How Long Has Lamar Jackson Been In The Nfl

Let’s be honest: time flies. One minute you’re rewinding a VHS tape, and the next you’re explaining to a teenager what a VHS tape even is. That’s exactly how it feels with Lamar Jackson in the NFL. It’s hard to believe that this incredible, highlight-reel of a quarterback hasn't been around forever.

So, how long has Lamar Jackson actually been in the NFL? The short answer is that he was drafted in 2018. That means the 2024 season is his seventh year in the league. Think about that for a second—seven years is a blink in the world of professional football, yet he’s already lived a whole career’s worth of drama.

From “Who’s That?” to “He’s the MVP”

Remember when he was a raw rookie? It feels like just yesterday he was backing up Joe Flacco in Baltimore. The whispers were all the same: “Can a running quarterback actually win in this league?” He answered that question faster than you can say “Heisman Trophy.”

By his second year, in 2019, he turned the NFL on its head and won Most Valuable Player. That’s like walking into a new job and getting the “Employee of the Year” award within your first 18 months. He didn’t just arrive; he announced himself with a party.

Those early years were pure magic. You’d watch him spin away from three defenders, and it felt like you were watching a video game on easy mode. He made Sundays feel like a circus, and we were all just happy to be in the audience.

Why Should You Even Care?

You might be thinking, “Okay, seven years. So what?” Well, the reason you should care is that we are watching history unfold right now. Seven years in the NFL is the equivalent of about forty years in normal, dog-year logic. Most players are done by year five, but Lamar is just hitting his prime.

Think of it like your favorite pair of jeans. The first year they’re stiff. The third year they’re comfortable. By year seven? They’re broken in perfectly and you know exactly how they’ll fit. That’s Lamar Jackson right now—completely in his element, comfortable, and still stretching the limits of what’s possible.

He’s also the only player in NFL history to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons and a league MVP. That’s not just a stat; that’s your buddy who can fix your car, paint your house, and cook a gourmet dinner, all in the same afternoon. He’s a unicorn, and we only get one of him at a time.

Former NFL Star Rips Anyone Blaming Lamar Jackson For Sunday Night's

The “Wait, He’s Still Young?” Surprise

Here’s the wild part that makes people smile: Lamar is still very young. He entered the league at just 21 years old. While other quarterbacks are just starting to figure things out at age 27, Lamar is entering his seventh season at age 27. He has more experience now than some Hall of Famers had at the same age.

It’s like that kid in school who started college classes at 16. You look at him and think, “Man, he’s been around forever,” but he’s actually got a whole decade of prime football left. The league hasn’t even seen the full Lamar Jackson yet. That’s a scary, exciting thought for defenses.

So, that’s the timeline. 2018 until now. Seven years of “Wow.” Seven years of proving doubters wrong. Seven years of making fans scream at their TV sets in pure disbelief.

What’s Next? The Good Stuff

The best part about Lamar’s journey is that the story is far from over. He’s already a legend, but he’s hungry for that Super Bowl ring. Watching a player who has been in the league for seven years still chase his first championship with that same kid-like joy is beautiful.

He runs onto the field like a Golden Retriever who just saw a tennis ball. Seven years in, and that energy hasn’t dipped one bit. That’s why you should care—because genuine passion is rare, and Lamar has it in spades.

So next time you’re flipping through channels and see #8 dancing around defenders, remember: you’ve been watching him for almost a decade. And if you blinked, you might have missed the best seven years of football magic we’ve ever seen. Don’t blink now—the next seven years might be even better.