Even by the NFL Top 100’s usual standards for debate, Lamar Jackson at No. 69 feels way off.
The Ravens quarterback dropped all the way from No. 2 in 2025 to No. 69 on the 2026 list, a fall that looks more like a punishment for an injury-marred season than a real reflection of where he stands in the league. Jackson finished one spot ahead of Green Bay Packers safety Xavier McKinney, but that placement does little to change the bigger picture: voters clearly weighed 2025 more heavily than Jackson’s overall level of play.
That’s what makes the ranking so hard to buy. Last season was Jackson’s first since 2022 without a Pro Bowl nod, an All-Pro selection, or an MVP award.
A hamstring injury that began in Week 3 lingered for much of the year, and a severe back contusion against the New England Patriots in Week 16 added another hit to an already disrupted season. Even with those setbacks, NFL+ noted that Jackson still produced 15 explosive plays, tied for fifth in the league, while also posting the NFL’s best passer rating on play-action passes at 147.6, along with a 13.2 yards-per-attempt mark and a completion percentage over expected of +11.9%.
Steelers fans don’t need a list to know what Jackson means to Baltimore. When he’s right, the Ravens’ offense stretches a defense in every direction. Pass rushers have to think twice before flying upfield, linebackers get stuck in between, and defensive backs are forced to hold their ground while Jackson creates problems both as a runner and a passer.
That dual threat has been a constant headache for Pittsburgh. Jackson can still beat the Steelers with his legs when the passing game isn’t humming, and that reality has shaped game plans for years. The throwing issues that once followed him around have also faded; his mechanics and ball placement have come a long way over the past few seasons.
He’s had to adapt to plenty of change, too. Since entering the league in 2018, Jackson has played for Marty Mornhinweg, Greg Roman, Todd Monken, and now Declan Doyle. Only Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts has dealt with more coordinator and play-caller turnover during that stretch.
Now there’s another layer of transition coming in 2026. Former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter is set to give Jackson his first head-coaching change in the NFL, which means new terminology, new weekly routines, and a different voice running the show. Those kinds of shifts can slow an offense down early, even when the quarterback is good enough to carry it.
Still, Pittsburgh won’t get the benefit of catching Baltimore in the middle of that adjustment. The teams don’t meet until Week 15, then again twice in the final four weeks of the regular season. By then, injuries, playoff positioning, and Baltimore’s comfort level with Doyle’s offense should all be further along.
Jackson turns 30 in January, and his style leaves real questions about durability over the long haul. But a two-time MVP with multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors is not the 69th-best player in football. If he starts 2026 healthy, the Steelers will spend most of the year preparing for the quarterback who can still take over the AFC North when December arrives.
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