Lamar Jackson is your 2023 NFL MVP.
It isn’t official yet, of course. The Associated Press’s voting is done, but the trophy won’t be handed out until the night before Super Bowl 58. But with a trip to said championship game on the line, Jackson showed the world why he’ll be the man at the podium at the end of the night — or accepting via proxy since he’s got more important business that needs tending.
His Baltimore Ravens needed a response after a three-and-out gave the Kansas City Chiefs room to stake an early 7-0 lead in the AFC title game behind Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. While the Chiefs’ pressure had found success earlier in the drive, this time it could do nothing against a truly impossible athlete.
TOUCHDOWN ZAY FLOWERS!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/vvOzEjxA5u
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 28, 2024
If you don’t feel like clicking play a) why not, this play ruled and b) the gist of it is, Jackson took this scenario in which he’s staring down an almost certain eight-yard loss via sack:
And turned it into a 30-yard touchdown. It was beautiful. And, as is tradition, fans and analysts lost their minds online.
lamar jackson is a f’n wizard
— Prince Grimes (@pgprincej) January 28, 2024
LMFAO LAMAR
— JP Acosta (@acosta32_jp) January 28, 2024
Lamar is different
— lukezim (@lukezim) January 28, 2024
My god Lamar
— Jeanna Kelley (@jeannathomas) January 28, 2024
Lamar Jackson might be the MVP
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) January 28, 2024
LAMAR JACKSON. WE ARE PLAYING REAL FOOTBALL TODAY
— charles (“you look good” – andy reid) mcdonald (@FourVerts) January 28, 2024
— @robertzeglinski.bsky.social (@RobertZeglinski) January 28, 2024
That Mahomes TD into that Lamar TD. I can't stop grinning. Please, please, please give us this for four quarters.
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) January 28, 2024
Lamar is so freaking fun
— Matt Scalici (@MattScalici) January 28, 2024
Lamar Jackson is single-handedly gonna change football.
— Henry McKenna (@henrycmckenna) January 28, 2024
we are so blessed to be able to watch patrick mahomes and lamar jackson today
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) January 28, 2024
Battle of the HIMS. That's insane by Lamar Jackson.
— Khari Thompson (@kdthompson5) January 28, 2024
Thats why you force Lamar to throw the ball
— CFBNumbers (@CFBNumbers) January 28, 2024
Lamar Jackson makes football look easy.. and that’s hard to do
— ⁵Mike Wright₅ (@mike5wright) January 28, 2024
This game's gonna be an all-timer isn't it https://t.co/a5JuSqBFc6
— Taylor Kyles (@tkyles39) January 28, 2024