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Ravens Coach John Harbaugh Jokingly Checks with Lamar Jackson on Anniversary of Trade Request
At this time last year, coach John Harbaugh and the Baltimore Ravens were preparing for the league meetings, putting together their draft board, and wondering if Lamar Jackson would ever wear purple and gold again.
Jackson had just turned the Ravens headquarters and the NFL world on its head by publicly requesting a trade. The two sides had been mired in contract negotiations before Jackson hit free agency, eventually turning into a massive imbroglio.
Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh
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As Harbaugh and the team prep for the owner's meeting media availability, Harbaugh and a team representative had to crack a joke about last year's situation.
"Did anyone check Twitter (now known as X), are we ok?" amid laughs by everyone at the table.
Jackson eventually re-uped with the Ravens with a five-year, $260 million deal after Baltimore had just signed free agent wideout Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal to shore up the receivers room - something that had been an issue for several years.
The team then drafted Boston College receiver Zay Flowers in the first round of April's draft, giving Jackson another weapon through the air.
The former Louisville Cardinal Heisman Trophy winner and 2019 NFL MVP, went on to win his second MVP award in 2023 on the heels of a season where he threw for 3,678 yards, and 24 touchdowns to just seven interceptions while completing 67.2 percent of his passes
The Ravens seem to have avoided any drama like that this offseason ... at least for now.
