Lamar Jackson can do it all, and his pass to himself in the AFC Championship game was a perfect illustration.
That play earned Jackson the 2024 ESPY for “Best Play” across all sports, as presented Thursday evening in Los Angeles.
Jackson’s play beat out Anthony Edwards’ posterizing dunk, Alabama’s Hail Mary on fourth-and-goal from the 31-yard line, and Jayda Coleman’s walk-off home run that sent Oklahoma softball to the Women’s College World Series finals.
The only issue with Jackson’s play is that it brought back memories of the Ravens’ 17-10 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and what could have been.
Jackson’s pass on second-and-5 in the second quarter was tipped into the air by a Chiefs defender at the line of scrimmage. Jackson raced forward, caught it himself, and took off into the open field. If not for a shoelace tackle by Chiefs linebacker Dru Tranquil, Jackson would’ve taken it for an 82-yard touchdown that would’ve tied the game.
Jackson thanked God, his mother, teammates, and coaches in a brief acceptance speech. The two-time MVP has given plenty of those during his young career thus far but wants nothing more than to hoist the Lombardi Trophy.
Jackson certainly looked the part Thursday night, decked out in all black for the occasion.