On April 26, 2018, Lamar Jackson walked onto the NFL Draft stage in Arlington as the final pick of the first round and delivered one of the most replayed declarations of the night: “They’re gonna get a Super Bowl out of me. Believe that.” Lamar has delivered nearly everything Baltimore could ask for since then. Two league MVPs, six playoff appearances, and a commanding 70–24 regular-season record as a starter. The wait has stretched into seven seasons. And the longer it goes, the more Jackson’s dream and his teammates’ belief in it start to wobble.

But Ravens tight end Isaiah Likely, for one, was still holding out hope. He’s already planning his wardrobe around it. Since Lamar’s longtime jersey number is 8, and the QB had said back in 2021 that he’d switch to No. 1 after winning a Lombardi, Likely had his sights on snatching that No. 8 once it became available. “See the vision,” Likely said with full confidence. “If we win, when we win, 8’s gonna switch to 1…I’m like his little brother, so it’d be crazy for him to say no unless he double retires [the numbers].”

However, Lamar’s not entertaining the fantasy anymore. Not after the way last season ended, with another so close yet so far ending. On his Instagram story, Lamar reposted Likely’s vision board and popped the dream like a balloon. “You know how ppl throw their old shoes on powerlines @isaiahlikely_4? That’s wat I want you to do with this idea. Hang it tf up.” Just like that, the fairytale went cold. No playful back-and-forth. Just Lamar, frustrated and done pretending like the Lombardi is inevitable.

But you can’t really blame him. After falling to the Bills in another painful playoff exit, Lamar vented: “I’m tired of being right there. We need to punch it in. We need to punch in that ticket.” His postseason record now stands at 3–5. Every January, it feels like Baltimore’s knocking on the door. But the lock never clicks. Despite Lamar putting up historic numbers, the result hasn’t changed. Regular season fireworks, postseason silence.

His 2024 season might have been his best ever in 7 seasons. Over 4,000 passing yards. Over 900 rushing. A 12–5 record. Career highs across the board. A passer rating flirting with perfection. And only four picks. He even went 7–3 against playoff teams. Yet, the teams that beat him? Chiefs. Eagles. For all the history he made, Lamar didn’t make it to the game that would define him. That Purple Pain continues to wear him down now.

To rub salt on his wounds, he should’ve been the MVP. He probably was the MVP in any other year. But Josh Allen edged him out, and once again, Lamar was left with records but no rings. Which is why he’s done talking. Done making promises. The dream is alive, sure, but don’t expect him to say it out loud anymore. He wants the Lombardi, still. But for now? He’s stopped pretending it’s in reach. And Isaiah Likely better start shopping for another number.

Lamar Jackson’s uphill battle against the growing SB pains

The day after another playoff gut-punch, the Ravens locker room didn’t sound defeated. Just… drained. But there’s still belief in Lamar Jackson: that much is clear. “He’s going to win a Super Bowl, and I want to be a part of it,” Patrick Ricard said, eyes probably still red from Sunday night. “It just su–s that it hasn’t happened yet.” That word — yet — is starting to carry more weight than Lamar’s trophy shelf.

Meanwhile, on paper, Lamar’s résumé stacks up with anyone not named Tom Brady. He’s 28. A two-time MVP. Three-time All-Pro. The all-time QB rushing king. Even now, the Hall of Fame conversation feels real. But for fans, that’s not enough. Not anymore. They want rings. And maybe a Lombardi parade.

As much as it sounds a bit too dramatic, it’s desperation now. Some are even ready to put $1,000 on the line to say he won’t get one. Yeah, really — someone bet their buddy that Lamar will never win a Super Bowl. That’s where we are now. Winning MVPs isn’t silencing the critics. Winning it all is the only thing that matters.

Although John Middlekauff, host of the 3 & Out podcast, didn’t shut down the top-10 all-time QB chatter. He sees the potential. But he also sees the fumbles. The picks. The back-to-back playoff faceplants. “He’s now had back-to-back years [with] an atrocious interception in the playoffs,” Middlekauff noted. And he’s not wrong.

Lamar’s playoff stats? Let’s just say… they don’t make the cut. A 10:7 TD-INT ratio in the playoffs won’t scare anyone. And unlike Dan Marino, who sits at No. 10 without a ring, Lamar doesn’t have the arm mythology to fall back on. He needs the Lombardi.

Baltimore’s got the goods. The roster’s stacked, the coaching’s top-tier, and the window’s still cracked open. But these aren’t moral victory days anymore. The ‘we’re close’ era is over. Their redemption arc starts as early as week 1. That’s the same place the heartbreak ended: Buffalo.