What felt inevitable over the last month of the season is now official: Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is the 2023 AP NFL Most Valuable Player of the Year. This is the second time the Ravens QB has won the award, with the first coming in 2019, and it comes off the heels of another excellent season by the QB.
The Ravens as a team fell short in 2023, but that takes nothing away from what Jackson was able to do on the field this season, specifically in the regular season, that separated him from his peers once again.
Lamar Jackson Wins Second MVP
Jackson led the Ravens to a 13-4 record en route to the No. 1 seed in the AFC. He finished the regular season with 3,678 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns, adding on five rushing touchdowns; he was extremely productive and dynamic both as a runner and a passer.
#Ravens QB @Lj_era8 has been named the 2023 AP NFL Most Valuable Player. 🏆
2-time MVP 🔥#RavensFlock | #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/e69Tqv4EUS
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) February 9, 2024
Jackson is unique in his abilities and is an immense challenge for defenses to prepare against — oftentimes coming up with a way to stop him is much easier said than done.
He and the Ravens saw their season end at the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. Despite that, it doesn’t take away from what Jackson was able to accomplish this season.
Jackson has always faced scrutiny for his playing style, as people question the longevity of it and just how long he can keep the dynamism at the level he would need to be successful. The 2023 season went a long way in proving that Jackson is one of the best QBs in the NFL. Despite the naysayers, he has proven with his second MVP Award that he is the real deal and here to stay.
With his second MVP trophy, Jackson has now joined some elite company in NFL history.
Lamar Jackson is the 11th player in NFL history to win multiple MVP awards, joining Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Jim Brown, Brett Favre, Johnny Unitas, Patrick Mahomes, Joe Montana, Steve Young and Kurt Warner. pic.twitter.com/vzmJ8SiDIX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 9, 2024
Jackson Clear MVP Among His Peers as Well
While players don’t get an official vote for the Associated Press MVP award, if they did, it looks as if Jackson would have still won anyway.
Fox Sports surveyed 35 players at the Pro Bowl last weekend, and Jackson was the overwhelming favorite among the group.
“This is the third year we’ve asked players for their MVP picks, and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had the most dominant showing of any player in those three seasons,” Fox Sports’ Greg Auman wrote. “After leading Baltimore to the AFC Championship Game, he was the choice for 21 of the 35 players, often framed as, ‘It’s got to be Lamar,’ or, ‘Easy one: Lamar.'”
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It isn’t just current players who believe Jackson deserved the win, it’s former players as well. Pro Football Network spoke to former NFL RB, and former teammate of Jackson’s, Mark Ingram, and he was certain that Jackson was going to walk away with this award leading up to NFL Honors: “He’ll definitely be walking away with his second MVP.”
“I don’t understand the [negativity] and hate that surrounds this guy,” Ingram said. “All he does is come to work. All he does is show up and do things the right way.”
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!