Lamar Jackson is an American football quarterback who plays for the Baltimore Ravens in the National Football League (NFL). He is a former Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the league, having won the award in 2019 and is widely regarded as the best running quarterback in the NFL today.
And unlike other quarterbacks, he has a six-pack!
Read on to find out about Lamar Jackson’s College and NFL career, his salary and more.
In this Lamar Jackson guide…
Lamar Jackson Quick Facts
Name: Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr
Age: 25
DoB: 7 January 1997
Nationality: American
Birthplace: Pompano Beach, Florida
Height: 6 feet 2 inches / 188cm
Weight: 16 st 4 lbs / 104kg
NFL Team: Baltimore Ravens
Position: Quarterback
Contract: $23 million (2022 NFL Season)
Instagram: @new_era8
Who is Lamar Jackson?
Lamar Jackson is an American football quarterback who plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL.
He played college football at the University of Louisville, where he won the Heisman Trophy in his sophomore year.
He was drafted by the Ravens in the 2018 NFL Draft with the last pick of the first round. In 2019, in only his second season in the league, he was unanimously voted as MVP.
Known for his ability to run the ball from the quarterback position, Jackson is the only quarterback to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
College Football Career
Impressing at his high school at Boynton Beach in Florida, the University of Louisville recruited Jackson as a quarterback who could run and throw the ball equally well.
Jackson had a decent freshman season, accounting for 2,800 total yards and a MVP performance in the 2015 Music City Bowl. But it wasn’t until 2016 – in his second college season – that he really came into his own.
In a game against the Charlotte 49ers, Jackson set a university record for total touchdowns with eight, all of them in the first half.
When Louisville played Syracuse, Jackson demonstrated his elite athleticism for a quarterback, with an epic hurdle over a Syracuse defender.
Jackson finished the season with 51 total touchdowns and a whole slew of trophies, including the prestigious Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding college player of that year.
He almost repeated the feat the next year, finishing third in Heisman voting, before declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Professional NFL Career
The Baltimore Ravens selected Lamar Jackson with the 32nd pick in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft.
He was selected to play in the season opener, coming on against the Buffalo Bills for starting quarterback Joe Flacco.
Lamar Jackson became the youngest quarterback to start an NFL playoff game against the Chargers, taking the field a day before his 22nd birthday. Despite throwing two touchdowns, the Ravens lost the game and bowed out of the playoffs.
After the season, the Ravens went all-in on Jackson, completely scrapping the playbook previously made for Flacco and trading for players that would complement Jackson’s style.
Lamar Jackson’s MVP Season
The changes seemed to work, with Lamar Jackson clocking his best NFL season to date.
The Ravens went 14-2 in the regular season with Jackson awarded that year’s MVP award. He is the second youngest player to win the award and only the second player, after Tom Brady in 2010, to be given it unanimously.
He amassed a huge 4,000 total yards and contributed to a career-high 43 touchdowns. The season also highlighted how effective Jackson was as a running quarterback, rushing for over 1,000 yards.
Lamar Jackson also became the youngest person to start at a Pro Bowl that season, winning the offensive Most Valuable Player for the game. He’s got the knack for getting these awards, doesn’t he?
Despite his personal accolades, the Ravens once again went out in the first round of the playoffs.
Lamar Jackson’s Recent Form
Injuries have also stopped Jackson from progressing further in the most recent two NFL seasons.
He reached the second round of the playoffs in 2020, but lost to the Buffalo Bills after a concussion. In 2021, he missed the end of the NFL season with an ankle injury.
With Jackson healthy again, will this be the year Baltimore wins it all?
Lamar Jackson’s Salary
Lamar Jackson is still on his rookie contract, a four-year deal signed after he was drafted. The rookie deal is worth $9.5 million, with a signing bonus of just under $5million.
In April 2021, the Ravens exercised an option on Jackson’s contract worth a guaranteed $23 million for the 2022 NRL season.
In addition to his salary, Jackson is also sponsored by Oakley.
Lamar Jackson Relationship
Lamar Jackson is very private about his relationship with college sweetheart Jamie Taylor. The pair have been dating since 2017.
They have a one-year-old daughter together named Milan.
Lamar Jackson Business Ventures
In 2018, Lamar Jackson launched a sportswear line called Era 8 Apparel.
In May 2022, he also announced that he had entered the restaurant business, buying a soul food restaurant in his native Pompano Beach.
Jackson featured on the cover of Madden NFL 21 video game and in September, he announced that he will be the cover star of the NFL’s first virtual reality game NFL Pro Era.
Lamar Jackson is also very popular with the Vatican. In a rather bizarre twist of events, Jackson sent a signed jersey to Pope Francis.
Didn’t take the Pope for Ravens fan!
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