Lamar Jackson is the presumptive MVP of the 2023 season, and he has led the Baltimore Ravens to the AFC Championship Game.
In the process, he has continued to impress one of his highest-profile fans: Tom Brady.
On the latest episode of his Let’s Go podcast, Brady spoke extensively about Jackson, whose ability to extend plays and wear defenses down in a number of ways has impressed Brady enormously.
“It’s a very frustrating style to play against,” Brady said.
Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images
Brady has been a big backer of Jackson, never more so than when Jackson himself made an appearance on the Let’s Go podcast. Brady told Jackson that he’s the type of player who makes people watch the NFL.
“I don’t think you’re ever out of it,” Brady told Jackson. “The ability to inspire your teammates by your action, and by your words, and your humility, and your toughness, and your courage. And not only your skill set, everybody can see that, but to me, it’s your intangibles that make you special. You’re never going to lose that. You just do more of that and you’re going to have incredible success, so I love seeing it man. Keep it up.”
Jackson has received plenty of criticism throughout his career—so much so that even the Ravens’ official website referenced it when writing about his four-touchdown performance against the Houston Texans in the Divisional Round.
But Brady sees similarities between Jackson and players like Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb and Steve Young.
“This isn’t like a new style of play,” Brady said on the most recent episode of Let’s Go. “He’s just a tremendous player. His ability to extend plays—he’s an incredible passer on the run, and they’ve got a great system that’s set up for that team to succeed. They built it around Lamar for good reason, because that’s what you do when you have a great quarterback. You build the system around him.
“I’m sure the coach doesn’t always know what’s going to happen, the fans don’t, and I don’t think Lamar always knows what’s going to happen, but you trust that in the end, his athleticism and his instincts are going to take you where you want to get, and that’s why they are in the position they are in going forward.”
Brady’s history of praising Jackson goes back a long way. In 2019, Brady approached Jackson before the New England Patriots took on the Ravens and called himself a “big fan.”
“You’re doing some great stuff. Keep it up, man,” Brady told Jackson at the time.
Brady also challenged Jackson to a 40-yard dash that year, although he stipulated that Jackson had to wear rollerblades and the race had to take place on natural grass.
“Who’s buying the PPV?” Brady asked rhetorically.
Jackson’s greatness is no secret in NFL circles. Pundits praise him for his well-rounded game, and the way his unique combination of running and throwing opens up options for a Ravens team without many holes on either side of the ball. There’s a reason Jackson will likely be the league’s MVP.
Still, enthusiastic co-signs from arguably the greatest quarterback in NFL history speak volumes, and on his episode of Let’s Go, Jackson said he appreciates Brady’s support.
“That means a lot coming from you,” he said, chuckling. “That means a lot, real talk.”
Jackson and the Ravens take on the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.