Baltimore Ravens fans celebrated multiple times on Christmas Day as the team overwhelmed the Houston Texans to win 31-2. In the process Lamar Jackson made NFL history by breaking the league’s rushing record for quarterbacks.
Jackson set the record with a 6-yard run in the third quarter, but earlier in the game, he ran for a dazzling 48-yard touchdown.
Jackson finished the game with 87 total yards, which brought him to 6,110 total in his career. Former Falcons and Eagles quarterback Michael Vick had held the record from 2011 to Christmas Day held the previous record since 2011.
“It’s unreal, that’s a record that’s been there forever, for a long time, Michael Vick is one of my favorite players,” Jackson said. “That’s just dope.”
Jackson’s head coach, John Harbaugh, who has been in charge in Baltimore for nearly two decades, seemed in awe of the performance.
“What could you say that could parallel what he did, just a phenomenal performance,” Harbaugh said. “I think he set the all-time record for rushing in the NFL, for pro football, that kinda speaks for itself, it’s just what he does every week.”
Another epic performance from @Lj_era8❗️ pic.twitter.com/kRIy0FU0Hq
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 26, 2024
Jackson’s teammates had the same sentiment.
“I’ve never seen someone run the ball like Lamar at quarterback, or honestly any other position,” Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley said. “The effortless nature of the way he runs the ball and makes these defenders not look as fast as they are, so I’m impressed by everything he does every day.”
Perhaps the most amazing aspect is how quickly Jackson set the record. It took him 102 games over seven seasons. Vick needed 143 games over 13 years. The Ravens are going to let Jackson run for years to come. The star quarterback has his team in the playoffs for the 2024 season and is one of the favorites to win his third MVP award.
The only thing Jackson was disappointed with on Christmas Day was that he did not get to see Beyoncé’s performance at halftime. Jackson joked the coaches locked the door to the locker room so he could not leave.
