Lamar Jackson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lamar Jackson

Jackson with the Baltimore Ravens in 2020
No. 8 – Baltimore Ravens
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1997-01-07) January 7, 1997 (age 28) Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school:	Boynton Beach Community (Boynton Beach, Florida)
College:	Louisville (2015–2017)
NFL Draft:	2018 / Round: 1 / Pick: 32
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (2018–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
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 NFL records Career rushing yards by a quarterback: 6,173 Single-season rushing yards by a quarterback: 1,206 (2019) Games with a perfect passer rating: 4 (tied)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 18, 2024
Passing attempts: 2,586 Passing completions: 1,678 Completion percentage: 64.9% TD–INT: 166–49 Passing yards: 20,059 Passer rating: 102.0 Rushing yards: 6,173 Rushing touchdowns: 33

Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. (born January 7, 1997) is an American professional football quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Louisville Cardinals. In 2016, he won the Heisman Trophy, a top award for college players. The Ravens picked him in the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

Lamar Jackson has won the NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP) award twice. He is also the player with the most rushing yards ever for a quarterback. Many people think he is one of the best quarterbacks of his time. He is also known as the greatest dual-threat quarterback because he is great at both running and throwing the ball.

Jackson became the Ravens' main quarterback during his first year after Joe Flacco got hurt. He led the team to win their division. He was the youngest quarterback to start a playoff game at just 21 years old. In his first full season, he threw the most touchdown passes in the NFL. He also set a record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in one season. For this, he won the NFL MVP award by a unanimous vote. He was the fourth Black quarterback to win this award.

In 2020, he became the first quarterback to run for over 1,000 yards in two different seasons. He led the Ravens to the playoffs for the third year in a row. In 2023, he won his second MVP award. He also led the Ravens to their first AFC Championship Game since 2012. In 2024, Jackson had his best passing year yet. He became the all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback. He also tied the record for the most games with a perfect passer rating, with four.

Lamar Jackson's Early Life

Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. was born on January 7, 1997. His parents are Felicia Jones and Lamar Jackson Sr. He grew up in Pompano Beach, Florida, in an area that faced economic challenges. When he was eight years old, in 2005, his father and grandmother both passed away on the same day. Lamar, his younger brother, and two younger sisters were raised by their mother.

Jackson went to public schools and played Pop Warner football in Florida. He played in the same league as his future teammate, Marquise Brown. When he was eight, he could throw a football 20 yards. At age 11, Jackson won the South Florida FYFL Super Bowl. His team, the Northwest Broward Raiders, beat the Fort Lauderdale Hurricanes. The Hurricanes had won two championships in a row and had a long winning streak. Jackson was the starting quarterback for the Raiders. He also played as a safety and place kicker. The Raiders won 14–6, with Jackson throwing two touchdowns and kicking the extra points.

High School Football Journey

Jackson started playing high school football a bit later than some. He didn't join a team until his junior year. He went to Santaluces for his first two years. Then, he moved to Boynton Beach High School in Boynton Beach, Florida. There, Jackson was a very good read-option quarterback. This meant he could run and throw the ball equally well. He got better at passing and making decisions by watching many hours of game film each week.

In his two years at Boynton Beach, Jackson threw for 2,263 yards and 31 touchdowns. He only had nine interceptions. He also ran for 1,624 yards and 22 touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 102.7. One of his touchdown plays against Village Academy became very popular online. A newspaper described how he stopped suddenly, making a defender miss, and then walked into the end zone.

Jackson's last high school game was against Miami Central High School. This team was nationally ranked. Boynton Beach lost 49–6, and Jackson threw two interceptions. He also ran track for his high school. He once ran the 100-meter dash in 11.45 seconds. In 2014, Jackson was named the Lou Groza Palm Beach County High School Player of the Year.

Recruiting experts gave Jackson different ratings. Some called him a three-star player, while others said he was a four-star player. Still, he received offers from big schools like Louisville, Florida, Auburn, and Clemson. He also got offers from smaller programs. All the major recruiting groups listed Jackson as a top 20 dual-threat quarterback. Jackson visited only four schools. He eventually decided to go to the University of Louisville. The head coach, Bobby Petrino, promised Jackson's mother that Lamar would only play quarterback.

College Football Success

Lamar Jackson studied communications at Louisville.

2015 Season: Freshman Year

As a freshman in 2015, Jackson played in 12 games and started eight. Louisville finished the season with an 8–5 record. In his first game against #6 Auburn, Jackson threw an interception on the very first play. Louisville lost that game 31–24, but Jackson ran for 106 yards. During the season, he completed 135 of 247 passes for 1,840 yards. He threw 12 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He also ran for 960 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. Jackson was named the MVP of the 2015 Music City Bowl. He passed for 227 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a Music City Bowl record of 226 yards and two touchdowns.

2016 Season: Heisman Trophy Winner

In his sophomore year, Jackson started strong. In the first game against the Charlotte 49ers, he set a university record with eight total touchdowns, all in the first half. Against Syracuse, Jackson threw for 411 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 199 yards and four touchdowns. All five touchdowns came in the first half as Louisville won 62–28. One memorable touchdown was when he jumped over a Syracuse defender into the end zone.

Against #2 Florida State, Jackson threw for 216 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 146 yards and four touchdowns. He scored four of the five touchdowns in the first half. Louisville won 63–20, which was the most points Florida State had ever given up. This game made Jackson a top contender for the Heisman Trophy. It also gave Louisville their highest ranking since 2006, at #3.

On December 8, Jackson won the Walter Camp Award for player of the year. He also won the Maxwell Award for the best all-around player in college football. On December 10, 2016, Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy. He was the first Louisville player to win it. At 19 years and 337 days old, he was also the youngest player ever to receive the award. He finished the season with 3,543 passing yards, 30 passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions. He also ran for 1,571 yards and 21 touchdowns.

2017 Season: Another Strong Year

When Jackson started the 2017 season, fans and media had high hopes for him. Even though Louisville lost to the Clemson Tigers 47–21, Jackson still played very well. His impressive stats for the season made him a Heisman finalist again in 2017. He finished third in the voting. Jackson played in 13 games. He had 3,660 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,601 yards and 18 touchdowns. Louisville finished the season with an 8–5 record. After the 2017–18 school year, Jackson was named the men's ACC Athlete of the Year.

Lamar Jackson's Professional Career

Joining the NFL: 2018 Draft

On January 5, 2018, Jackson announced he would enter the 2018 NFL draft. Many experts thought he should change positions to wide receiver because of his amazing athleticism. But Jackson insisted he wanted to play quarterback professionally. He chose not to do drills like the 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He wanted to focus on showing his passing skills instead.

Jackson during training camp in 2018

The Baltimore Ravens picked Jackson in the first round as the 32nd overall pick. They traded up to get him. He was the fifth quarterback chosen that year. On June 5, 2018, Jackson signed his first NFL contract. It was reportedly worth $9.47 million.

Rookie Season: 2018

Jackson played his first NFL game when he replaced starting quarterback Joe Flacco. This was in the second half of a 47–3 win against the Buffalo Bills. He finished with 24 passing yards and 39 rushing yards. In Week 7, he scored his first NFL touchdown on a one-yard run. This was during a close 24–23 loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Jackson rushing in 2018

In Week 11, Jackson made his first NFL start. This was because Joe Flacco was injured. Jackson completed 13 of 19 passes for 150 yards. He also ran for 117 yards, which was a Ravens record for a quarterback in one game. The Ravens won 24–21 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Over the next few weeks, Jackson continued to lead the team. He helped the Ravens win six of the seven games he started. This helped them win the AFC North title. For the season, he had 1,201 passing yards, six passing touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also led all quarterbacks with 695 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Jackson became the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game. This was the day before his 22nd birthday. The Ravens played the Los Angeles Chargers. Jackson threw for two touchdowns in four minutes. He brought the Ravens back from a 20-point deficit. However, the Ravens lost 23–17. After the 2018 season, the Ravens changed their entire offense to fit Jackson's unique skills.

First MVP Season: 2019

Jackson started the 2019 season strong. In a 59–10 win over the Miami Dolphins, he threw for a career-high 324 yards and five touchdowns. He became the youngest quarterback to get a perfect passer rating. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. In the next game, he threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 120 yards. The Ravens won 23–17 against the Arizona Cardinals. Jackson became the first NFL player to pass for over 250 yards and rush for 120 yards in one game.

In Week 6, Jackson had 236 passing yards and 152 rushing yards. He also had a rushing touchdown in a 23–17 win against the Cincinnati Bengals. He became the first player in NFL history to pass for over 200 yards and rush for 150 yards in a regular-season game. In Week 10, he had another perfect passer rating against the Bengals. He became only the second player in NFL history to have two perfect passer ratings in the same season.

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

In Week 14, Jackson ran for over 1,000 yards in a single season. He was the first quarterback to do this since Michael Vick. In Week 15, he broke Vick's record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season. He finished the season with 1,206 rushing yards. Jackson led all quarterbacks with 36 touchdown passes. He also led all rushers with 6.9 yards per carry. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month for November.

Jackson was the starting quarterback at the 2020 Pro Bowl. He was named the offensive Most Valuable Player. Jackson was voted the MVP of the 2019 season. He was the second player ever to be voted unanimously, after Tom Brady. He was also the second-youngest player to win, after Jim Brown.

In the playoffs, the Ravens lost to the Tennessee Titans 28–12. Jackson threw for 365 yards and ran for 143 yards. He became the first player to throw for over 300 yards and rush for over 100 yards in a playoff game.

2020 Season: Another 1,000-Yard Rushing Season

Jackson during a game against the Washington Commanders in 2020

In the first game of 2020, Jackson threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 4, he became the fastest player in NFL history to reach 5,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards. This was during a 31–17 win over the Washington Football Team. In Week 14, Jackson set an NFL record for most rushing yards by a quarterback on Monday Night Football with 124 yards. He led the Ravens to a thrilling 47–42 win over the Browns.

In the regular-season finale, Jackson became the first NFL quarterback to have multiple seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards. He finished the season with 1,005 rushing yards. In the playoffs, Jackson won his first career playoff game. The Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans 20–13. However, in the next round, he suffered a concussion. The Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills 17–3.

2021 Season: Injuries and Pro Bowl

Jackson in 2021

In Week 2, Jackson had his first win against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. He threw for 239 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 5, Jackson threw for a career-high and Ravens record of 442 yards. He also threw four touchdowns in an overtime win against the Indianapolis Colts. He helped the Ravens come back from a 19-point deficit. He also became the first quarterback to have an 85%+ completion rate while throwing over 40 passes.

In Week 6, Jackson set a record for the most wins as a starting quarterback under the age of 25, with 35 wins. In Week 14, Jackson suffered an ankle injury. He missed the rest of the season because of it. He was still chosen for his second Pro Bowl.

2022 Season: Contract Talks and Injury

Jackson turned down a contract extension before the season. He believed he could play even better and earn more money. In Week 2, he threw for 318 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins. In this game, Jackson passed Michael Vick for the most 100-yard rushing games by a quarterback. For the first month of the season, Jackson led the league in quarterback rating and passing touchdowns. He was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Month.

In Week 13, Jackson suffered a knee injury. He missed the final five games of the regular season. The Ravens still made the playoffs with a 10–7 record. However, Jackson was ruled out for their playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Second MVP Season: 2023

Jackson during training camp in 2023

On March 7, 2023, the Ravens put a special tag on Jackson's contract. This meant he could talk to other teams, but the Ravens could match any offer. On March 27, Jackson said on Twitter that he had asked for a trade. He felt the Ravens were "not interested in meeting my value" for a long-term contract. The situation ended on April 27. Jackson signed a five-year contract worth $260 million. This made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.

In Week 7, Jackson threw for a season-high 357 yards and three touchdowns. He also ran for 36 yards and a touchdown. This earned him AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. In Week 12, Jackson ran for 39 yards. This made him reach 5,000 career rushing yards. He joined Michael Vick, Cam Newton, and Russell Wilson as the only quarterbacks to do this. He reached this milestone in just 82 games, faster than any other quarterback.

On Christmas Day, Jackson led the Ravens to a 33–19 win over the San Francisco 49ers. He threw for 252 yards and two touchdowns. In the next game, he had a perfect passer rating for the third time in his career. He threw for 321 yards and five touchdowns in a 56–19 win over the Miami Dolphins. This win also secured the top spot in the AFC for the Ravens.

On January 3, 2024, the Ravens announced Jackson would not play in the final regular season game. He finished the season with career highs in pass completions, completion percentage, and passing yards. Jackson won his second NFL MVP award. He received 49 out of 50 first-place votes. At 27 years old, he became the second-youngest player to win multiple MVPs, after Jim Brown.

In the playoffs, Jackson led the Ravens to a 34–10 win over the Houston Texans. He scored all four of the Ravens' touchdowns. This sent Baltimore to their first AFC Championship Game since 2012. In the AFC Championship Game, the Ravens lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17–10. Jackson completed a pass that was batted into the air and caught by himself for 14 yards. This play was named the best play at the 2024 ESPY Awards.

2024 Season: Record-Breaking Year

In the NFL Kickoff Game against the Chiefs, Jackson ran for 122 yards. He passed Russell Wilson for the third-most career rushing yards for a quarterback. In Week 7, he completed 17 of 22 passes for 281 yards and five touchdowns. He had a near-perfect passer rating of 158.1. This helped the Ravens win 41–31 against the Buccaneers. Jackson's record against NFC teams improved to 23–1, the best ever for a quarterback. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for October.

In Week 9, Jackson had a perfect passer rating for the fourth time in his career. He completed 16 of 19 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns in a 41–10 win over the Broncos. He became the first player in league history with four perfect games. In Week 10, Jackson had his best fourth quarter ever against the Bengals. He threw for 197 yards and three touchdowns. He rallied the Ravens from a 14-point deficit to win 35–34.

On Christmas Day, Jackson scored three touchdowns. He also passed Michael Vick to become the NFL's all-time leading rusher at quarterback. This was in a 31–2 win over the Houston Texans. Jackson finished a record-setting regular season by leading the Ravens to their second straight AFC North title. He had a 35–10 win over the Browns. Jackson became the first player in NFL history to have over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in one season. He also threw 41 touchdown passes with only four interceptions. This set a new record for the fewest interceptions with over 40 touchdown passes.

In the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, Jackson threw for 175 yards and two touchdowns. This helped the Ravens beat the Steelers. In the Divisional Round, the Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills 27–25. Jackson threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns.

Lamar Jackson's Playing Style

Lamar Jackson is widely seen as the best running quarterback in the NFL. His unique dual-threat playstyle, where he excels at both running and throwing, often leads to comparisons with players like Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick. Except for his first year, the Ravens have led the league in rushing every year with Jackson as their quarterback. In 2019, the Ravens broke the single-season rushing record for a team. Jackson also broke Vick's record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in one season. In 2024, in his seventh season, Jackson broke Vick's record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a career.

Some people used to worry if Jackson could play well as a pure pocket passer. This means throwing from inside the offensive line, without running. These concerns started when he was in college. However, most experts agree that Jackson has greatly improved his passing skills throughout his career. Jackson has achieved a perfect passer rating four times in his career. This is tied for the most in NFL history.

Lamar Jackson's NFL Career Stats

Regular Season Stats

Postseason Stats

Awards and Achievements

Lamar Jackson has won many awards in both college and the NFL.

College Awards

• 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)
• 2× ACC Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
• 2× ACC Offensive Player of the Year (2016, 2017)
• ACC Athlete of the Year (2018)
• His number 8 jersey was retired by the Louisville Cardinals.

NFL Awards and Records

• 2× NFL Most Valuable Player (2019, 2023)
• 2× Bert Bell Award (2019, 2023)
• 13× AFC Offensive Player of the Week
• 5× AFC Offensive Player of the Month
• 3× 101 Awards AFC Offensive Player of the Year (2019, 2023, 2024)
• 4× Pro Bowl (2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
• 3× First-team All-Pro (2019, 2023, 2024)
• Sporting News Offensive Player of the Year (2019)

NFL Records Lamar Jackson Holds

• First quarterback with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons (2019, 2020).
• First quarterback with five seasons of 700+ rushing yards.
• 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).
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a career: 6,173.
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season: 1,206 (2019).
• Most games with a perfect passer rating: 4 (tied for NFL record).
• Youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game: 21 years, 364 days (2018).
• Youngest quarterback to achieve a perfect passer rating: 22 years, 244 days (2019).

Baltimore Ravens Team Records

• Most passing yards by a quarterback in a game: 442 (2021).
• Most rushing yards by a quarterback in a game: 152 (2019).
• Most passing touchdowns in a season: 41 (2024).
• Most passing touchdowns in a game: 5 (tied).
• Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass: 15.
• Most AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors: 11.
• Highest completion percentage in a game: 88.2%.
• Highest completion percentage in a season: 67.2% (2023).
• Highest passer rating, season: 113.3 (2019).

Lamar Jackson Off the Field

Business and Endorsements

In 2018, Jackson started his own sportswear brand called Era 8 Apparel. In March 2020, he filed a lawsuit against Amazon. He claimed they used his name and image without permission for clothing.

In August 2020, Jackson signed a deal with Oakley, Inc.. This company makes sunglasses, sports goggles, and football helmet visors. In May 2022, it was announced that Jackson bought a soul food restaurant in Florida. It was renamed "Play Action Soulfood and More."

In September 2022, Jackson announced on Twitter that he would be the cover star for the NFL's first virtual reality (VR) game. The game, "NFL Pro Era," lets users feel like they are a quarterback for their favorite NFL team. It was released on December 23, 2022. Jackson was also on the cover of the sequel, "NFL Pro Era II," released in October 2023.

Personal Life and Family

Aruna Miller, Wes Moore, James Moore, Jackson, and Dawn Moore at Ravens training camp in 2023

Lamar Jackson is a Christian. He has a daughter named Milan, who he calls "Lani." As of 2019, Jackson lives in Owings Mills, Maryland. This is about 20 minutes from the Ravens' training complex. He lives there with his mother and siblings. Several of Jackson's cousins are also football players. These include Trayvon Mullen, Tiawan Mullen, Adoree' Jackson, and James Pierre. As a child, Jackson's favorite player was Michael Vick. Vick inspired Jackson to develop his own dual-threat style of play as a quarterback.

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