Lamar Jackson has long been a franchise-defining figure for the Baltimore Ravens, but this week he made headlines well beyond the football field.
The two-time MVP was named among the world’s top 10 highest-earning athletes, a group typically reserved for global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and LeBron James.
According to The Sun, Jackson earned an estimated £74.37 million (about $87 million) over the past year, combining his record-setting NFL contract with endorsements. That figure places him tenth worldwide, making him the only NFL player on the list.
The recognition comes at a critical juncture for both Jackson and his team. After dropping their season opener to the Buffalo Bills, the Ravens head into a divisional clash with the Cleveland Browns needing to right the ship quickly.
A loss would put Baltimore at 0-2, a start they have avoided in every season of the Jackson era.
Jackson‘s rise is one of the most unique stories in modern sports. Drafted with questions about whether he could play quarterback at the professional level, he has silenced critics with electrifying play and a résumé that already includes two MVPs and three All-Pro nods.
In 2023, he signed a five-year extension worth $260 million, negotiated without an agent – a decision that stunned much of the league but ultimately proved successful.
The deal not only redefined the quarterback market but also secured Jackson‘s place among the most influential athletes in the world.
“Lamar’s earned every bit of what he’s getting,” head coach John Harbaugh said at the time of the signing. “What he brings to this franchise goes beyond numbers. He changes games.”
Now, those numbers extend far beyond the stat sheet. Jackson joins Ronaldo, Jon Rahm, Messi, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kylian Mbappé, Neymar, Karim Benzema, and Stephen Curry on the top-10 list, a testament to how far his profile has grown in just eight years.
A moment of controversy
Jackson‘s inclusion on the earnings list coincided with another headline that drew national attention. During the Ravens’ Week 1 loss in Buffalo, a fan reached over the barrier and shoved wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins before doing the same to Jackson.
The quarterback responded with a two-handed push, and security quickly removed the fan, who has since been banned from all NFL events.
Jackson apologized afterward, saying, “I shouldn’t have reacted, but in the heat of the moment, I did. I’m sorry to the fan and to the organization.”
The league chose not to discipline him further. “The matter has been addressed by the club and there is no further action from the league,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said Thursday.
Harbaugh defended his quarterback, emphasizing the human element. “He’s an emotional competitor,” Harbaugh said. “He handled it the right way after, and we move forward.”
The stakes against Cleveland
For all the off-field noise, the Ravens‘ season hinges on what happens next. Sunday’s showdown with the Browns is not just another divisional game, it’s a potential pivot point.
The Ravens have never started 0-2 since Jackson became the starter in 2018. More importantly, falling behind early in the AFC North, one of the league’s toughest divisions, could have long-term consequences for playoff positioning.
Baltimore will lean heavily on Jackson to deliver, as they have throughout his career. His dual-threat ability has made the Ravens one of the league’s most unpredictable offenses, but against Cleveland’s defense, ranked among the NFL’s best last season, he faces a significant test.
For Jackson, the week has been a reminder of the dual pressures he carries: the responsibility of being a franchise quarterback and the scrutiny that comes with being one of the world’s most recognizable athletes.
His place on the global earnings list confirms his stature, but as he has often said, money and accolades mean little without wins.
And with the Ravens already on the back foot, Sunday in Cleveland may prove just as defining as any contract or ranking.
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