Baltimore Ravens to Lamar Jackson: 'You become the coordinator'

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson got the bag this offseason with his contract extension. But now he is getting something else from new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.

“Coach is basically just giving us the keys to the offense, really,” Jackson said, via ESPN. “I’m loving it.”

Jackson spent the last four seasons playing for offensive coordinator Greg Roman. He obviously had a lot of success in the offense, highlighted by his 2019 NFL MVP award.

However, there wasn’t much wiggle room for audibles under Roman, especially compared to other top quarterbacks in the league.

But Monken wants to see the 26-year-old Jackson take on more responsibility for the 2023 Ravens offense.

“There are times where Coach ‘Monk’ says, ‘I’m the coordinator. I call the plays. You like [the play]? Keep it,’” quarterbacks coach Tee Martin said. “When you change that play, you become the coordinator. And we want it to work.”

This offseason is set to be the most important of Jackson’s career so far, and this additional responsibility in the latest development. The Ravens hired Monken, who joined the team after three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Georgia. Jackson and the Ravens had a standoff over a contract extension — including Jackson tweeting that he had requested a trade from the Ravens — before he signed a five-year, $252 million contract.

Monken will be Jackson’s third offensive coordinator through his six years at the NFL level. The offensive coordinator in his first season, when he was the backup to Joe Flacco before taking over as the starter about halfway through the season, was Marty Mornhinweg.

Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowler, has a career record of 45-16 during the regular season but has played in only 12 games each of the past two seasons due to injuries.

In his 12 games last season, Jackson was 203 of 326 for 2,242 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. He also rushed the ball 112 times for 764 yards and three touchdowns.

The Ravens went 8-4 in those starts but slumped to finish the year 10-7 after Jackson’s left knee sprain and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

With Odell Beckham Jr. and Nelson Agholor signed in free agency and Zay Flowers selected in the first round of the draft, Jackson has new, talented players at his disposal this season. That will only increase the expectations on the former MVP as the season grows nearer.