Former 49ers QB Steve Young Thinks Ravens' Lamar Jackson Can Be 'The Greatest'

San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young had high praise for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

Few understand what it takes to play the most important position in football better than former San Francisco 49ers quarterback and Hall of Famer Steve Young. 

Young played the first two seasons of his NFL career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985-1986) before being traded to San Francisco, where he played 13 seasons and won three Super Bowls, two MVPs, was a three-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowler before being enshrined in Canton in 2005. 

Steve Young and Lamar Jackson / FanStreamSports.com

Young previewed the Christmas clash between the 49ers and Baltimore Ravens on "The Vault: A Podcast Covering The Baltimore Ravens" and praised Lamar Jackson. Young noted the growth in Jackson's game and hopes that Baltimore (11-3) remains patient with his development, and he thinks Jackson could be among the greatest to play the position.

"I beg them to continue to take chances to let him develop because I still believe that, like Patrick Mahomes, Lamar could be the greatest player," Young said. "You see Patrick headed that direction. And I think he and Lamar could go head-to-head for 10 more years." 

Jackson has thrown for 3,105 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2023. Jackson is 23 yards shy of surpassing his career-best of 3,127 passing yards in 2019, the year he won MVP. He has remained potent on the ground, running for 741 yards and reaching the end zone five times.  

With Jackson on the verge of setting a career-high in passing yards in his first season with offensive coordinator Todd Monken as the play-caller, Young lauded head coach John Harbaugh and believes the Ravens' growth in the passing game will pay dividends against the 49ers (11-3) on Christmas and in the playoffs. 

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"I’ve admired the humility and the savviness of John [Harbaugh] and the people inside the building that have done this because, to me, I think it opens up the possibility for a big victory on Monday night and wins in January," Young said.

Baltimore faces San Francisco in a clash between the best teams in their respective conferences on "Monday Night Football" at 8:15 p.m. ET at Levi's Stadium.