Ravens GM Makes Bold Lamar Jackson Statement

Lamar Jackson had a stellar year for the Baltimore Ravens, and the team’s general manager certainly noticed.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gets off a pass during first half action during the Buffalo Bills divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 19, 2025. / Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

One of the best decisions the Baltimore Ravens front office has made over the years is drafting Lamar Jackson, who could very well win his third MVP award in seven seasons.

It’s a decision Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta is thankful for every day he comes into the office.

“I can say there’s no player I’d rather have on my team than Lamar Jackson. I think he’s the best quarterback in the league,” DeCosta said to reporters.

Jackson had a banner year, throwing for 4,172 yards, passing the 4,000-yard threshold for the first time in his career. He threw 41 touchdowns against just four interceptions, making him one of the best signal callers in the NFL.

As a runner, Jackson logged 915 yards and four touchdowns, which helped him pass Michael Vick for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history despite being just 28-years-old.

DeCosta also had another message for Jackson now that the season is over.

“I want Lamar relax a little bit and think back to what we accomplished as a team and what he accomplished individually,” DeCosta said.

“And from what I’ve seen with Lamar, he’s just grown so much – even just over the last couple of years, in terms of his game as a player, as a leader [and] as a person. I love talking to him. We communicate all the time. And as I said, I’m blessed to be with him for the last seven years.”

Jackson will have a chance to recuperate after a long NFL season in hopes of adding one more massive accomplishment to his long list: a Super Bowl championship.

Jackson could receive his third MVP award at the NFL Honors in New Orleans on Thursday, Feb. 6.

Ravens’ Lamar Jackson Named MVP Finalist

An unsurprising, yet well-deserved honor for the Baltimore Ravens superstar.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson gets ready to launch the ball during first half action at the Buffalo Bills divisional game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 19, 2025. / Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s magnificent season has come to an end sooner than he hoped, but he could still earn some more hardware in the near future.

On Thursday, Jackson was announced as one of five finalists for NFL MVP, an award he’s already won in both 2019 and 2023. Joining him as finalists are Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff.

The finalists for AP Most Valuable Player presented by @Invisalign! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/bcemPLMfjo

— NFL (@NFL) January 23, 2025

Jackson, 28, had a season for the ages in 2024. In the regular season, he completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns and only four interceptions, easily the best numbers of his starting career. In fact, his 119.6 passer rating was the fourth-highest in NFL history for a single season, only trailing players who also won MVP in Aaron Rodgers (2011 and 2020) and Peyton Manning (2004).

Additionally, Jackson continued to shine as a runner, rushing for 915 yards and four touchdowns while averaging 6.6 yards per attempt. Along the way, he became the first player to ever pass for 4,000+ yards and run for 900+ yards in the same season, and broke Michael Vick’s record for the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history.

Sadly, that incredible season wasn’t enough to propel Jackson to his first Super Bowl. He and the Ravens fell 27-25 to the Bills on Sunday night, with him committing two costly turnovers in the process.

As the narratives return in full force, the Ravens have their star quarterback’s back all the way.

“I’m just really happy [and] blessed to have watched him play football this year,” general manager Eric DeCosta told reporters Wednesday. “From what I’ve seen with Lamar, he’s just grown so much – even just over the last couple of years, in terms of his game as a player, as a leader [and] as a person. I love talking to him. We communicate all the time. And as I said, I’m blessed to be with him for the last seven years.

“I can say there’s no player I’d rather have on my team than Lamar Jackson. I think he’s the best quarterback in the league.”

Jackson earning first-team All-Pro honors over Allen, widely considered his main competition for MVP, bodes well for his chances of winning the award once again. However, we won’t know for sure until the NFL Honors awards show on Feb. 6, two weeks from Thursday.