The Baltimore Ravens, a preseason favorite to make it to Super Bowl 60, saw their season end with a devastating 26-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18, eliminating them from playoff contention.
Lamar Jackson, former Louisville quarterback, nearly led the Ravens to a fourth-quarter comeback with two touchdowns, but a missed 44-yard field goal by Tyler Loop on the final play ended their season. Jackson finished the season with a losing record (6-7) for the first time in eight NFL seasons.
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During this challenging season, Jackson dealt with multiple injuries, including hamstring, knee, ankle, toe and back issues, which limited him to 13 games. As a result, he was unable to return to his MVP-level form.
Take a look back at Lamar Jackson’s career to date
Jackson was the starting quarterback for the University of Louisville from 2015-2017, leading the Cardinals to a 24-14 record over three seasons. He delivered record-breaking performances, guided the team to bowl games each year, and capped a standout 9-3 season in 2016 by winning the Heisman Trophy.
His unique dual-threat ability, combined with his growth as a passer at Louisville, propelled him into the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft, where the Ravens selected him 32nd overall. Since then, he’s established himself as one of the NFL’s biggest superstars.
Oct 21, 2017; Tallahassee, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) celebrates a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Florida State Seminoles at Doak Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Jackson took over as the Ravens’ starting quarterback mid-season during his rookie year and led the team to the playoffs. Baltimore won the AFC North and hosted a Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Chargers, which ended in a loss. During that run, Jackson became the youngest quarterback ever to start a playoff game.
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The now 29-year-old, as of Jan. 7, won an MVP award in 2019 and another in 2023, making him one of the few players in NFL history with multiple MVP titles. He’s also been selected to the Pro Bowl four times in his eight-year career.
Despite the Ravens’ shortcomings this season, there is still hope that Jackson will return to Baltimore next year in MVP form.
The Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (8) passes against the Indianapolis Colts during a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Aug. 20, 2018
Stephanie Stremplewski is a digital producer for The Courier Journal.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson’s 2025-26 playoff hopes end