The Baltimore Ravens have been in the Super Bowl hunt since the Lamar Jackson era started. When they drafted Jackson with the 32nd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, they knew he had the chance to be something special. Seven years into his NFL career, he already has a Hall of Fame resume. However, the Lombardi Trophy has eluded him each year.
The team knows the goal for the 2025 campaign is Super Bowl or bust. Everyone on the team has heard the noise that they cannot get it done in the playoffs, and they are going into the year looking for vengeance.
On an episode of “Cold as Balls” with Kevin Hart, Jackson talked about his football career and how Baltimore’s quest for a Lombardi after seven agonizing years of coming up short is the only goal to check off.
“We’re extremely close [to the Super Bowl],” Jackson said. “As I’ve been getting older in the league, my mindset has been different and the game has gotten a lot easier for me.”
Lamar Jackson’s leadership should help pave the way for a Super Bowl in 2025
Jackson and the Ravens have endured it all. From dominating the NFL but getting upset in the Divisional Round of the playoffs to losing in the AFC Championship to tolerating countless injuries, football has thrown every mental and physical challenge the team's way. This season, Jackson sounds ready to find a way over those obstacles.
The two-time MVP’s perspective has changed each year since he entered the NFL. Through all the experiences and hardships, he has learned more and more about what it takes to reach the mountaintop. One of those factors is being a vocal leader, which is especially important at the quarterback position. In the interview, he talked about how he has become more of a voice on the field going into year eight.
“As I’ve been growing in the league, you have to talk to the guys,” he told Hart. “Coaches like to tell me I have to talk to the guys, and I would talk to them one-on-one. But there are certain things I’m seeing; I have to voice my opinion more to those guys.”
Going into this season, Jackson and the Ravens look like the best they have ever been. The team is stronger with draft picks Malaki Starks and Mike Green, and free-agent signing Jaire Alexander is looking to stay healthy and return to Pro Bowl form. They lost minimal talent over the last few months, and while there are some questions at certain positions, the talent, and mental toughness is unquestionable. The sky is the limit in 2025.
