The NFL’s popularity continues to skyrocket year-on-year, and the 2024 season has been no different. The ongoing campaign has been a must-see, with a whole host of teams attempting to take the fight to the Kansas City Chiefs and stop the reigning champions from completing a historic three-peat. One of those challengers is the Baltimore Ravens, led by the sensational Lamar Jackson.
The Rise of the Quarterback
Quarterbacks such as the aforementioned Jackson, Mahomes, and Buffalo Bills man Josh Allen are revolutionizing the NFL, driving unprecedented viewership. Their dynamic performances fuel the league’s growing popularity, as seen in record-breaking viewership in recent years. With three games to be broadcast live on Netflix on Christmas Day, those numbers are set to grow even further.
But it isn’t just the streaming giant that is looking to cash in on the ever-expanding nature of the planet’s most lucrative sports league. The surge has also expanded into alternative media sources such as the online gambling and digital entertainment industries. Some of the best and most popular online gambling websites not only provide player-specific wagers – such as predicting Jackson’s rushing yards or Allen’s touchdowns – they have also created football-themed games like Gridiron Glory. No wonder online gambling is seeing such a surge of interest at the moment!
But just who is the NFL’s reigning MVP? Let’s find out more about superstar Lamar Jackson.
College Standout
Despite some stellar displays in high school, several outlets were unsure whether Jackson had the talent required to make it big. ESPN in particular wasn’t convinced, but that didn’t put off some top-ranked colleges, with Louisville ultimately securing his services after head coach Bobby Petrino promised Lamar’s mother that her son would be playing under center.
In his maiden campaign, the newly minted Cardinal wasted no time making an impact. As a true freshman, he threw for over 1,800 yards while rushing for nearly 1,000 more, a remarkable feat for anyone under center. In a historic sophomore year, he cemented himself as one of the nation’s best players, picking up combined yardage of over 5,000 and a whopping 51 touchdowns.
That campaign made him the youngest-ever winner of the Heisman Trophy and propelled him to superstar status. After a junior year in which he continued to tear defenses apart, Jackson declared for the 2018 draft, where he was projected to be a first-round pick. The Baltimore Ravens duly obliged, selecting him 32nd overall.
Definition of Dual-Threat
After initially serving as the backup to Joe Flacco throughout the first half of his rookie year, Jackson was thrust into the spotlight after an injury to the starting Super Bowl winner. His new side sat at 4-5 when he took the starting berth, but the ex-Cardinal immediately rejuvenated the Maryland outfit’s ailing campaign. He managed to mastermind six victories in the final seven games to secure a spot in the playoffs, where Jackson would become the youngest-ever QB to start a postseason game.
Despite a crushing defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers, the groundwork had been laid for the NFL’s newest superstar. During his first full year as a starter, he rewrote the record books in a breakout campaign. The main man under center led the league in touchdown passes with 36 while rushing for 1,206 yards, breaking Michael Vick’s record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a single season.
Playoff Choker?
Those exploits made him just the second man in history to claim the MVP award unanimously, but that counted for naught in the playoffs as his side was resoundingly dispatched by the Tennessee Titans. The Nashville side was the sixth seed and rank outsiders, but they managed to pull off a stunning 28-12 win thanks to powerhouse running back Derrick Henry. Five years on, question marks still remain as to whether he can get the job done under the brightest lights.
Such shocking upsets have been a mainstay throughout Jackson’s stint on top. The following year, he made it to the playoffs again and earned his first postseason win at the third time of asking, gaining redemption against the Titans in the wildcard round. Unfortunately, Jackson would go on to deliver one of his worst-ever performances, helping his side to just three points against a Josh Allen-powered Buffalo Bills.
Jackson delivered another stunning regular season in 2023, helping his side to top-seed status and winning the MVP award. They met the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game on home turf at M&T Bank Stadium. But unfortunately, it was Mahomes and Co. that spoiled the party, emerging as 17-10 victors en route to winning yet another Super Bowl. Now, the playoffs are just around the corner once more, and the pressure is well and truly on for the newly christened Eraser to break his postseason curse.
