Lamar Jackson Knew He Didn’t Need NFL Agent: ‘I Felt Like I Had Everything in My Control’

Lamar Jackson entered his contract season with the Baltimore Ravens in 2022 far apart from the organization on an extension, and without a typical agent.

Instead, Jackson used his mother as his representative, and the two negotiated his five-year, $260 million deal themselves.

During a recent appearance on SiriusXM's Let's Go! podcast, Jackson explained the role his mother has had in his life and career.

“She means a lot," Jackson told host Jim Gray. "Like you said, she was my coach, basically my mentor, throughout my whole life. That person God gave me to make the right decisions.”

Jackson got hurt late in 2022 and did not return for Baltimore's playoff loss at the Cincinnati Bengals. In the offseason, as a deal still hadn't been made, Jackson told the world he requested a trade.

Suddenly, five teams publicly declared they wouldn't pursue the restricted free agent. Four of those teams — the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders and Las Vegas Raiders — fired their head coaches during or after the 2023 season. The fifth team was the Miami Dolphins, whom Baltimore beat, 56-19, in Week 17.

Cooler heads prevailed and Jackson agreed to the $260 million deal with the Ravens, resulting in the best record in the NFL this season and the fourth-best scoring offense.

“I really wasn’t thinking about how other people lived their life or did their thing," Jackson said.

"I was just pretty much like, ‘I’m good on agents or anything like that’ because I felt I knew what they were there for. It’s not a bad thing. Agents will help you out in the business life when you’re focused on strictly football. But I felt like I had everything in my control.”

Now, Jackson is in pursuit of the Super Bowl that eluded him during his rookie contract. With his offense combined with the NFL's best scoring defense, Jackson believes the Ravens have everything it takes to get the job done this season.