Eddie Jackson is a safety in American football and is currently a free agent. He was formerly a National Football League’s (NFL) Chicago Bears member and played college football at the University of Alabama.
Early Life & Education
Eddie Jackson was born on December 10th, 1992 in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. He attended Boyd H. Anderson High School in the same city. During his time there, he excelled as both a defensive back and wide receiver.
During his final year of high school, he caught 37 passes for 792 yards while on offense, made 66 tackles, and secured five interceptions while on defense. Jackson was heavily recruited by well-known Division I schools such as Tennessee, Florida State, and LSU.
He eventually committed to playing football at the University of Alabama under the leadership of head coach Nick Saban, officially signing in January 2013.
College Football
As a freshman at Alabama, Jackson began his career as a cornerback and started in seven games. However, due to an injury the following year, he transitioned to safety and went on to start in all 15 games. During this time, he recorded 46 tackles, one interception, and a sack.
After making three tackles and an interception in a 45-40 win against Clemson, he was awarded the title of Defensive MVP in the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship. He also received Second Team All-Conference recognition.
Eddie Jackson’s NFL Career
In the 2017 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears chose Jackson in the fourth round as the 112th pick. Starting as the free safety for the team, as designated by head coach John Fox, Jackson recorded a total of 73 tackles, 55 of which were solo, as well as six pass deflections, two interceptions, two touchdowns, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery during his rookie season. He was a starter in all 16 games, making 16 starts throughout the season.
Eddie Jackson has been a standout player for the Chicago Bears since he joined the league in 2017. He holds the distinction of being the first NFL player to score multiple defensive touchdowns of 75 yards or more in a single game. During his initial two seasons with the Bears, he has amassed 124 combined tackles, eight interceptions for 163 yards, three touchdowns, and 21 passes defended.
Jackson was chosen to join the 2019 Pro Bowl team on December 19, 2018, and was also recognized as a First-Team All-Pro, along with his fellow teammates Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller, and Tarik Cohen.
Following an impressive first year, Jackson solidified his position as one of the top safeties in the league, receiving All-Pro recognition in 2018 and earning a spot on the Pro Bowl roster in 2019. As a result, the Bears showed their appreciation by signing Jackson to a four-year contract worth $58.4 million.
In 2022, Jackson played in 12 games and made 80 tackles, as well as four interceptions. He was chosen to be the team captain after Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn left during the middle of the season.
In the Week 12 defeat against the New York Jets, Jackson sustained a Lisfranc injury that ended his season. As a result, he was put on injured reserve on November 29. Before his injury, he was the top tackler for the Bears and was also receiving the most votes among NFC free safeties for the Pro Bowl.
Despite his strong performance in 2022, his play has not been consistently good since then. In 2023, he faced difficulties and his name was brought up in trade talks throughout the year.
As of now, the Chicago Bears have the opportunity to free up $12.56 million in their salary cap by letting him go, so it’s only a matter of when he will join a new team as the former All-Pro. Eddie Jackson is also aware of this, as he recently bid farewell to Chicago through his Instagram account.
Despite his struggles in 2023, it should not be assumed that he is no longer capable of exceptional performance. In 2022, he achieved a PFF grade of 76.2, which was the second-highest of his career and placed him 13th among 88 safeties.
Net Worth
Chicago Bears’ active roster currently places Eddie Jackson at the 41st spot. According to recent reports, his cap hit for the season amounts to $721,000, which accounts for approximately 0.4% of the team’s total cap. Despite his relatively short stint in the professional arena, Eddie Jackson’s career is off to a promising start.
In 2020, Eddie Jackson inked a deal worth $58,400,000 for 4 years with the Chicago Bears. The contract also includes a $12,000,000 bonus upon signing, $33,000,000 guaranteed, and a yearly average salary of $14,600,000.
