Like his fans around the world, Lamar Jackson wishes watch Beyoncé at halftime of Wednesday’s Christmas game between his Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans.
So what should the Ravens quarterback do? The answer is simple. He will watch.
Jackson was asked Monday if it was disappointing that Beyoncé was performing at a halftime show he can’t watch. Turns out that won’t be a problem for Jackson — at least in his eyes.
“No, because I’m going to go over there and watch,” Jackson said. “I’m going to go over there and watch, man. It’s the first time I’ve seen Beyoncé perform, and it’s at our game. It’s awesome.
“I’ll go over there and look. Sorry, Harbaugh. Sorry. Sorry, guys.”
Ravens coach John Harbaugh did not offer his opinion.
If Jackson sneaked out of the locker room to watch the halftime show, he wouldn’t be the first player to do so. Although he might be the first to announce his plans in advance. And he could be the premier quarterback.
Former players must sneak in to watch the halftime show
Bengals kicker Evan McPherson watched the halftime show headlined by Dr. Dre when Cincinnati played and lost to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI. Like Jackson, McPherson wasn’t trying to hide it. He was on the field, dancing and singing in front of the NBC cameras.
Bengals long snapper Clark Harris also watched the halftime show, but remained out of sight of the television cameras. A few months after Cincinnati’s 23-20 loss, Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons called his players’ halftime shenanigans a “sensitive subject.”
He was particularly disturbed by Harris missing special teams adjustments during halftime.
“I just couldn’t find it.” Simmons told The Athletic from Harris in 2022 “I looked everywhere in the locker room and I can’t find it.
“I have to continue and make adjustments with everyone. I had to move two players and make adjustments with the punt team. I don’t have the key cog in there. That’s what frustrated me the most.”
Harris told The Athletic that his absence “didn’t ruin anything.”
“The fact that I wasn’t there for it didn’t ruin anything, but it could have been a thing,” Harris said.
Harris played the next season with the Bengals, then retired after a 15-season NFL career spent primarily in Cincinnati.
Michael Irvin watched Michael Jackson
Hall of Fame Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin also hopped into the Super Bowl halftime locker room to watch Michael Jackson perform during Dallas’ 52-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl XXVII. The Cowboys held a 28-10 lead at halftime. It was in 1993.
Irvin didn’t admit it until 2017. And he said he wasn’t alone.
“Dude, listen. Jimmy Johnson was trying to talk about the game plan and everything.” Irvin told the Rich Eisen show in 2017. “And we’re sitting here, ‘Come on coach.’ And then half of us sneak in the back to watch Michael Jackson…
“Because I wanted to go see Michael Jackson, man. That was the moment. … “And the next day the critics were like, ‘The greatest halftime show ever.'”
Irvin and McPherson snuck in during the Super Bowl. Wednesday’s Ravens-Texans game is a late-season matchup between playoff teams, and the Ravens are battling the Steelers for the NFC North title. But the stakes are obviously lower. Meanwhile, the halftime show is Super Bowl caliber.
Will Jackson follow through on his halftime plans in what plans to become a competitive play? Or will Harbaugh set it on fire before Jackson gets the chance?
