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John Harbaugh Fires Back at Anonymous Coach Who Criticized Lamar Jackson

The Ravens coach said “it’s a big nothing burger” in response to being asked about the anonymous quote.

Madison Williams

An anonymous quote from an NFL defensive coordinator regarding Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was released Monday by Mike Sando of The Athletic.

The comments about the 2019 NFL MVP didn’t sit well with many fans this week. 

“If he has to pass to win the game, they ain’t winning the game,” the anonymous coach said. “He’s so unique as an athlete and he’s a really good football player, but I don’t give a s--- if he wins the league MVP 12 times, I don’t think he’ll ever be one as a quarterback. He’ll be one as a football player, but not as a quarterback.”

Ravens coach John Harbaugh was asked about the quote at Wednesday’s training camp. He noted that Jackson’s been hearing a lot of the same comments since he was in junior high, college and especially in the lead-up to the 2018 NFL draft. For Jackson, this type of comment is nothing new.

“I don't know who this guy named anonymous is,” Harbaugh said. “I haven't met him yet. I don’t even know why we report on what he has to say. It is what it is. It’s just bologna. It’s just nothing. It’s a big nothing burger.”

Jackson will enter his fifth NFL season in 2022. He is coming off an ankle injury he suffered last season, causing him to only play in 12 games. He still finished the 2021 season with a 64.4% completion rate for 2,882 passing yards and 16 touchdowns.

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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.

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