OWINGS MILLS — Ravens coach John Harbaugh has read the criticism of quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Jackson made headlines Sunday when he missed the opening of training camp because of an illness. Harbaugh did not appear to be concerned about the issue, but he is not happy with the negative responses.
“There’s a lot of great things said about Lamar – but there’s a lot of stuff that’s said that you have to just scratch your head about and wonder what that person’s even thinking?” Harbaugh said. “But we take it personally.”
Jackson is entering his seventh year in the league. He will have about seven weeks before the Ravens play the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2024 regular-season opener, which means there is plenty of time to learn the 2024 offense of second-year coordinator Todd Monken — one that will involve input from Jackson.
Harbaugh is not surprised some pundits are questioning Jackson because that’s been an issue that has followed him throughout his football life.
“Lamar Jackson has been a guy who has been answering those same questions. I’m talking about it since he was a kid. Junior high, high school, college, the [NFL] draft; the success he’s had in the National Football League, and it still comes up. He’s still growing, he’s got a growth mindset, [and] he’s going to get better and better, no doubt. But what does he have to do to prove himself to some people, right?”
Jackson has proven himself in the NFL. He is a two-time league MVP and has gone 58-19 as the starter. He also is the first NFL quarterback to run for 700 or more yards in five consecutive seasons. Where he hasn’t had success is in the playoffs, where he is 2-4.
So, the challenge is winning a Super Bowl because his critics say that’s how he will be remembered.
Harbaugh has additional goals for Jackson.
“There’s a vision, and I believe the Ravens, and we’ve always had a vision for Lamar Jackson,” Harbaugh said. “We built an offense for it in ’19. We’re building another offense for it in ’23 and ’24 going forward – the next iteration of our offense around Lamar Jackson.
“Because in my opinion, the vision, the vision for Lamar Jackson, and it’s a vision – it’s something you see it like it’s already happened. You can see it like it’s already been done. … And the vision that we have together is that Lamar Jackson is going to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League, that’s the vision.
“It’s going to happen by Lamar, his work ethic, and his brilliant talent by all of us pouring into that effort together as a team, teamwork and by the grace of God and God’s good will. That’s how it’s going to happen. And I believe it like we’ve already seen it.”