(Reuters) – The Baltimore Ravens and 2019 league MVP Lamar Jackson have agreed in principle to a five-year contract extension, the team said on Thursday, in what ESPN described as the richest contract in the history of the National Football League (NFL).
The deal, which ends a long period of speculation over the quarterback’s future, is worth a reported $260 million, according to ESPN, eclipsing Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts’ contract signed only days ago for $255 million over five years.
The Ravens did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the value of the contract.
“You know, for the last few months there’s been a lot of he say, she say, a lot of nail biting, a lot of head scratching going on,” Jackson said in a video posted to the Ravens’ Twitter account.
“But for the next five years, it’s a lot of flock going on. Let’s go, baby.”
The Ravens finished last year second in the AFC North behind the Cincinnati Bengals with 10 wins and seven losses, with Jackson throwing for 2,242 yards and 17 touchdowns across 12 games. He ran in another three scores.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York; Editing by Sandra Maler)
