Ravens Coach Harbaugh Delivers Defiant Defense of Lamar Jackson, Declares Him Future GOAT

Baltimore coach John Harbaugh has launched a passionate defense of his star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, proclaiming him destined to become the "greatest quarterback ever" in NFL history.

Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh has unleashed a spirited defense of his star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, during the team's first training camp practice, declaring him as the future "greatest quarterback ever."

Harbaugh's fiery speech came after Jackson missed the start of camp due to an illness, prompting the coach to take a stand and outline the team's ambitious aspirations.

Ravens Coach Harbaugh Delivers Defiant Defense of Lamar Jackson, Declares Him Future GOAT

"The vision that we have together is that Lamar Jackson is going to become and be known and be recognized as the greatest quarterback ever to play in the history of the National Football League," Harbaugh proclaimed.

Harbaugh emphasized Jackson's unwavering work ethic, exceptional talent, and the collective effort required to achieve this lofty goal. He acknowledged the critics and skeptics who have questioned Jackson's ability but dismissed their opinions as unfounded.

"I read the stuff. I see the guys say what they say on the shows. At least I get clips of them because they come up on your phone," Harbaugh said. "There's a lot of great things said about Lamar, but there's a lot of stuff that's said that you got to just scratch your head about and kind of wonder, what's that person even thinking?"

According to Harbaugh, Jackson has faced criticism throughout his life, but his determination and growth mindset have fueled his success. He emphasized that the team is collectively invested in Jackson's development and are building an offense tailored to his strengths.

"We've always had a vision for Lamar Jackson, and it started with Lamar's vision and his mom's vision when he said he was going to be a quarterback. ... We bought into that. We embraced it. We built an offense for it in ‘19. We're building another offense for it in ‘23 and '24, going forward, right? The next iteration of our offense, around Lamar Jackson," Harbaugh explained.

Harbaugh's speech also hinted at the expectations placed upon Jackson as the Ravens aim to reach the Super Bowl. He acknowledged that the team had set a high bar with their dominant regular season last year but recognized that they need to elevate their performance, with Jackson leading the charge.

"He's got a growth mindset. He's going to get better and better, no doubt. But what does he have to do to prove himself to some people, right?" Harbaugh said.

The Ravens' season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs is scheduled for September 5th, providing an early opportunity for Jackson and the team to make a statement.