Lamar Jackson Reveals The Reason He Missed Beyoncé's Halftime Show Despite His Promise

Millions, including non-football fans, tuned in to see Beyoncé’s highly anticipated halftime performance on Christmas Day. However, Lamar Jackson wasn’t among them, despite his previous promise.

Coach John Harbaugh revealed during the Netflix broadcast coming out of halftime that his star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, didn't leave the locker room, and it was for good reason.

The Monday before Christmas, Lamar Jackson shared his plans to watch Beyoncé's halftime performance during the Ravens vs. Houston Texans game on Christmas Day.

"I'm going to go out there and watch," Jackson said. "[It will be my] first time seeing Beyoncé perform, and it's at our game -- that's dope. I'm going to go out and watch. Sorry [Ravens coach John] Harbaugh, sorry. Sorry fellas."

He was also asked if catching Beyoncé's performance would depend on whether Baltimore held a comfortable lead over Houston at halftime. "No, I'm not even thinking about the lead," Jackson said. "I was just thinking about just seeing Beyoncé for the first time."

However, things changed when the Ravens, did, indeed, lead 17-2 at halftime. "I was locked in," he said when revealing he didn't leave the locker room at halftime, though, he said he could faintly hear her from where he was.

Despite delivering a standout performance on Christmas Day, Lamar Jackson still found reason to apologize to his teammates following the Baltimore Ravens' dominant win over the Houston Texans.

Jackson completed 10 of 15 passes for 168 yards, rushed for 87 yards on four carries, and scored three touchdowns—one rushing and two passing. By most standards, it was a stellar performance from the reigning NFL MVP. However, Jackson couldn’t shake off one moment that cost his team a chance at a rare defensive achievement.

Early in the game, the Texans secured a safety after pinning the Ravens deep in their own territory, resulting in two points on the scoreboard for Houston. According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Jackson personally apologized to the Ravens' defense for allowing those points and, in his view, spoiling their shot at a shutout. The missed opportunity was significant, as it would have been just the second shutout of the NFL season, following the Green Bay Packers’ 34–0 win over the New Orleans Saints earlier that week.

On an unforgettable Christmas Day, Lamar Jackson made NFL history and strengthened his case for a third MVP award in the Baltimore Ravens' commanding 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans. In a highlight-reel moment, Jackson broke Michael Vick's all-time NFL rushing record for quarterbacks with an electrifying 48-yard touchdown run, reaching an impressive 21.25 mph—the fastest speed of his career.

The milestone run came in the third quarter, pushing Jackson's career rushing total to 6,110 yards, narrowly surpassing Vick's previous record of 6,109 yards.

Wednesday marked the first time Beyoncé performed songs from her hit 2024 album, "Cowboy Carter," in front of a live audience. She opened the show on horseback, singing “16 Carriages” with striking elegance. After dismounting, with classic cars arranged as part of the set design, she transitioned into a heartfelt rendition of The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” joined by country singers Tanner Adell, Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy, and Reyna Roberts.

In a surprise moment, Post Malone joined Beyoncé on stage for their collaboration, “Levii’s Jeans,” following her soulful duet with country artist Shaboozey. The performance reached another high note with the powerful accompaniment of Texas Southern University’s 200-member Ocean of Soul Marching Band during “Ya Ya.”

Adding an extra touch of magic, Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy, joined her mother on stage, dancing alongside her during the crowd-pleaser “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

In May, Netflix secured a three-year deal to broadcast NFL Christmas Day games, marking a significant milestone for the streaming giant. The agreement is expected to deliver one of the platform's biggest viewing days since its launch in 1998.

With 282.3 million subscribers across more than 190 countries, Netflix became the first outlet to distribute an NFL game globally. Viewers had the option to stream the games in five languages—English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and German—making the event accessible to a vast international audience.