC Athlete of the Year. This award recognizes the best athlete in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

Joining the NFL

On January 5, 2018, Lamar announced he would enter the 2018 NFL draft. Some experts thought he should play a different position. But Lamar insisted he wanted to be a quarterback. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens as the 32nd pick. He signed his first NFL contract on June 5, 2018. It was worth $9.47 million.

2018 Season: Rookie Year

Jackson during training camp in 2018

Lamar made his NFL debut in the first game of the season. He became the Ravens' starting quarterback later that year. This happened after the main quarterback, Joe Flacco, got injured. Lamar led the team to a 6–1 record in his seven starts. He helped them win the AFC North title.

He became the youngest quarterback ever to start an NFL playoff game. This was just before his 22nd birthday. Overall, he finished his rookie season with 1,201 passing yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 695 yards and five touchdowns. After the season, the Ravens changed their entire offense. They designed it to fit Lamar's unique skills.

2019 Season: First MVP Award

Jackson rushing in 2018

Lamar had an incredible 2019 season. In Week 1, he threw for 324 yards and five touchdowns. He earned a perfect passer rating, becoming the youngest quarterback to do so. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week multiple times. He also became the first player in NFL history to pass for over 200 yards and rush for over 150 yards in a game.

Lamar broke the single-season rushing record for a quarterback. He rushed for 1,206 yards. He also led the NFL with 36 touchdown passes. He became the first quarterback since Michael Vick to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Lamar was voted the NFL MVP for 2019. He was the second player ever to win it unanimously. He also became the youngest quarterback to start a Pro Bowl game.

2020 Season: Playoff Win

Jackson during a game against the Washington Football Team in 2020

In 2020, Lamar continued to make history. He became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards. He also became the first NFL quarterback with multiple seasons of over 1,000 rushing yards. Lamar led the Ravens to their first playoff win with him as quarterback. They beat the Tennessee Titans in the Wild Card Round.

2021 Season: More Records

Jackson in 2021

In 2021, Lamar set a Ravens franchise record. He threw for 442 yards in a single game. He also became the first quarterback to have an 85%+ completion rate with over 40 passes. Lamar set the record for most wins by a starting quarterback under the age of 25. He was named to his second Pro Bowl.

2022 Season: Injury and Achievements

Lamar turned down a contract extension before the 2022 season. He believed he could earn more. He started the season strong, leading the league in quarterback rating and passing touchdowns. He also surpassed Michael Vick for the most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback. Lamar suffered a knee injury late in the season. This caused him to miss the final five games.

2023 Season: Second MVP Award

Jackson during training camp in 2023

Before the 2023 season, Lamar signed a huge five-year contract. It was worth $260 million. This made him one of the highest-paid players in NFL history. In Week 12, he reached 5,000 career rushing yards. He did this in just 82 games, faster than any other quarterback.

Lamar had an amazing game on Christmas Day against the 49ers. He threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the Ravens to a big win over the Dolphins. In that game, he had a perfect passer rating for the third time in his career. Lamar won his second NFL MVP award in a near-unanimous vote. He led the Ravens to the AFC Championship Game.

2024 Season: Record-Breaking Year

Lamar continued to break records in 2024. He passed Russell Wilson and Cam Newton for career rushing yards by a quarterback. In Week 7, he threw five touchdowns and had a near-perfect passer rating. He improved his record against NFC teams to 23–1, the best in NFL history.

In Week 9, Lamar recorded his fourth perfect passer rating game. This tied the NFL record. He became the first player in league history with four perfect games with at least 15 passing attempts. On Christmas Day, he surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL's all-time leading rusher at quarterback. He led the Ravens to their second straight AFC North title.

Lamar became the first player in NFL history to have over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a season. He also set a new record for fewest interceptions with over 40 touchdown passes. He finished second in the AP NFL MVP voting. Lamar started all 17 games in 2024. He had career highs in passing yards (4,172) and passing touchdowns (41).

2025 Season: Milestones and Challenges

In Week 4 of the 2025 season, Lamar left a game with a hamstring injury. He returned in Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins. He threw for 204 yards and four touchdowns in a win. This earned him his 14th career AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. Lamar's Week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings was his 100th career start. The Ravens won, bringing his career starting record to 73 wins and 27 losses.

Lamar faced some challenges later in the 2025 season. He missed practices due to a sore knee. He had a tough game against the Browns, with his lowest career passer rating. He also went three straight weeks without a touchdown pass.

Player Profile

Lamar Jackson is widely known as the best running quarterback in the NFL. His unique "dual-threat" style means he is great at both running and throwing. People often compare him to legendary players like Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick. The Ravens have led the league in rushing almost every year with Lamar.

In 2019, the Ravens broke the single-season rushing record. Lamar also broke Michael Vick's record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season. In 2024, Lamar broke Vick's record again. He became the all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback in his career. Lamar has recorded four perfect passer rating games. This ties him for the most in NFL history.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Awards and Highlights

College Achievements

• Heisman Trophy (2016)
• Maxwell Award (2016)
• Walter Camp Award (2016)
• Associated Press Player of the Year (2016)
• Sporting News Player of the Year (2016)
• Unanimous All-American (2016)
• ACC Athlete of the Year (2018)
• 2× ACC Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
• 2× ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
• 2× First-team All-ACC (2016, 2017)
• Louisville Cardinals Ring of Honor
• Number 8 retired by the Louisville Cardinals

NFL Achievements

• 2× AP NFL Most Valuable Player (2019, 2023)
• 3× PFWA NFL Most Valuable Player (2019, 2023, 2024)
• 3× First-team All-Pro (2019, 2023, 2024)
• 4× Pro Bowl (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
• NFL passing touchdowns leader (2019)
• NFL passer rating leader (2024)
• 14× AFC Offensive Player of the Week
• 5× AFC Offensive Player of the Month

NFL Records

• Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a career: 6,513
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season: 1,206 (2019)
• Most games with a perfect passer rating: 4 (tied)
• First quarterback with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons: (2019, 2020)
• First player with 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a season: (2019)
• First player with 4,000 passing yards and 800 rushing yards in a season: (2024)
• Youngest quarterback to start a playoff game: 21 years, 364 days (2018)
• Youngest quarterback to achieve a perfect passer rating: 22 years, 244 days (2019)

Ravens Franchise Records

• Most passing yards by a quarterback in a game: 442 (2021)
• Most passing touchdowns in a season: 41 (2024)
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season: 1206 (2019)
• Career rushing yards by a quarterback: 6513
• Highest passer rating, season: 119.6 (2024)

Lamar Jackson's Life Outside Football

Jackson at a NTLDreamers Foundation Baltimore event in 2025

Lamar Jackson is a Christian. He has a daughter named Milan, who he calls "Lani." As of 2019, Lamar lives in Owings Mills, Maryland, near the Ravens' training complex. He lives with his mother and siblings. Several of his cousins also play football, including Trayvon Mullen and James Pierre. When Lamar was a child, his favorite player was Michael Vick. Vick inspired Lamar to develop his unique running and throwing style. Lamar later broke Vick's NFL record for career rushing yards by a quarterback in 2024.

Business Ventures

In 2018, Lamar launched his own sportswear line called Era 8 Apparel. He also signed an endorsement deal with Oakley, Inc. in 2020. Oakley makes sunglasses and sports goggles. In 2022, Lamar entered the restaurant business. He bought a soul food restaurant in his home state of Florida. It is now called Play Action Soulfood and More. Lamar was also the cover star for the NFL's first virtual reality (VR) game, "NFL Pro Era," which came out in 2022. He was on the cover of the sequel game in 2023 too.

Helping Others

In 2018, Lamar started The Forever Dreamers Foundation. This foundation helps children and raises awareness for mental health. In December 2020, Lamar and his foundation gave gifts and toys to over 150 families in Baltimore. In April 2025, his foundation launched the Forever Dreamers 8 Scholars program. This program helps high school seniors learn about Maryland's horse racing industry.

Filmography

Television Appearances

Images for kids

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  Jackson throwing a pass against the Tennessee Titans in the 2019 Divisional Playoffs.

See also

In Spanish: Lamar Jackson para niños

• List of dual-threat quarterback records
• List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders
• List of NFL career passer rating leaders
• List of NCAA major college football yearly total offense leaders
• List of NFL quarterbacks who have posted a perfect passer rating