Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh recently shared an ambitious vision for his quarterback, Lamar Jackson.
In a statement that quickly went viral, Harbaugh declared his belief that Jackson could become the “greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League.” The bold claim garnered a mixed reaction from fans, many of whom were skeptical.
When reporters asked Jackson about his coach’s lofty expectations on Monday, the two-time MVP had a humble and respectful response. Jackson acknowledged Harbaugh’s confidence in him but made it clear that, in his eyes, Tom Brady is the greatest of all time (GOAT) and the benchmark he aims to reach.
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“I appreciate that coming from coach,” Jackson said, according to Clifton Brown of the Ravens’ website. “I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. Keep trying to get better. Keep trying to win these games. Keep trying to reach that goal. I’m not the GOAT. Tom Brady’s the GOAT. But I believe that’s motivation. I appreciate that. I’m still on my way.”
Jackson emphasized that his ultimate goal is to be recognized as a “champion.” Despite missing several days of training camp due to illness, the three-time Pro Bowler returned to practice seamlessly, showing no signs of rust.
While Jackson is just one MVP award shy of matching Tom Brady’s career total, his postseason achievements remain limited with only two career playoff wins.
This gap underscores the monumental challenge Jackson faces in aspiring to reach Brady’s level of success in the playoffs. Nonetheless, Harbaugh’s confidence in Jackson serves as a powerful motivator for the young quarterback as he continues to strive for greatness.
