Lamar Jackson said he felt old hearing that Anthony Richardson modeled his game after him

We’ve officially reached the point in NFL history where new quarterbacks are fashioning their game after guys that feel like they just got into the league.

It’s Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson who has to deal with the passage of time this week, as he commented on rookie Indiana Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson saying he compares his game to Jackson’s and former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton’s.

Jackson is only 26 years old, making him one of the younger starting quarterbacks in the league. However, Richardson’s complimentary comparison had Jackson feeling old.

“That made me feel old, and I’m only 26,” Jackson joked with reporters on Wednesday. “I appreciate stuff like [Richardson’s compliment].”

.@GVOaant said back in March that he compares his game to @Lj_era8 and @CameronNewton.

Lamar's response? "That made me feel old." pic.twitter.com/zL0SbIt9LO

— NFL (@NFL) September 20, 2023

Richardson will try to live up to Jackson’s excellent play as a young quarterback, and it sounds like one of the guys he emulates is a big fan of his as well. However, we feel Jackson’s sentiment wholeheartedly.

We all feel old (even when we’re not) when we hear people younger than us make certain comparisons. Jackson can count this compliment as a sign he really is one of the game’s premiere veteran quarterbacks for a new class of players, not at all as a sign that he’s old.