Lamar Jackson is on a fast track for Canton, Ohio. That is not up for debate. His career up to this point is worthy of becoming one of the immortal inductees into the NFL Hall of Fame. He’s one of the top five players in the league each year, and there are no signs that he will slow down anytime soon.
The league has never seen anyone like Jackson. He proves that every game of every season. He is a model of consistency. One of the most mind-blowing statistics that showcases his generational talent is his touchdown-to-interception numbers.
Over his seven-year career, Jackson has thrown for 166 touchdowns and just 49 interceptions. The 28-year-old is the only quarterback to put up those kinds of numbers in the first seven years of a career. No one else has tallied 150-plus passing touchdowns and thrown less than 50 interceptions in that span. He’s not just in elite company for all-time numbers, but he is already in a league of his own.
Lamar Jackson is on a Hall of Fame pace
Heading into year eight, Jackson has racked up Hall of Fame-like accolades. He has made four Pro Bowls, been an All-Pro first-team selection three times, and is a two-time MVP.
Just 13 NFL MVPs have failed to make the Hall of Fame. Jackson already has two of those awards, and among retired players, all who earned the honor twice have gone on to wear the distinguished gold jacket. He should probably have three, as 2024 may have been his best year yet.
Last season, he totaled 41 passing touchdowns, a career-high, and threw just four interceptions, a career-low in seasons he has started more than seven games. He also continued his dominance on the ground with 915 yards and four touchdowns. Many believe he was robbed of an MVP, as he was just the third quarterback in history to earn first-team All-Pro honors and lose the race to the second-team All-Pro at the position. Regardless, that electric campaign further proved his worthiness of the Hall.
The biggest knock on Jackson surrounds his lack of playoff success. In eight playoff starts, he has just 13 total touchdowns and an alarming 11 turnovers. While the past couple of seasons have seen the dual-threat quarterback show up come playoff time, it has failed to translate into many wins. The team is 3-5 with Jackson starting in the postseason and has yet to reach a Super Bowl with him under center.
Even some of the best Hall of Famers did not capture their first Lombardi until deep in their career, though. Peyton Manning, a 2021 Hall of Fame inductee, and Drew Brees, a future Hall of Famer, both won their first Super Bowl in their 10th season. Even Dan Marino, one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history, never became a Super Bowl champion.
Jackson still has plenty of time to conquer his demons in the playoffs, but if one thing is unquestionable, he is quickly becoming a lock for Canton, and he continues to do things no player has ever done.
