NFL analyst claims Lamar Jackson and Ravens fans “don’t care” about regular-season awards

NFL Network's Peter Schrager suggested Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has moved past individual accolades, even as a potential third MVP award looms. The statement reflects Jackson's repeated emphasis on team success over personal honors.

Jackson stands at the precipice of NFL history. He will turn 28 years old on Tuesday and he could become the youngest player to win three MVP awards, joining an elite group of three-time winners that includes Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. His 2024 campaign has produced staggering numbers: 3,955 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and just four interceptions.

Speaking on "Good Morning Football" on Saturday, Schrager addressed the MVP conversation surrounding Jackson and the Ravens' priorities heading into their crucial Week 18 matchup against the Cleveland Browns;

"Ravens fans are like we've had the MVP twice already. It is so not a priority for Ravens at all at this point. They just want to see success in the playoffs for this team. I don't think Lamar is hung up on it either. I don't think they even care about it," said Schrager.

The analyst's observations align with Lamar Jackson's statements in an article published by ESPN on Saturday;

"If it [does] happen, it happens. That'd be dope," Jackson told ESPN. "I'm not really focused on that. That's never been my goal though. Even the first or second one, [winning MVP has] never been my goal."

Lamar Jackson eyes championship glory

Baltimore Ravens v Houston Texans - Source: Getty

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh reinforced this team-first mentality as per the ESPN article;

"As far as I'm concerned, he's our MVP. He's our guy," Harbaugh said. "But you know what? That's really not what we're thinking about."

Lamar Jackson's 2024 season has been remarkable by any measure. He leads the NFL in four crucial categories: QBR (78.0), yards per pass attempt (8.9), touchdown pass percentage (8.8%) and passing touchdown-to-interception ratio (9.8). He also surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL's all-time leading rushing quarterback on Christmas Day.

These achievements have caught the attention of opponents. Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans called Jackson "the best player I've seen this year" before the Christmas Day game against the Ravens. That game saw a spectacular 9-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Likely where Jackson celebrated before the ball reached its target.

The MVP race remains tight between Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen heading into the final week. Former quarterback and CBS Sports analyst Tony Romo suggested that Allen might have an advantage simply because he hasn't won the award before. However, with an 11-5 record and playoff positioning on the line for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, individual awards take a back seat to team success.