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For the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, an NFL career was never only about becoming famous or earning money. Jackson recollects a family situation that gave a different perspective on the future. Being the oldest of four children, who watched how hard his mum worked, Jackson wouldn’t be influenced by friends with fleeting desires. A recent public conversation has Jackson sharing some important nuggets that define his passion in the game. Lamar Jackson Addresses Driving Factor Behind His Career Moves Jackson entered the NFL in 2018 after three seasons at Louisville, where he became one of college football’s most exciting quarterbacks. The Ravens selected him with the final pick of the first round, giving him the opportunity to turn his childhood ambitions into reality. That journey has since produced two NFL MVP awards and established Jackson as one of the league’s premier dual-threat quarterbacks. But he also had some former friends whose get-rich-quick ideology could have altered his career, had he heeded them. NFL insider Josh Chambers shares Jackson’s unique revelations in a recent X post. “I’m seeing my friends who I was growing up with who I was playing football with… Just throw their life away for fast money and stuff like that. They used to tell me ‘Oh, you talk too much’. Because I used to always speak about football and positivity stuff. They didn’t want to hear that.” “If you’re coming from a place like where I come from, don’t try to be like the guys around you. Don’t look up to the stuff that looks like it’s fun…That’s why I’m where I’m at right now. That’s how I used to think. My mom working… She’s busting her behind. It’s me, my brother and my two sisters at home. I’m the oldest…” “So I’ve got to make sure everybody right. And it’s like… Man, I can’t wait, but I’ve got to wait. That’s the sacrifice. I’ve got to be patient.” Lamar Jackson says he watched friends chase fast money while he was playing the long game and counting how many years it would take him to reach the NFL “I’m seeing my friends who I was growing up with who I was playing football with… Just throw their life away for fast money… pic.twitter.com/aOqtLCnLny — Josh Chambers (@JoshChambers) August 24, 2026 While others focused on immediate opportunities, Jackson was already thinking about reaching college football and eventually the NFL. He even mapped out his college career before arriving at Louisville, deciding he would spend three seasons there. Remarkably, Jackson followed through and entered the NFL after his junior season. His patience quickly produced results. He became Baltimore’s starting quarterback during his rookie season and transformed the Ravens’ offense. In 2019, Jackson delivered one of the greatest individual quarterback seasons in NFL history, earning himself his first MVP award at only 22 years old. During that season, he threw for 3,127 yards and 36 touchdowns while rushing for 1,206 yards and seven scores. It would take four years before Jackson would win another MVP. In 2023, Jackson won his second MVP after throwing for 3,678 yards with 24 touchdowns while rushing for 821 yards and five touchdowns that season. In retrospect, the passion behind Jackson’s famous feats is now apparent. He wasn’t just playing for himself; he was setting an example for others coming along. Now entering his ninth NFL season, Jackson has already accomplished far more than the teenager who once counted down the years toward professional football. Related reading: Patriots’ Christian Gonzalez Faces Uncertainty as Mike Vrabel Won’t Discuss Week 1 “This Is Real” NFL Owner Arrested In Shocking Prostitution Bust – Everything We Know “How?” NFL Pass Catcher To Join LSU For 2026 Season – Fans In Shock