John Harbaugh Signs Big QB Days After Lamar Jackson’s Strong Contract Demand From Ravens Front Office.
The Baltimore Ravens are one of the few clubs that look to have their QB position solved. The Ravens didn’t even need to play their backup quarterbacks much in recent years; Jackson hasn’t missed a game because of injury since the end of the 2022 season.
He not only showed up but also did what he was supposed to do. After bagging the MVP last season, he made it to the records book quite a few times this season as well.
On Christmas Day against the Houston Texans, Jackson tallied three touchdowns and surpassed Michael Vick as the NFL’s all-time leading rusher at quarterback in a 31–2 victory. He capped off a record-setting regular season by leading the Ravens to their second consecutive AFC North title with a 35–10 victory over the Browns.
With the win, Jackson became the first player in NFL history to record over 4,000 passing yards and 900 rushing yards in a single season. But despite that, his year 7 ended in a similar fashion- with a loss.
But despite the loss to the Bills in the playoffs, where Jackson had a costly first-half fumble that Von Miller recovered, leading to an eventual Bills’ touchdown, his contribution to the squad could be overlooked. However, there is a point: Over the last six seasons, the Ravens are 4-10, including playoffs, when Jackson has not started at quarterback. That indicates the need for a backup to Jackson. So the franchise has made a move to bring a trusted hand.
The Ravens reached agreement with former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Cooper Rush on Sunday, his agency, Equity Sports, announced. Terms were not disclosed but sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler that it’s a two-year contract that has a maximum value of $12.2 million and includes $4.2 million guaranteed.
Rush, 31, will take over as Jackson’s primary backup from Josh Johnson, a 38-year-old journeyman who threw three passes in six games last season.
Rush has proved to be a valuable backup quarterback to Dak Prescott for the Cowboys, posting a 9-5 record behind Prescott. He posted career highs in yards (1,844) and touchdowns (12) in 2024, going 4-4 after Prescott had to sit for the season with an avulsion of his right hamstring. While not flashy, Rush is dependable and mostly avoids mistakes. He had five interceptions last season.