Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has widely been considered one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL since becoming the team’s full-time starter in 2019 – the same season he was named the league’s MVP by a unanimous vote.
However, it appears that not everyone is sold on Jackson as a quarterback, particularly when he has to throw the ball. The Athletic asked several anonymous coaches and coordinators to rate several NFL quarterbacks, and Jackson drew one particularly scathing review from a current defensive coordinator.
“If he has to pass to win the game, they ain’t winning the game,” the anonymous coordinator told The Athletic. “He’s so unique as an athlete and he’s really a good football player, but I don’t (care) if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don’t think he’ll ever be a 1 as a quarterback. He’ll be a 1 as a football player, but not as a quarterback. So many games come down to two-minute, and that is why they have a hard time advancing even when they are good on defense. Playoffs are tight. You have to be able to throw the ball, and he is just so inconsistent throwing the ball. It is hit or miss.”
The unnamed coordinator certainly didn’t hold back his criticism about the Ravens‘ quarterback, but the NFL world certainly had plenty to say in response, coming to Jackson’s defense, suggesting that Jackson is indeed one of the best passers in the league and that the criticism he continues to receive is unmerited.
in 2018, Lamar Jackson was a 21-yr old backup QB at camp
he didn't get first-team reps
he was inserted for a handful gadget plays
then he became full time starter in week 11
went 6-1 & posted the best QB stats of any 21-yr old ever
but people hatedhttps://t.co/2nsNPc1Mgw
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 25, 2022
in 2021, despite the Ravens being the #1 most injured team in the NFL, Lamar had Baltimore the #1 seed in the AFC in December
he was the #1 best PASSER outside the numbers
then he injured his ankle, missed the season, and the Ravens lost every single game without him (0-5)
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) July 25, 2022
i need anonymous coaching sources to start coming up with more outlandish things. claim one of lamar jackson's hands is a hologram and it can't actually hold anything. tell me he's convinced his receivers are secretly dinosaurs in human disguises.
— Ryan Nanni (@celebrityhottub) July 25, 2022
It doesn't matter what Lamar Jackson does.
It doesn't matter if he wins MVP.
It doesn't matter if he has an absurd win rate.
It doesn't matter if he totally carries his team when they are banged up.
No matter what, a disturbingly large amount of people will never respect him.
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) July 25, 2022
Lamar Jackson
Good thrower of the football pic.twitter.com/2uHOHN7GCF
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) July 25, 2022
Lamar Jackson disrespect somehow gets more outrageous by the day
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) July 25, 2022
Jackson might just be the most heavily-criticized quarterback in the NFL, and that criticism continues year after year.