General Manager Eric DeCosta loves watching the Ravens practice, and he’s been getting great vibes all summer from Lamar Jackson.
Jackson has lost weight and has a stronger comfort level entering his second season in Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken’s system.
“He looks fast as heck. He’s throwing the ball extremely well,” DeCosta said.
However, it’s the intensity, focus, and attention to detail that Jackson has brought each day that has stood out most to DeCosta.
“What I’ve noticed about Lamar really is more of an intangible thing, his urgency,” DeCosta said. “As a leader, his urgency with the other players. He’s just really in tune with the other players, every single day in practice. He’s so engaged with the coaches, he’s engaged with his teammates.
“He’s engaged with me, we talk personnel, we meet after practice. Just the other day talking about personnel. He’s got some great ideas and suggestions. He just really wants to win badly. I’m seeing that. As a player I’ve always known that, but now I’m seeing his personality kind of come out more. I can really get a sense that this guy is so hyper-focused on this season, and really working to get a ring.”
Jackson echoed that on “The Lounge” podcast, saying that at age 27 entering his seventh season, he feels a sense of urgency to capture the Super Bowl victory he has always coveted. He has intentionally become more vocal with teammates, holding everyone accountable to be more precise.
“I see that in myself,” Jackson said. “Sometimes Ronnie [Stanley] will be like, ‘Don’t be on the guys like that, don’t be on the linemen as much.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, we got to do it, we’re getting older.’
“They need to hear that from me sometimes. … Just motivation. Never coming from a bad place. They’re not used to me speaking that much. Probably in the locker room, playing around. But on that field, they’re seeing another side of me. I’m hungry. So, everybody’s got to be hungry.”
Jackson is a two-time MVP. The Ravens had the best regular season record in the league both times he won the award, in 2019 and 2023. Yet Jackson hasn’t delivered on the Super Bowl promise he made to Baltimore on the night he was drafted in 2018.
The Ravens pride themselves on constantly being in contention. DeCosta pointed out Thursday that he wouldn’t rank Baltimore’s 2012 Super Bowl team as the best in franchise history, but they got hot at the right time.
“We haven’t accomplished our ultimate goal, but I don’t really subscribe to the idea that your season is a failure if you don’t win the Super Bowl,” DeCosta said. “I know a lot of people do. If I did that, I’d probably be in a mental institution.”
While Jackson is still in his prime, he’s feeling the pressure to win it all sooner than later.
“I’m only 27, but that’s the way of life, especially the football life,” Jackson said. “You’ve got to do it while you’re young, because when you’re older, there’s going to be younger cats, younger than you coming in and they’re going to be hungry too because they want to win the Super Bowl as well. That’s why I’m on the guys more now.”
DeCosta believes Jackson is setting a great tone, entering another season in which the Ravens believe they have what it takes to win a Super Bowl.
“I don’t want to speak for Lamar, but I think we all see an opportunity for us to be a good team this year,” DeCosta said. “And we want to do it this year. I feel an urgency with Lamar. It’s great. I love it. That’s how I am, so I really appreciate that quality in others. The urge to get better, daily just improve on things. That’s how you win as a team.”