In the highly competitive world of professional sports, athletes are constantly looking for ways to improve their performance and gain a competitive edge. For Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, this quest for betterment led him to make a significant change in his physical appearance and lifestyle. Jackson recently revealed that he shed roughly 25 pounds of weight because he thought he was fat and slower.
The reigning NFL MVP shared his weight loss journey candidly and honestly, surprising many fans and critics alike. Jackson’s decision to trim down was motivated by his desire to enhance his speed and agility on the football field. Despite already being one of the most dynamic and elusive players in the league, Jackson’s commitment to self-improvement highlights his relentless pursuit of excellence.
“I was fat, to me,” Jackson said about his physique in 2022. “I felt like I was fat. I just saw a video from two years ago, of the Browns, and I looked out of shape. But I was in shape.”
Jackson continued: “My eyes might be deceiving me, but I believe I looked a little slower, to me. Not now.”
Jackson said he decided to slim down after the 2022 campaign “just so I could move around without getting fatigued.”
“I don’t know if I was getting fatigued last year,” Jackson said. “Probably if I get a first down, but I don’t like getting caught if I do decide to run. So, yeah. It’s part of it.”
Jackson previously said he weighed around 230 pounds during training camp ahead of the 2022 season after purposefully adding between 12 and 15 pounds of muscle mass.
The quarterback was listed on the Ravens roster at 215 pounds for the 2023 season, around the weight at which he entered the NFL.
He went on to win his second MVP award while passing for a career-high 3,678 yards and adding 821 more on the ground.
This offseason Jackson went further with the slimdown, telling Complex Sports in May that he had slimmed down to around 205 pounds (h/t NBC Sports’ Charean Williams).
Lamar Jackson’s decision to lose weight in pursuit of better performance is a testament to his dedication to his craft and his relentless pursuit of excellence. His willingness to confront his perceived weaknesses and make the necessary changes to address them is a shining example of the mindset required to succeed at the highest levels of professional sports.
Flip to the next page to watch Lamar Jackson speak on his weight loss journey…
