Lamar Jackson

Background

Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. is one of the best players in the NFL. His speed and agility as a quarterback have earned him numerous awards and accolades in the NFL.
Jackson was born on January 7, 1997, and raised in Florida. His parents are Lamar Jackson Sr. and Felicia Jones. He lost his father and grandmother in 2005 when he was just eight years old. Jackson is a Black American who started throwing footballs at the age of eight. Jackson grew up attending varying public schools and living in rough areas. His football career began in high school as he was an impressive quarterback who could run and throw a football well. He was dedicated to learning the game and spared hours each week to watch films that could help him improve his accuracy and decision-making. He lost his last high school game against the Miami Central High School team in 2014.

Jackson is the fastest and best quarterback in the N.F.L. His rating from ESPN, 247 Sports, and Rivals.com was good, with the former two giving him three stars and the latter rating him four stars. He got college offers from Louisville, Auburn, Clemson, and Florida. Jackson later chose the University of Louisville because the head coach promised his mother that Jackson would only play quarterback. As a freshman, Jackson was quite an impressive player as he completed 135 passes out of 247 for 1,840 yards and had 12 touchdowns. He was given the ‘Most Verified Player’ (M.V.P.) of the American college football bowl game, Music City Bowl, in 2015. In 2016, he became the first Heisman Trophy Champion in Louisville school’s history. He was named ‘Adidas High-Performance Male Athlete of the Year’ for his remarkable performance in the sophomore campaign.

Jackson has been an outstanding player throughout the seasons he played for the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL. He stuck to playing quarterback professionally despite what the analysts had to say about his athleticism. In 2018, Jackson entered for the 2018 NFL Draft and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens. That same year, it was reported he signed a $9.47 million rookie contract with a $4.97 million signing bonus pay. In 2018, Jackson got his first N.F.L. play against the Cincinnati Bengals. In week 16, during the N.F.L., he helped the Ravens beat the Los Angeles Chargers by completing 12 passes out of 22 for 204 yards and having a 22-10 touchdown victory. In 2021, the Ravens gave him the fifth-year option and promised him $23 million for the 2022 season.

Jackson’s pure sportsmanship at such a young age is quite commendable. He referenced his mother as being the best coach that shaped his career. Jackson is a devoted Christian and is currently dating his girlfriend, Jamie Taylor. Jackson supports charitable organizations like ‘Blessings in a Backpack,’ which provides child meals during the weekends. He lives with his mother and siblings in Owings Mill, Maryland.