# @playerstribune on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DFBlsBjsHq0
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/26078502-playerstribune-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/baedb26fc4.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-19T23:00:16.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The Players' Tribune (@PlayersTribune) — https://gondola.cc/PlayersTribune

## Caption

Lamar Jackson in 2016: “It was never my goal to make it to the NFL or even to play college football. That wasn’t why I played. I started playing football because I’m from South Florida and football is what kids from South Florida do. It turned out I was pretty good at it right away.⁠
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A lot of people helped me get better when I was young, but the best coach I’ve ever had was also my first one: Mom. And I’m not saying that just because she looked out for me and encouraged me to pursue football and all that stuff. I mean she actually made me grind to get better.⁠
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I grew up in a town called Pompano Beach, and there was a big bridge by our house. My Mom and I would run on it just about every day. Didn’t matter how hot it was. We’d go back and forth, and then back and forth again. And let me tell you, Mom was in shape! I’ve never played in a football game that was more tiring than those long runs on that bridge.⁠
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After we ran, we’d go into our backyard, put on equipment and start hitting — me, my younger brother and my mom. Now she was never like trying to put a lick on us or anything, but we’d all run through drills together. We bonded that way. Thinking back on it, imagining my mini self in a three-point stance blocking Mom, it’s kind of hilarious. But she knew what she was doing. She had a vision for my football career even before I did.” (Link in bio) • 📸: @kevsabitus, @michaelmreaves

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 33,182
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 202

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The Players' Tribune | @PlayersTribune | https://gondola.cc/PlayersTribune | Media Company |
| Lydia Victor | @lydiahopevictor | https://gondola.cc/lydiahopevictor | Designer |

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