Lamar Jackson can't change the way last season ended, but he can learn from it.
That's the approach Jackson has taken this offseason – to use the past to help shape the future. He's asking coaches for more feedback, restudying game tape from last season, and going over details with teammates as they prepare for their 2025 quest to win a Super Bowl.
Though he's a two-time MVP quarterback who could've won a third after his best campaign yet last year, Jackson is still only 28 years old and convinced he can become a better player than he already is.
Losing to the Buffalo Bills in last year's playoffs and the two first-half turnovers he committed in that game hurt Jackson to the core. For as well as he's played at times, Jackson has had seven interceptions and lost four fumbles in eight playoff games. Still, he nearly led a comeback in Buffalo with an 88-yard touchdown drive in the waning minutes and rallied the Ravens in other playoff losses.
Jackson wants the 2025 season to end in celebration, not despair. He's not dwelling on what happened, but he's motivated by it.
"I don't think I get over any loss, to be honest," Jackson said. "I've got losses from youth football that still haunt me. I never get over a loss, I don't care how small it might be to someone else or how great it might be, it's always the same for me.
"Before, it was like, 'Oh, he can't win a playoff game,' and then we won a playoff game. We got to the AFC Championship two years ago. We just fell short. We fell two games short this past year. We're going to bounce back, and when we come back, I feel like we are going to have vengeance on our minds."
Quarterbacks Coach Tee Martin and Jackson have a close relationship and have shared thoughts about how they should prepare for next season. Martin has been impressed by Jackson's approach as he continues looking for ways to maximize his talents.
Jackson never feels the Ravens should lose and never believes their high-powered offense should be stopped. When mistakes happen, when drives falter, Jackson wants answers and fixes. During Tuesday's minicamp practice, Martin said he and Jackson discussed watching film from last season.
"The first thing he said was he was watching the games that we lost," Martin said. "He was like, 'I just want to know how we lost them and what we did and what we can do better.' So, he's already thinking that way. We had great discussions about the things that he wants to improve at and [to] play as good, if not better than he did last season.
"Each year, we're looking for ways to give him more because he's advancing each and every year in all areas of his game. We added some new concepts and new play calls and things of that nature, and we're going to just give them all the reps that we can to get ready for the season."
Jackson isn't just focusing on how he plays, but on how he leads. As the franchise quarterback, he is accustomed to being a leader, but now his voice is being heard even more during practices and in meetings. He's making sure he connects with young players who may be reluctant to ask him questions.
"I'm going into Year 8, so I've got no other choice," Jackson said. "There are a lot of young guys coming in now, so I've got to. I'm going to go up and talk to them. They're probably scared to say something to me, but I'm going to walk up and introduce myself."
Jackson has talked about having more bonding sessions with teammates and building a sixth sense in relationships that can carry over to the field. This is his third season in Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken's system, his third season with Zay Flowers, and he's played even longer with favorite targets like Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Rashod Bateman.
New wideout addition DeAndre Hopkins and Jackson have already been aggressive in their approach to building chemistry. Jackson gave Hopkins credit for asking questions, and the quarterback has been more than willing to engage.
"I feel like just bonding with my guys will help us out a lot more on the field," Jackson said. "Picking each other's brains, being around each other a lot more – we'll probably know what one of us is thinking ahead."
Many great quarterbacks have enjoyed their best seasons beyond their 28th birthday. That's how Jackson sees his career evolving. Martin continues to be impressed by Jackson's quest for excellence and his willingness to raise the bar for what he expects from himself.
"The last two seasons have kind of ended that way with some really emotional losses," Martin said. "This offseason, the mindset for him in our conversations that we've had … Lamar Jackson is thinking, and what he's verbalizing and talking about is a little different.
"You see maturity there in terms of what he sees on the field and things that he wants to do offensively. He's having more input back to us as coaches. Like, 'I see this. I would like to do this more or less.' Just taking his communication to the next level."
Jackson is excited to be at mandatory minicamp, loves the potential of the 2025 Ravens, and remains unwavering in his belief that a Super Bowl victory is on the horizon. When he looks back, it's only to help him move forward.
"We wish we would have won the game," Jackson said. "I wish I didn't throw that interception. I wish I didn't fumble, and I wish the [Andrews] mishap had not happened, but it happened. It's just a lesson learned, so next time we'll do something better."
