The Baltimore Ravens, for the second straight year, seem to be on track to miss the playoffs. Last year, Jackson missed four games because of injuries as Baltimore went 8-9 and missed the playoffs, after which the Ravens parted ways with John Harbaugh.

Unfortunately, this season hasn’t gotten off to a great start either. At 4-4, they are dead last in the AFC North, and their hopes of a postseason berth are diminishing by the day. Now, as Jackson heads to the IR with a right-thumb injury that will require surgery, fans are pointing the blame at general manager Eric DeCosta.

Ravens Fans Blame Eric DeCosta for Team’s Lack of Success Under Lamar Jackson

When on the field, Jackson ranked No. 2 in PFN’s Quarterback Impact Metric, prior to Week 8, and helped Baltimore jump out to a 3-1 start. But injuries quickly became a factor, as an ankle sprain sidelined the star quarterback for the next three games, during which the Ravens went 1-2.

As he made his long-anticipated return against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, he got injured again on the first play of the game. Without him, the Ravens weren’t able to provide much resistance, losing 36-10.

Rather than viewing the team’s struggles as simply a product of bad injury luck, some fans questioned whether the general manager had done enough to build a roster capable of supporting Jackson and weathering setbacks around him.

“EDC as a person (non-GM related) is a great human being,”one fan prefaced. “As a GM, respectfully, you can’t deny he’s been an utter failure to the organization and Lamar. He’s failed to invest in the o-line, whiffed on multiple draft picks, and overpaid players undeserving of the contracts given.”

He wasn’t the only fan directing blame at DeCosta. Despite his long tenure with the organization, some questioned whether his time as executive vice president and general manager, a role he assumed in 2019, had produced enough success to justify his continued leadership.

“He should’ve been fired alongside John,” one fan argued, as another fan added, “Was no reason not to fire him with John; this organization needed a full reset from the top.”

One fan branded him as “the worst GM in the NFL,” as another fan pointed to one specific decision that should have been the canary in the coal mine, stating, “Mark Andrews’ contract extension itself is a clear sign he needs to be fired.”

But for some, the vitriol against him was far deeper. Rather than embrace the Ravens’ smash-mouth, hard-nosed style of football, some fans believe he’s taken a different approach, which hasn’t worked in the team’s favor:

“This man is no Ozzie Newsome. A couple of number one seeds and a couple big name trade items couldn’t help this team achieve its goals. Drafted multiple players who are not true Ravens mentality-wise. His visions for the trenches are a joke. A complete fraud in my eyes.”

But for some, the situation went beyond his control, as one fan explained the irony, writing, “He failed Jackson. He failed Huntley. He failed Fagnano.”

It remains to be seen whether a healthier stretch at quarterback can get the Ravens back on track and improve DeCosta’s standing with the fan base. For now, though, the frustration surrounding Baltimore’s uneven start has placed the longtime executive under increasing scrutiny.

DeCosta has spent roughly three decades with the organization, rising through the front office before becoming general manager in 2019. That history gives him deep ties to the franchise, but it has not insulated him from criticism, as fans question whether the roster around Jackson has been good enough to maximize his prime.