After winning his second MVP — one vote away from being unanimous again — at the age of 27, you would think quarterback Lamar Jackson would be universally praised. That is far from the case, though, as Jackson remains one of the most polarizing players in the NFL, facing constant criticism that many less accomplished quarterbacks seem to avoid.
Tight end Mark Andrews, Jackson’s go-to target since the two entered the league together in 2018, has gone to bat for his quarterback on many occasions. Andrews was recently asked how Jackson is able to handle the criticism when the team continues to fall short of the Super Bowl in the postseason.
“I think that’s part of the position and part of being Lamar [Jackson],” Andrews said. “He’s grown up and had to deal with things like this his whole life. And the thing that stands out about him is he’s got an incredible faith and belief in God and in himself and his teammates. And when you have belief in something else, it’s easy to get through things; it’s easy to help other people carry that weight. He does a great job of just being himself and not letting the outside noise affect him.”
Despite being asked about switching to wide receiver by some teams during the 2018 draft process, Jackson stood firm and became perhaps the best dual-threat quarterback the league has ever seen. After countless individual achievements and regular season success, a Super Bowl is all that remains for Jackson to achieve.