“If I’m Gonna Get Fired..”: John Harbaugh’s Motivational Rant to Start Lamar Jackson Over Joe Flacco Revealed by Former Ravens’ Star

“Joe Flacco is our quarterback.” That’s what John Harbaugh had said on April 27, 2018. That was the day Lamar was drafted by the Ravens. At that point in time, Harbaugh knew that Lamar would be just a backup. But he also assured reporters that Jackson would not be forced to play in another position.

But then December came, and the tide had turned against Flacco. Harbaugh decided that he would start the rookie QB instead of the veteran. Former Ravens’ QB Robert Griffin III in the Punch Line Podcast with Marlon Humphrey revealed how Harbaugh did it.

John Harbaugh places his trust in Lamar Jackson

In December, during a season that had its fair share of ups and downs, John Harbaugh stood before his team. And he told them, “If I’m gonna get fired I’m getting fired with this dude. Period.” Why did it come to this? They started the season 4-5 and were coming off a three-game losing streak.

Rumors were loud in the media that he would get fired as HC for his team’s condition. That’s when he took the improbable decision of starting Jackson over Flacco. Basically, his entire career hinged on his decision. And his trust paid off. The Ravens went on to land a three-game winning streak under Jackson.

And that was the beginning of Jackson and the sidelining of Flacco. This decision started the Lamar-velous era for the Ravens.

Lamar turns the tide for the Ravens

Ahead of the Bucs game in Week 15, Harbaugh handed the QB reins to rookie Lamar Jackson. This decision pushed seasoned player Joe Flacco to a supporting role. Flacco took the shift with grace. He said, “I can’t say I was surprised. Anything can happen in this league and we’re right in the middle of a playoff run.” His first game as a starter was against the Bengals, actually, as Flacco had suffered a hip injury.

Under Jackson’s leadership, the Ravens have notched victories against formidable opponents. They even went to the Wild Card round, where they eventually fell to the Chargers. Jackson’s electric running game breathed new life into the Ravens’ playbook. On the other hand, Flacco’s season was marked by a string of unremarkable performances. It left the team hovering around a .500 record.

The next year, he went on to win his first NFL MVP title. And then flash forward to the 2023 season, he won his second. All this because John Harbaugh decided to place his trust in him. That too when his entire career as a coach was in a precarious situation!

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