Lamar Jackson’s NFL career has been a success, and one would assume that negative views about him are now firmly in the past.
According to Alex Kay of Bleacher Report, the two-time MVP is ranked No. Alex Kay of Bleacher Report ranked the two-time MVP as No. Alex Kay ranked the two-time MVP as the No. 1 quarterback in the NFL today.
Kay’s rankings were based on a “combination of factors including statistics, record, contract values and public perception, with a heavy weighting on playoff performances and record in the postseason.”
Kay wrote that Jackson was the only player who has not won a Super Bowl Ring among the 10 players to have been named multiple MVPs during the Super Bowl Era. All the other players — including Johnny Unitas Peyton Manning Aaron Rodgers Tom Brady Brett Favre Joe Montana Steve Young Kurt Warner Patrick Mahomes — have taken their teams to multiple Super Bowls and won one or more.
The statement above is not true. Jackson is still in his prime at 28. Manning did not win the Super Bowl before he turned 30. Young won his Super Bowl at the age of 33.
It doesn’t matter, because every quarterback who is a member of the exclusive club of multiple MVPs will either be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in their first eligibility year or they are guaranteed to make it there. It’s ridiculous to label any of them as overrated. Obviously.
Jackson isn’t only great during his seven years of starting; he has been historically great. He is the best dual-threat QB of all time. He’s also the leader in career and single-season rush yards for a quarterback.
Jackson was the first ever player to rush more than 800 yard and pass more than 4,000 in a single season. He also became the first person to throw at least 40 touchdowns and no more than four interceptions.
The Buffalo Bills Josh Allen did not make Kay’s list despite having never made it to the Super Bowl, one less MVP award (he beat Jackson in voting last season even though Jackson had been first-team All Pro) and a winning percentage lower (.689) that Jackson (.730).
Jackson’s absence from the Super Bowl would be disappointing, but to label him “overrated” is not only unfair, but absurd.