The Shocking Truth: Lamar Jackson's Wonderlic Score Of 13 And The Ultimate MVP Rebuttal

The number 13 haunts many in sports, but for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, it’s a specific figure from his pre-draft process that became a national talking point: his Wonderlic test score. This cognitive assessment, administered to NFL hopefuls at the Scouting Combine, is often scrutinized by analysts and teams as a measure of a player’s ability to learn and process information quickly on the field. Yet, as of the current date, December 17, 2025, Jackson’s legendary career has turned that low score into a powerful symbol of how little a standardized test predicts greatness in the National Football League.

Jackson’s performance, including multiple MVP awards, has definitively proven that on-field football intelligence, decision-making, and elite athleticism are what truly matter. His journey from a "disappointing" test result to one of the most dynamic and successful quarterbacks in league history serves as the ultimate rebuttal to the test's perceived predictive power over a player's career trajectory.

Lamar Jackson: Biography, Career Highlights, and Draft Profile

Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr. is an American professional football player who has redefined the quarterback position in the NFL. Born on January 7, 1997, in Pompano Beach, Florida, his career has been marked by unparalleled athleticism and a revolutionary style of play.

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• Full Name: Lamar Demeatrice Jackson Jr.
• Born: January 7, 1997 (Pompano Beach, Florida)
• College: Louisville (2015–2017)
• College Accolades: Heisman Trophy (2016), Maxwell Award (2016), Walter Camp Award (2016), Unanimous All-American (2016).
• NFL Draft: 2018, Round 1, Pick 32 (Baltimore Ravens)
• NFL Achievements (as of 2025):
  • 2x NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP)
  • 4x Pro Bowl selection
  • 3x First-team All-Pro
  • All-time leader in quarterback rushing yards
  • Holds the single-season record for rushing yards by a quarterback.
• Position: Quarterback (QB)
• Team: Baltimore Ravens

Jackson entered the 2018 NFL Draft as a polarizing figure. His incredible college career at Louisville, which culminated in a Heisman Trophy, was undeniable. However, pre-draft narratives often questioned his pocket-passing ability, with some analysts even suggesting he switch to wide receiver—a notion he staunchly rejected. The subsequent leak of his Wonderlic score only fueled the skepticism surrounding his "football IQ" and ability to process a complex NFL offense.

The Wonderlic Score Revealed: Why 13 Caused a Firestorm

The core of the controversy lies in the number itself. Lamar Jackson’s official, leaked score on the Wonderlic Cognitive Ability Test was 13. This score immediately became a lightning rod for critics who doubted his readiness for the professional game.

What is the Wonderlic Test?

The Wonderlic Test is a 50-question standardized cognitive assessment designed to measure an individual's learning and problem-solving abilities. Test-takers are given just 12 minutes to complete as many questions as possible.

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To put Jackson’s 13 into perspective, here are the key benchmarks for the test:

• Average Score for the General Population: 20
• Average Score for NFL Quarterbacks: Approximately 24
• Score Needed to be Considered "Average" for an NFL Player: Around 19-20

A score of 13 is significantly below the average for an NFL quarterback, which is why the revelation caused such a stir. In the eyes of many draft analysts and scouts, a low score was seen as a red flag, suggesting a potential lack of quick-thinking and cognitive processing essential for leading an NFL offense. The test is supposed to assess how quickly a player can absorb a playbook and react to defensive schemes. The score of 13 led to concerns about his "draft stock" and contributed to him falling to the final pick of the first round.

The Ultimate Rebuttal: How MVP Success Made the Score Irrelevant

The story of Lamar Jackson's career is the perfect case study for why the Wonderlic score is a deeply flawed predictor of NFL success, particularly for the quarterback position. His on-field performance has completely invalidated the pre-draft skepticism.

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Since being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, Jackson has proven to be an exceptional leader and a master of the team's complex offense. His ability to read defenses, execute RPOs (Run-Pass Options), and make split-second decisions in the open field showcases a level of "football intelligence" that a simple 12-minute test cannot measure.

The most powerful evidence against the Wonderlic is Jackson's list of accolades:

• 2x NFL MVP: Winning the league's highest individual honor not once, but twice, places him in elite company with legends of the game.
• Record-Breaking Rushing: He shattered the single-season rushing record for a quarterback, demonstrating the unique cognitive ability to process running lanes and defensive pursuit angles at full speed—a skill entirely separate from a written test.
• Consistent Success: His multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections prove his ability to consistently perform at an elite level, managing game situations and leading his team to victory.

The contrast between his low cognitive test score and his high career achievement is a stark reminder that football is a game of instinct, preparation, and athleticism, not just academic aptitude. His success has redefined what teams look for in a modern quarterback, shifting the focus from outdated cognitive metrics to dynamic physical and intuitive playmaking.

Lamar Jackson vs. NFL Legends: Low Scores That Became Hall of Fame Careers

Lamar Jackson is far from the only NFL star to score low on the Wonderlic test and still achieve greatness. In fact, many Hall of Fame players and Super Bowl winners have scores that are similar to or even lower than Jackson's 13, further solidifying the test's lack of predictive value.

These comparisons show that the ability to process a written test is not correlated with the ability to process a defensive blitz or a hot route in a high-pressure NFL game. This list of entities proves the point:

Conversely, some of the highest scores belong to players who had less-than-stellar NFL careers. The only known player to achieve a perfect score of 50 was punter Pat McInally, who played for the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, known for his Harvard education, also scored exceptionally high. These examples demonstrate the disconnect between academic intelligence and on-field execution.

The Future of the Wonderlic and Lamar Jackson's Legacy

The ongoing success of Lamar Jackson has contributed to a broader re-evaluation of the Wonderlic test's role in the NFL Draft process. The league has since removed the test as a mandatory part of the NFL Scouting Combine, recognizing that its predictive value is minimal and often leads to unfair biases against players.

Jackson’s legacy will not be defined by a score of 13 on a pre-draft cognitive test. Instead, it will be defined by his two MVP trophies, his electric play, his record-breaking rushing totals, and his ability to consistently prove the doubters wrong. He has cemented his place as a generational talent who overcame a flawed metric to achieve greatness. His story is a powerful lesson for aspiring athletes: true football IQ is measured on the field, not in a classroom.

For the Baltimore Ravens and their fans, the score of 13 is no longer a source of concern, but a badge of honor—a symbol of the team’s willingness to look past conventional metrics and draft a revolutionary talent who has transformed the franchise.