Aug 11, 2022; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) walks on the sidelines during the first half Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Lamar Jackson was more than happy to take his victory lap around Mike Florio after Monday’s big win.
The veteran sportswriter Florio went viral this week for his profane prediction ahead of the Baltimore Ravens-San Francisco 49ers Christmas Day meeting. Florio predicted that the 49ers would “kick the s–t” out of the Ravens. He cited the travel advantage held by San Francisco and added that they would “dismantle” Baltimore.
Florio could not have been more wrong though as it was the Ravens who ended up doing the kicking. They convincingly defeated the 49ers by a 33-19 final score in a performance that was so dominant that the memes came out.
As Jackson, Baltimore’s star quarterback, walked off the field and into the tunnel after the game, he was caught on the television broadcast taking a swipe at Florio.
“What’s his name? Mike Flores?” Jackson jokingly asked.
Sounds like Lamar Jackson took that prediction from Mike “Flores” Florio personally. pic.twitter.com/lAMgE0T2FI
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) December 26, 2023
Jackson continued with the barbs at Florio in his postgame press conference as well.
“You can’t just discredit us,” said Jackson of Florio. “We grown men, we got to feed our families. He can have his opinion but just don’t be talking like that. That’s disrespectful. That’s very disrespectful.
“He needs to keep doing his job and just don’t come off like that towards us,” Jackson added. “That’s disrespectful, like I said, cause he isn’t putting the pads on … The guy we’re not even playing against just come out being disrespectful to us. I guess he wanted more views on his little channel. We’re going to leave it at that.”
For his part, Florio tried to backtrack in a post to X from ProFootballTalk’s official page.
“Lamar is right,” Florio wrote. “I apologize for how I phrased my opinion. I believed the 49ers were dramatically better than every other team in the NFL: Cowboys, Eagles, Chiefs, Dolphins, everyone. The Ravens proved otherwise. They deserve complete and total respect for what they accomplished.”
Lamar is right. I apologize for how I phrased my opinion. I believed the 49ers were dramatically better than every other team in the NFL: Cowboys, Eagles, Chiefs, Dolphins, everyone. The Ravens proved otherwise. They deserve complete and total respect for what they accomplished. https://t.co/4ja4gvuWnc
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) December 26, 2023
Florio is known as somewhat of an instigator and has ticked off many notable NFL figures over the years. But the Ravens, now an NFL-best 12-3 on the season, have earned their respect, and Jackson is here to collect it.