Being 28 years old in the NFL isn’t so bad—unless you have to compete with Lamar Jackson for the title of best in your age group. The two-time MVP just wrapped up one of the most electric seasons in NFL history, breaking records, shattering ankles, and constantly putting the league on notice that there is truly nobody like him.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently put together a list of the best players at every age in the NFL, and for 28-year-olds, it wasn’t exactly an easy decision. The group includes stars like Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley, Fred Warner, and Derwin James. Oh, and just for fun, it also features three of the league’s best quarterbacks—Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen.
Still, even in a loaded field, Knox gave the nod to Jackson. Why? Because nobody else on the planet can do what he does. As Knox put it:
"However, we're giving Jackson a slight edge because of his unique ability to do things that no other quarterback can do. He is the league's preeminent dual-threat, and he already has two MVPs on his resume—and one could easily argue that he should have won a third in 2024."
The NFL has never seen anyone like Lamar Jackson
Knox isn’t wrong. Jackson isn’t just one of the best players in the league—he’s a generational, once-in-a-lifetime talent. We are lucky we get to witness his greatness. He’s already the all-time leader in rushing yards for a quarterback, but the wild part is he’s now one of the most efficient passers in the NFL, too.
In 2024, Jackson posted a passer rating of 119.6, the fourth-best mark ever. The only quarterbacks ahead of him? Aaron Rodgers (twice) and Peyton Manning. That’s the company he’s keeping now. No Joe Burrow. No Josh Allen. Hmmm...
Not only is Jackson making defenders look silly with his legs, but he’s also masterfully carving them up through the air at levels the league has rarely seen. That’s why he wasn’t just the best 28-year-old in the NFL last season—he was the best player, period. Knox doubled down on that sentiment:
"The three-time first-team All-Pro is now the only player in NFL history to throw for more than 4,000 yards and rush for more than 900 yards in the same season.
Burrow and Allen are great too, and Barkley just set a new NFL record for rushing yards in a season (regular and postseason combined). However, Jackson is arguably the most unique player we've ever seen and appears to only be getting better over time."
Nobody else is doing that. Not Burrow, not Allen, not McCaffrey, and certainly not any other quarterback who has ever stepped foot on an NFL field. Jackson is in a league of his own, and somehow, he just keeps getting better. Good luck keeping up, gents.