ESPN, like every other sports media network, is spending a great deal of time during this lull in NFL news debating the greatness of current players. One of the most high-profile debates every year over which player is the best quarterback in the NFL.
According to multiple outlets, Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills is widely considered to be the best quarterback in the league. As such, he is likely going to be ranked near the top of the NFL’s top-100 players list.
Lamar Jackson, the two-time NFL MVP, recently came in at 67th on the list. Ryan Clark of ESPN disagreed with that ranking.
NFL fans go after ESPN’s Ryan Clark over his Lamar Jackson statement
Clark appeared on “First Take,” one of ESPN’s more popular shows, to discuss Jackson’s ranking. He did not understand why the two-time NFL MVP was voted so low by his peers:
“Outside of Patrick Mahomes, there is no more accomplished quarterback in the entire NFL than Lamar Jackson.”
– Ryan Clark pic.twitter.com/RDQWjZ7fCI
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LiveRavenNation) July 18, 2026
As one can see, Clark claimed that, outside of Patrick Mahomes, Jackson is the most accomplished quarterback in the NFL.
Indeed, winning two league MVP Awards is a case for being among the most decorated players in the NFL. However, to say that he is second only behind Mahomes in this area is not a factual statement.
Aaron Rodgers, who has won four MVP Awards, a Super Bowl, and a Super Bowl MVP Award is still playing, and therefore ranks higher than Jackson when it comes to career accolades.
And NFL fans were quick to remind Clark of this fact. On X user posted:
Did we all literally forget Aaron Rodgers? Is this entire app intentionally dense or did we all just collectively decide to forget the:
First Ballot HOF
4x League MVP
Super Bowl Champion
SBMVP
4x First Team AP
1x Second Team AP
TJ Lang, Rodgers’ former teammate on the Green Bay Packers, responded with “Huh?”
Former NFL lineman Geoff Schwartz posted, “In his peer group it’s worth a discussion. However Rodgers has 3 MVPs, a SB and SB MVP. He’s more accomplished than anyone who’s not Mahomes.”
Schwartz, of course, miscounted the number of MVP’s Rodgers has won.
One can argue (and probably correctly) that Jackson is better than Rodgers is right now in this moment in time. However, when it comes to career decorations, Rodgers simply has received more of them than Jackson.
That is not an opinion; it’s a fact, one that Clark must have conveniently forgot.
