Lamar Jackson Finally Named a Tier 1 Quarterback by NFL Executives and Coaches
An injustice has been rectified.
Lamar Jackson has finally made it into Tier 1 in The Athletic’s annual quarterback tiers, which are determined by a panel of 50 NFL executives and coaches.
Despite all of Jackson’s accolades, including two MVP awards, he had landed in Tier 2 (out of five tiers) the past five years in a row.
All it took was Jackson putting together one of the best statistical seasons ever for a quarterback in 2024 to convince the majority of the voters that he is a Tier 1 quarterback. Jackson received 46 top-tier votes, doubling his total from last year.
“I’m a firm 1 on Lamar now,” a defensive coordinator said. “Even last year’s game in the playoffs, he brought them back. … Lamar is the total package, a very unique player.”
Another voter said: “There is a maturity of how he plays the game and when he turns on his magic. We played them, and [shoot], he was almost perfect that day. He is definitely a 1.”
Not only did the panel vote Jackson into the top tier, but most voters thought Jackson should have won the MVP award last season.
“It would have been his third,” an offensive coordinator said. “You can’t win three MVPs, still be in your prime and not be a 1.”
Apparently, the four voters who put Jackson into Tier 2 didn’t agree. Jackson finished fourth overall, the same spot he occupied last year.
The Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow were unanimous Tier 1 choices. The Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen, who edged Jackson for MVP last season, received 47 Tier 1 votes and three Tier 2 votes to take the No. 3 spot.
The Los Angeles Rams’ Matthew Stafford (26 Tier 1 votes, 23 Tier 2 votes, one Tier 3 vote) was the other Tier 1 quarterback.