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'It Wasn’t That': Former NFL MVP Gets Real on What Went Wrong for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson in 2025

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated Feb 13, 2026 11:30 PM ET

Lamar Jackson’s 2025 season for the Baltimore Ravens left many wondering what derailed one of the league’s most electrifying quarterbacks. Kurt Warner, a former NFL MVP, believes the answer is simpler than critics might assume.

Warner, who won league MVP honors in 1999 and 2001, spent time studying Baltimore’s film in search of a glaring flaw. What he found was not a dramatic shift in mechanics, decision-making or defensive recognition, but something more subtle and perhaps more frustrating.

Nov 27, 2025; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) looks to pass during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

Warner said he could not identify a clear change in Jackson’s process or approach that explained the downturn. Instead, he pointed to routine opportunities that slipped away, plays that Jackson had converted countless times earlier in his career but failed to finish consistently this past season.

The assessment suggests the Ravens’ struggles were less about schematic breakdowns and more about execution at critical moments. Jackson’s ability to extend drives with his arm and legs has long been his trademark, yet in 2025 those margin plays often ended in missed throws, stalled possessions or near misses that altered games.

Former NFL MVP Kurt Warner Shares His Thoughts About Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson

Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kurt Warner on the field before Super Bowl LIX between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

Warner recently shared what he thought went wrong for Jackson last season. This can be seen in an article by Jamison Hensley for ESPN.

“As I was watching film, I couldn’t put my finger on anything that said, ‘Oh, OK, here’s what he’s doing different’ or ‘He’s making bad decisions now that he didn’t make before,'” said Warner, who was the NFL MVP in 1999 and 2001. “It wasn’t that. It was more just missing plays that he’s made a million times before.”

Baltimore’s offense remained structurally similar, and Jackson’s athleticism did not suddenly disappear. But in a league where inches and split seconds define outcomes, even small lapses in timing and precision can snowball into a season that feels far removed from MVP standards.

Warner’s evaluation frames Jackson’s down year as a matter of refinement rather than reinvention. If the issues truly center on finishing routine plays rather than correcting systemic flaws, the path back to elite form may be more about rediscovering rhythm than rebuilding fundamentals. For the Ravens, that perspective offers cautious optimism heading into the next chapter.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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