Lamar Jackson: 'I want to be a champion'

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is ready to take the next step in his NFL career, which is getting a Super Bowl ring. While speaking to reporters on Monday, Jackson was asked about his goal of being a champion now that he’s won the NFL MVP award twice.

“That’s been the first check box for me since 2018,” Jackson said. “I said that April 26, whenever I was drafted I said that, and I meant that. This is the highest level of this game we play. You got to go out a champion, and that’s what I want to be labeled as a champion, not just MVP here and there. “I want to be a champion.”

Jackson and the Ravens came close to being champions last year. The team reached the AFC Championship game but lost to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. In six career playoff games, Jackson has a 2-4 record and has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions.

“Patience is the key,” Jackson said. “Only a few quarterbacks have won a Super Bowl in the last few years. A lot of people haven’t won. I’m focusing on me and I want that real bad. I’m just focusing on what I can control and go from there.”

Can Lamar Jackson be like Michael Jordan or LeBron James?

But could we see Jackson go on a run and lead the Ravens to multiple titles? Peter Schrager of Good Morning Football compated Jackson’s lack of a Super Bowl appearance to Michael Jordan not winning his first NBA title unti his seventh season and LeBron James not winning one until his ninth.

“Michael Jordan had a lot of regular-season success and would lose to the Pistons and would eventually get over the hump and then was the guy,” Schrager said, per the Ravens’ official website. “I’m not bailing on Lamar because he hasn’t made the Super Bowl yet. … I mentioned Michael Jordan. [Also], LeBron James. It doesn’t happen right away sometimes. Sometimes you need to lose a few times before you win.”

The only issue with this is Jackson and the Ravens play in a competitvie AFC. The Chiefs are the team the beat in the concerence as they have won back-to-back Super Bowl champions. The conference also includes other elite quarterbacks such as Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills.