Lamar Jackson is a two-time MVP and the face of a relatively successful franchise, the Baltimore Ravens.

He was recently compared to the legendary Payton Manning, but not for the reasons you are assuming.  

Writer and NFL analyst Diante Lee recently wrote that Jackson’s career is at a similar crossroads to Manning’s was in the 2000s.

“Lamar is in the same place Peyton Manning was in the mid-2000s; nothing else in his career will matter until he’s lifting the Lombardi Trophy,” Lee opined. 

But why does he believe that? Manning won four NFL MVP awards in 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009. He even set a record by scoring 49 touchdowns and throwing for 4557 passing yards in the 2004 season.

Despite all his feats, he won only one Super Bowl championship with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007. It took Manning another nine years to win his second championship with the Denver Broncos.

However, the similarities between the two iconic quarterbacks don't stop here.

Lamar Jackson's Career Trajectory Is Quite Similar to That of Manning’s

The Baltimore Ravens swooped in Lamar Jackson as the first-round pick in 2018. Since then, he has become one of the best dual-threat QBs in the league, torching opponents with 187 passing touchdowns for 22,608 yards. 

Lamar also has a claim to 35 rushing touchdowns across 116 games. Since his debut, the Ravens have appeared in four Wildcard games and four Divisional Playoffs.

The Ravens even reached the AFC Championship in 2023. Unfortunately, they suffered a tough 17-10 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Jackson hasn't won a single Super Bowl after eight years. Similar to Manning, who won eight postseason games before he lifted his first Lombardi Trophy. Does that mean that Jackson could be on his way to winning at last? We don't know.

Because of these repetitive failures, former head coach John Harbaugh was fired after spending 18 years in the franchise. But unlike Manning, who has strong relationships with his head coach, Tony Dungy, Jackson and Harbaugh ended on a bitter note. 

Is that why he hasn’t won a Super Bowl yet? What do you think of this comparison? Tell us in the comments, and read more at the Cleveland Browns Community!

Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Kalp Thaker