It all comes down to this. Former Louisville star, Heisman Trophy winner and current Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has been selected as one of the five finalists for the 2024 Associated Press Most Valuable Player award, the NFL announced Thursday.
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff were also named finalists to take home this season’s MVP. The winner will be announced on February 6 as part of the 14th annual NFL Honors ceremony.
Jackson is the frontrunner to be named this season’s MVP. It has been a neck and neck, two-horse race between Jackson and Allen for the lion’s share of the season, and Jackson garnered 30 of the 50 first-place All-Pro votes at quarterback by the Associated Press’ national panel of media members, while Allen received 18. This same panel has the tough decision and responsibility to vote for the MVP award.
Already a two-time NFL MVP, Jackson recently concluded his best season at the pro level. Starting all 17 of the Ravens’ regular season games, he completed 66.7 percent of his passes for 4,172 yards and 41 touchdowns, all of which are career-highs, while also using his ability as a dual threat quarterback, rushing for 915 yards and four touchdowns.
Not only did Jackson lead the NFL in Passer Rating at 119.6 and yards per passing attempt at 8.8, but he also led the league in yards per rushing attempt at 6.6. Earlier in the year, he broke Michael Vick’s record for career rushing yards by a quarterback at 6,110.
Embed from Getty ImagesJackson helped guide Baltimore to a 12-5 regular season record, as well as an AFC North title. The third-seeded Ravens took down their division foe, the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-14 during Wild Card Weekend to kick off their playoff run, but fell in a nail bitter, 27-25, against the Buffalo Bills during the Divisional Round on Sunday.
Since being drafted by Baltimore with the 32nd and final first round pick of the 2018 NFL Draft, Jackson has been one of the most electric players in the NFL. He has led the Ravens to a 70-24 record as a starter, including winning the 2019 and 2023 NFL MVP. In 103 total games, he has accumulated 26,232 total yards of offense and 199 touchdowns.
Jackson is without a doubt the top player in Louisville football history. He set numerous records during his three-year tenure with the Cardinals, wrapping up his collegiate career with 9,043 yards passing, 4,132 yards rushing and 119 total touchdowns. He became the school’s first ever Heisman Trophy winner after accumulating 5,114 total yards and 51 total touchdowns in 2016.
Allen helped the Bills capture their fifth consecutive AFC East title. He threw for 3,731 yards and 28 touchdowns and had only six interceptions for a 101.4 passer rating, a vast improvement from years past. Allen used his tree trunks for legs, running for 531 yards and 12 scores.
Barkley ran for 2,005 yards, the eighth-best total in NFL history. He sat out Philadelphia’s regular-season finale when he needed 101 yards to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season record set back in 1984. Barkley helped the Eagles win the NFC East and advance to the conference championship game where they will take on Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.
