How Many Years Has Lamar Been In The Nfl

Let’s talk about Lamar Jackson. Not the raven-haired poet from the 1800s—no, the other Lamar. The one who makes NFL defenses look like they’re running in slow motion. You’ve seen him. He’s the guy who plays quarterback like a video game character with cheat codes. But here’s the fun question: How many years has Lamar been in the NFL?

The answer is six seasons. Yes, six. That’s it. He was drafted in 2018, and now we’re in 2024. That means he’s been doing this wild, spinning, juking thing for only half a decade. Crazy, right? It feels like he’s been a superstar forever. But time flies when you’re busy breaking ankles.

The Birth of a Unicorn

Lamar entered the league as a first-round pick (32nd overall) in the 2018 NFL Draft. The Baltimore Ravens snagged him, and everyone wondered: “Is he a quarterback or a running back?” Turns out, he’s both. He’s a magician with a football. In his second season (2019), he won MVP at age 22. That’s not just young—that’s absurd. He became the youngest quarterback ever to win the award. Think about that: six years in, and he already owns a historical record.

Here’s a quirky fact: Lamar has only played five full seasons of games. He missed a chunk of 2022 with a knee injury. So in six calendar years, he’s actually been on the field for about five seasons worth of snap. That’s still a lot of highlight reels. He’s also the only player in NFL history with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons at quarterback. He has two. That’s like a chef winning a baking contest and a grilling contest. Wild.

Stat Snacks You Can’t Ignore

Let’s nibble on some numbers. In six seasons, Lamar has thrown for over 15,000 yards and rushed for over 5,000 yards. That’s a total of 20,000 yards of offense. In six years. To put that in perspective: that’s like running from New York City to Los Angeles… and then back to Chicago. He’s also got 124 career touchdown passes. Plus 29 rushing touchdowns. He’s scored a touchdown in nearly every game he’s started. That’s not just good—that’s video game good.

Here’s the fun part: Lamar is still only 27 years old. He was drafted at 21. Six seasons in, and he’s still younger than some rookies. Tom Brady played until he was like 180 in football years. If Lamar plays that long, he’d hit his 20th season in 2038. That’s a long time from now. Imagine the moves he’ll invent by then. He’ll probably break the space-time continuum.

The Contract That Broke the Scale

In 2023, Lamar signed a five-year, $260 million contract with the Ravens. That’s $52 million per year. At the time, it was the richest deal in NFL history. But here’s the kicker: he didn’t sign it until after a long, dramatic holdout. Why? Because Lamar wanted guaranteed money. He got it. $185 million guaranteed. That’s more than some small countries’ GDP. And he’s been in the league for only six years. Talk about a promotion.

Do you know what he did with his first big contract, before the megadeal? He bought his mom a house. Yes, Lamar Jackson, the guy who dodges 300-pound linemen, still lives with his mom sometimes. She’s his manager, too. That’s adorable and slightly terrifying. Imagine telling your mom, “Hey, can you negotiate my $260 million deal?” She’d probably ask if you cleaned your room first.

The Weirdest Milestone

Lamar has a perfect passer rating (158.3) in a regular-season game. He did it in 2019 against the Miami Dolphins. He completed 17 of 20 passes for 348 yards and five touchdowns. No interceptions. Perfect. Only a handful of QBs have done that. But here’s the really weird stat: Lamar has never thrown for 4,000 yards in a season. Wait, what? Yes—his career high is 3,678 yards. He’s an MVP without a 4K passing season. That’s like being a billionaire without owning a yacht. He does it differently. He runs for the yards instead. Weird? Yes. Awesome? Also yes.

Another oddity: Lamar has a 67-22 record as a starter (as of early 2024). That’s a .753 winning percentage. Among active quarterbacks, that’s elite. Only Patrick Mahomes is higher. And Lamar did it with a roster that sometimes looked like a scavenger hunt at wide receiver. He’s never had a truly elite receiver. Imagine if he did. He’d probably throw for 6,000 yards and run for 1,500. The league would just give him the trophy.

Why This Number Matters

Six years is a blink in the NFL. Most players last about three. Lamar has already outlasted the average career twice over. He’s also still improving. In 2023, he won his second MVP award. That’s two MVPs in six seasons. Only five other quarterbacks have won multiple MVPs in NFL history. And he’s 27. He could win three or four more. If he does, he’ll enter the Mount Rushmore of quarterbacks conversation. Right now, he’s just carving his face into the rock.

Here’s a final quirky fact: Lamar has more rushing yards than any other quarterback in their first six seasons. He’s already the all-time leader in that category. And he’s still got gas in the tank. If he plays ten more years, he might rush for 10,000 yards. That’s unheard of. That’s like a giraffe winning a sprinter’s gold medal. It shouldn’t work, but it does.

The Takeaway

So, how many years has Lamar been in the NFL? Six. But it feels like forever because he’s packed a lifetime of highlights into that short time. He’s a wizard, a runner, a passer, and a momma’s boy. He’s young, rich, and still getting better. The next time you see him juke a defender into another dimension, remember: he’s only been doing this for six years. And he’s just getting started. Buckle up.

Now go watch a Lamar highlight reel. You deserve it. Just don’t try those moves in your backyard. You’ll pull a hamstring. Trust me.