Ravens' Lamar Jackson responds to John Harbaugh, names GOAT QB

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh claimed last week he wants quarterback and two-time regular-season Most Valuable Player Award winner Lamar Jackson "to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League."

Jackson responded to Harbaugh's comments while speaking with reporters on Monday.

"I appreciate that coming from coach," Jackson said, as shared by Clifton Brown of the Ravens' website. "Keep doing what I'm doing, keep trying to get better, keep trying to win these games, keep trying to reach that goal. I'm not the GOAT. Tom Brady's the GOAT. But I believe that's motivation. I appreciate that. I'm still on my way."

Brady retired in February 2023 as a seven-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Super Bowl MVP. Meanwhile, Jackson possesses a 2-4 playoff record and has yet to guide the Ravens past the conference championship portion of a postseason tournament. With that said, the 2018 first-round draft pick turned just 27 years old this past January and, theoretically, isn't yet in his playing prime.

"Patience is the key," Jackson explained. "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."

As of Tuesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed the Ravens third among the overall betting favorites at +1000 odds to win Super Bowl LIX. That same outlet had Jackson tied for sixth at +1500 odds to earn regular-season MVP honors for the upcoming campaign.

Jackson seems to understand that his postseason record and ability to win the biggest January (and February) games won't disappear unless he gets his hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

"That's been the first check box for me since 2018," Jackson added. "April 26, whenever I was drafted, I said that, and I meant that. But this is the highest level of this game we play. You've 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."