The Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson are poised for a major rebound in 2026. They’re set up for a revenge tour, and with a better coaching staff and hopefully better health, their dreams of making it back to the playoffs will likely become a reality.
For Jackson specifically, it’s a year for him to remind everyone who he is. He was limited by injuries in 2025, most notably a hamstring injury that made him almost a non-factor on the ground. Apparently, that had players forget about Jackson’s dominance, as the two-time MVP shockingly placed 69th on this year’s NFL Top 100.
Jackson didn’t need the extra motivation. He already has an improved team by his side, but the doubters and that disrespectful ranking might add more fuel to the fire under Jackson. He has everything he needs to rebound.
Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson poised to silence doubters in 2026
Jackson’s poor placing on the Top 100 is largely due to his injury-hampered 2025 campaign. However, he was still the lifeblood of a team that somehow almost made the playoffs despite how abysmal they were. The way he fought through the injuries and performed well while being far from healthy was inspiring and certainly deserved better than No. 69 on the list.
And it’s not just the stunning rank that Jackson might be trying to prove wrong in 2026. In fact, more than anything, it’s the outside noise from the doubters.
The Lamar Jackson critics have been loud since the start of his NFL career. It all began when people doubted his ability to play quarterback. Then, when he won his first MVP, it was about his ability to consistently win as a passer. And now, after he has won another MVP and developed into one of the best passers in the league, it’s the question of whether he can win in the playoffs.
At every turn, Jackson has flipped the narrative. Playoff success and the team’s end goal of winning the Super Bowl are the last boxes to check. Thankfully for the two-time MVP, not only does he have the extra motivation, but he also has a well-constructed coaching staff and roster working alongside him.
For Jackson, it starts with the arrivals of head coach Jesse Minter and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle. His relationships with both have gotten off to excellent starts.
In the case of Minter, he brings a much-needed change in leadership and will also call a defense that should put the Jackson-led offense in favorable positions to win football games.
As for Doyle, he’s bringing a new-age offense with him to Charm City. He blends old teachings with new philosophies, and one of the centerpieces of his operation will be the play action. Jackson should love that, as he thrives in that area. He’s nearly unstoppable when those plays are called.
The roster simply looks better, too. The offensive guard situation that put Jackson in harm’s way on seemingly every snap last year has seen huge upgrades with John Simpson and Vega Ioane, and new offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford should take that unit to another level. Sure, when it comes to wide receivers, there remains a significant question mark, but 2026 NFL Draft selections Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt could quickly shift that storyline.
It feels obvious that Lamar Jackson will bounce back in 2026. He’s one of the best players that the league has ever seen, but now it’s time to level up again. If he can do that, he’ll easily silence the doubters, and hopefully it culminates in more playoff success.
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