Lamar Jackson spread holiday cheer both on and off the field during the Baltimore Ravens’ Christmas Day win.
With just over 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of the Ravens’ 31-2 win over the Houston Texans, Jackson took an early trip to the locker room with the game all-but decided. Upon trotting back to the field, the star quarterback exchanged pleasantries with fans sitting in the front row – including one young onlooker who received the gift of a lifetime.
Before joining his teammates on the sideline, Jackson grabbed a pseudo-chain from one Ravens supporter. Moments later, the 27-year-old gifted a young fan wearing his No. 8 jersey the beanie and wrist band that he was wearing.
According to sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl, the eight-year-old fan flew in from Jacksonville to attend the game at NRG Stadium in Houston. “No, it’s not just the child that he made happy,” she added. “There was a grown man who actually handed him a necklace prop and asked him to sign it. Not that Lamar Jackson has that kind of time during a game, but he just took it with him and, frankly, that man celebrated too.
“Like Lamar Jackson, the potential third-time MVP, just took my necklace prop. So everyone was thrilled down here.”
When asked if he had a go-to item to giveaway when seeing someone wearing his jersey, former NFL tight end and commentator Greg Olsen replied: “I’m a beanie guy. That kid’s not going to take off that beanie forever. He’s going to go to bed in that thing tonight and can’t blame him.”
Jackson’s heartfelt gesture wasn’t the only highlight moment from Wednesday’s game. On the Ravens’ second offensive snap of the third quarter, he faked a handoff to running back Derrick Henry and sped past a horde of Texans defenders on a 48-yard touchdown run.
While rumbling towards the endzone untouched, Jackson reached a maximum speed of 21.25 miles per hour – marking the fastest sprint of his entire career. Speaking to reporters after the game however, the seven-year NFL veteran asserted that h