Would Lamar Jackson be more well-known if he played for a different franchise? NBA Hall of Famer Paul Pierce believes so.
While appearing on FS1's "Speak," Pierce argued that Jackson would be one of the faces of the NFL if he played for a team other than the Baltimore Ravens.
"I think for him to be the face of the league, he's gotta get out of Baltimore," Pierce said.
"Think about this: if Lamar was on Dallas right now, same accolades, he'd be the face of the league."
Pierce argued the same thing if Jackson was in Brock Purdy's position on the San Francisco 49ers.
"That market there, like, people don't know a lot about Baltimore," Pierce said. "People don't talk about Baltimore."
Pierce seemed to contradict his own point, however, when he responded to host Joy Taylor noting that Patrick Mahomes is the face of the NFL despite playing in a relatively small market like Kansas City, Missouri. Pierce responded that Mahomes is famous because the Chiefs have won Super Bowls.
"Yes, that's what I'm saying," Taylor said.
Taylor continued, as analyst and former player Keyshawn Johnson agreed: "I don't think the city, especially in 2024 where everything is global and everything is accessible — I don't think the city matters."
Indeed, Jackson might not be one of the most famous NFL players, but that could change if the Ravens make, or win, the Super Bowl. Continued success would surely elevate his standing, despite the fact that Baltimore isn't one of the biggest markets.
Watch the clip below:
.@paulpierce34: For Lamar Jackson to be the face of the league, he'd have to leave Baltimore.
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) September 4, 2024
"If Lamar was on Dallas right now, same accolades, he'd be the face of the league. If Lamar was on San Francisco... he'd be the face." pic.twitter.com/E8bwGAU6xv
