London loves it some Lamar Jackson.
The Baltimore Ravens left at the beginning of the week for their Sunday game in England, and their quarterback is basking in unexpected admiration.
Having already arrived ahead of the Ravens’ Week 6 showdown with the Tennessee Titans, Jackson was taken aback by the realization that he has an international fanbase.
“I didn’t know until people recognized me,” Jackson said, via the team website. “I was like, ‘That’s crazy, I’m known in London?’ A few guys walked up to me, they were like, ‘Are your Lamar?’ in the London accent. I took a picture with those guys. It was fun.”
Jackson, known for his dynamic and sometimes wild performances as an NFL quarterback, has more than made his mark on the game. Now, he is set to make his debut performance in England, a prospect that he is clearly thrilled about.
The ex-NFL Most Valuable Player, now 26 years old, hails from Florida, pursued his college football in Kentucky, and has exclusively played his NFL home games in Maryland. This Sunday, his career takes on a global scope as his team, the Ravens, go head-to-head with the Tennessee Titans at 6:30 a.m. ET. The match, broadcasted from London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on NFL Network, will mark his official debut as a global player.
“This is my inaugural visit to London and likely my third time abroad,” stated Jackson. “I’m thrilled. London has really won me over.”
Baltimore will play just its second International Series game and its first since a 44-7 London loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2017. Jackson was a junior at Louisville back then and will now become just the fourth former MVP QB to start a game in London (Tom Brady twice, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan).
The Jaguars caused an upset last week in London by defeating a Buffalo Bills team that appeared sluggish to start on Sunday.
Possibly aiming to counter any travel fatigue, the Ravens, under the leadership of head coach John Harbaugh, departed early this week to acclimatize. Contrarily, the Bills didn’t reach until Friday morning, approximately 48 hours ahead of the game.
Jackson, for instance, is quickly getting acclimated.
“Being out here early will likely benefit us significantly, rather than having a quick turnaround,” said Jackson. “I expect to be perfectly adjusted in another day or so.”
Following a devastating defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens (3-2) aim to bounce back against the Titans (2-3). However, before the kickoff, it’s evident that Lamar has a fondness for London which reciprocates his affection.
“Having NFL football expand globally is very significant,” Jackson stated. “It’s astounding, and the fact that I have fans in London is something I never even dreamed of.”
