Ravens' Lamar Jackson Rips Rumors Of Behind-the-Scenes Issues, Talks New Contract

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson responded Thursday to a recent article that claimed he is at odds with head coach John Harbaugh.

Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun (h/t Andy Backstrom of Yahoo Sports) reported last week that Harbaugh has "become tired" of Jackson's antics, including falling asleep during team meetings.

According to Jeff Zrebiec of of The Athletic, Jackson denied the accusations, saying, "Do you think Harbaugh would let me fall asleep in meetings? I sit right in front."

Jackson also insisted that there are no issues between him and Harbaugh, telling reporters, "I don't know where that news comes from."

Under contract with the Ravens through 2027, Jackson made it clear that he wants to be in Baltimore for the long haul, but he noted that now is not the time for contract talk since he is focused on getting into the playoffs.

After winning his second NFL MVP Award in 2023 and finishing second in the voting last season, 2025 has been a trying campaign for Jackson.

He has missed four games due to injury, including last week's must-win game against the Green Bay Packers. The Ravens won that contest 41-24 with Tyler Huntley at quarterback, and the Pittsburgh Steelers went on to lose to the Cleveland Browns.

▶️ Full Ravens-Packers Recap

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Because of that, Sunday night's game between the Ravens and Steelers is a winner-take-all clash with the winning team securing the AFC North title and making the playoffs as the No. 4 seed in the AFC.

After missing last week's game with a back injury, Jackson has returned to practice this week as a full participant, putting him in line to start against the Steelers.

Jackson dismissed any speculation about his commitment to the team after not playing last week, telling reporters, "I've never quit on my team. I don't know where that talk comes from."

The Ravens have been through a ton of ups and downs this season, contributing to their 8-8 record, but they are just one victory away from hosting a home playoff game and giving themselves a chance to vie for a Super Bowl berth.

Jackson has been central to the Ravens' success ever since he took over as the team's starter during his rookie season in 2018, and he will likely play a massive role in whether Baltimore does or doesn't beat Pittsburgh on Sunday.