Lamar Jackson’s 2024 season wasn’t just dominant—it was definitive. After receiving 30 first-place votes to be named First-Team All-Pro quarterback, Jackson is officially the league’s standard-bearer. The Associated Press’s All-Pro honors are historically a reliable indicator of MVP voting, and if this year’s results are any clue, it’s clear who should be hoisting the hardware.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, every quarterback named First-Team All-Pro since 2013 has also gone on to win the NFL MVP. The last time an MVP wasn’t a First-Team All-Pro was in 1987, when John Elway earned the honor as a Second-Team All-Pro.
There are 50 All-Pro voters.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) January 10, 2025
-- Lamar Jackson got 30 votes as 1st team All Pro QB.
-- Josh Allen got 18 votes as 1st team All Pro QB.
Is that an indicator on how the MVP vote will go as well?
Jackson didn’t just edge out Buffalo’s Josh Allen; he lapped him. Allen garnered 18 first-place votes—a respectable haul for a stellar season, sure. But Jackson's 30 votes? That’s the kind of landslide that turns a debate into a coronation. And let’s be real: it’s not just about the numbers on the ballots. It’s about what Jackson accomplished this year and how his impact resonates beyond the stat sheet.
We’re talking about the engine of the NFL’s most electrifying offense, the leader of a 12-5 Ravens team, and the quarterback who rewrote the record books. Yet somehow, the MVP race remains “hotly contested.” Let’s unpack why that’s not just baffling—it’s downright disrespectful.
Lamar Jackson shuts the door on MVP conversation
Jackson’s resume speaks for itself. The numbers are jaw-dropping: 4,172 passing yards, 41 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Add in 915 rushing yards and another four scores, and you’ve got a dual-threat clinic unmatched in today’s game. His 8.8 yards per pass attempt led the league, and his passer rating (119.6) was the fourth-highest in NFL history.
This isn’t just volume production. It’s efficiency and excellence at an unprecedented level. Even under duress, Jackson thrived, earning an 83.8 PFF grade when pressured—the highest mark in the league. He’s not just playing the position; he’s redefining it.
And yet, Josh Allen’s name keeps surfacing in the MVP conversation. It’s not that Allen wasn’t great—he was. But Jackson’s season wasn’t just better; it was on another level. Allen’s 28 passing touchdowns, six interceptions, and 3,731 yards don’t stack up. Sure, his 12 rushing touchdowns are impressive, but let’s not confuse gaudy rushing TD totals (tush push) with the all-encompassing dominance Jackson delivered.
So why the debate? It boils down to a flawed narrative: Allen hasn’t won an MVP yet, and some voters might feel it’s “his turn.” But this isn’t Pop Warner. MVP isn’t about whose trophy case needs filling; it’s about who was the best. And this season, it’s not close.
Jackson’s 30 first-place All-Pro votes solidify what anyone paying attention already knew: he was the NFL’s best player in 2024. It’s a reminder that Jackson isn’t just building a career; he’s constructing a legacy.
From the moment he stepped into the league, Jackson has faced criticism and doubt. He’s answered with accolades, records, and victories. Now, he’s on the brink of his third MVP—an achievement that would cement him among the all-time greats at just 28 years old.
But Jackson’s success isn’t just about personal milestones. It’s about lifting the Ravens to new heights. Baltimore’s offense shattered records this season, becoming the first team ever to eclipse 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a single year. None of it happens without Jackson at the helm, orchestrating one of the most balanced and explosive attacks in league history.
So, when the MVP votes are tallied, let’s hope the voters get it right. Because Lamar Jackson didn’t just add 30 more reasons to crown him MVP—he made it impossible to choose anyone else. History says so, too.