Raven Country

Lamar Jackson Remembers Funny Interaction with Bill Belichick

New England passed on the quarterback twice

Todd Karpovich

In this story:

OWING MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson was prepared for a tense, serious meeting with coach Bill Belichick during his pre-draft visit with the Patriots.

However, Belichick was quite different from what Jackson had anticipated. 

“I’ve seen Belichick smile," Jackson said. "Usually, when I see him, he’s puzzled face, a straight-faced guy. When I saw him smile, I was like, ‘Damn, you’ve got humor.’  I told him that, and he was like, ‘Yeah.’ I’m like, ‘I wasn’t expecting you to be smiling.’” 

The Patriots still had Tom Brady in the fold so they were not looking for a quarterback in the first round of the draft.

Instead, they selected offensive tackle, Isaiah Wynn, with the 23rd overall pick. New England then took running back Sony Michel at 31, one pick before the Ravens took Jackson with the last selection of the first round.

Wynn has been hampered by injuries throughout his young career and has never played a full season. 

After three mostly effective seasons in New England, Michel was traded to the Los Angeles Rams on Aug. 25, 2021, in exchange for a fifth and sixth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Meanwhile, Jackson won NFL MVP in his second year and has already shattered numerous records.

With the 119 rushing yards against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, Jackson eclipsed the century mark for the 11th time in his career, surpassing Michael Vick for the most 100-yard regular season rushing games by a quarterback in NFL history.

Jackson also recorded a perfect passer rating (158.3) in the first half for the fourth time in his career, while achieving that feat for the sixth time in any half of a game (both franchise records).

Jackson is 1-1 against the Patriots, throwing for 412 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. He has also run for 116 yards with another two scores. 

They will meet again in Week 3. 

Published
Todd Karpovich
TODD KARPOVICH

Twitter: @toddkarpovich Email: todd.karpovich@gmail.com Skype: todd.karpovich Todd Karpovich has been a contributor for ESPN, Forbes, the Associated Press, Lindy's, and The Baltimore Sun, among other media outlets nationwide. He is the co-author of “If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Baltimore Ravens Sideline, Locker Room, and Press Box,” “Skipper Supreme: Buck Showalter and the Baltimore Orioles,” and the author of “Manchester United (Europe's Best Soccer Clubs).” Karpovich, a Baltimore native, is a graduate of Calvert Hall College high school, Randolph-Macon College in Virginia, and has a Masters of Science from Towson University. 

Home/News