Lee draws a parallel to Peyton Manning in the mid-2000s, a period when the quarterback’s career was defined as much by playoff results as by regular-season brilliance. Manning eventually delivered a Super Bowl with the 2006 Colts and later added another title with the 2015 Broncos, but the path was marked by high-profile postseason disappointments along the way. Jackson has not yet reached a Super Bowl, and Lee argues the playoffs must become the defining metric of his career.
Jackson’s 2025 season underscored the challenge. His on-target percentage dropped to 72.4%, the lowest of any full season in his career, and his 18.3% bad-throw rate was among his higher marks. Injuries played a role, but they don’t tell the whole story; questions persist about whether the version of Jackson we saw in 2025 represents his ceiling or a worrisome shift in his game. Contract negotiations loom as performance in the postseason becomes increasingly scrutinized.
Baltimore has responded by reshaping its staff around Jackson. Rookie head coach Jesse Minter replaced Todd Monken with Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator and moved on from long-time position coach Tee Martin. The changes put a premium on producing more moments of vintage Jackson, such as a late-season escape-and-throw sequence to Zay Flowers that showcased his playmaking when given space.
The key strategic question now is how Doyle and new quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork will balance a run-heavy identity with Jackson’s arm talent. Will the Ravens keep him largely confined to the ground game, or empower him to improvise and attack more through the passing game, mirroring the path Manning took with the Colts and later the Broncos?
Ultimately, 2026 hinges on how Jackson adapts to Baltimore’s revamped offense and whether the new regime can unlock his playoff-caliber potential. The outcome will influence not only Jackson’s trajectory but the Ravens’ fortunes in a critical window for the franchise.
