Tom Brady Had Ravens’ Lamar Jackson Nearly Speechless With Heartfelt Compliment

It’s hard to think of two great quarterbacks with as divergent styles of play as future Hall of Famer Tom Brady and Baltimore Ravens gunslinger Lamar Jackson. 

Brady was the archetypical pocket passer, never rushing for more than four touchdowns in one season. Jackson, who has already surpassed Brady’s career total with 29 rushing touchdowns, is a true dual-threat.

Their differences, which constitute as good evidence as anything that there is no right or wrong way to play quarterback, belie the fact that the mutual respect is obvious between the two.

“The first time I ever really noticed you was that high school highlight where you put the brakes on the guy and he went flying by,” Brady told Jackson on Monday’s edition of Let's Go!—the seven-time champion’s podcast with future Hall of Fame wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and sportscaster Jim Gray.

Brady was referencing a clip from Jackson’s high school days in Boynton Beach, Fla., in which the future Louisville quarterback stops short of the end zone to let a helpless defender sail past him.

“Not that I’ve ever had that experience in my entire life. I don’t even know what that feels like. But now you’re doing that at the highest level,” Brady said. “You’re the reason people watch the NFL.”

A clearly starstruck Jackson—who is actually 2–0 against Brady lifetime—responded to Brady saying that the comments “meant a lot, coming from you.”