Eddie Jackson

Eddie Jackson was born on December 10, 1993, in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. He attended Boyd H. Anderson High School, where he excelled as both a defensive back and wide receiver. He recorded 37 receptions for 792 yards on offense and 66 tackles with five interceptions on defense during his senior year. Following high school, Jackson committed to the University of Alabama to play college football, starting his collegiate career as a cornerback.

Jackson’s college career at Alabama saw him transition from cornerback to safety prior to his junior year in 2015. Despite tearing his ACL in April 2014, he returned to play in 11 games that year. In 2015, he played in all 15 games, tallying 46 tackles and six interceptions. A significant achievement came when he was named the Defensive MVP of the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship, contributing to Alabama’s 45–40 victory over Clemson with three tackles and an interception. His senior year was cut short by a left leg injury against Texas A&M, but he still recorded two punt returns and one interception returned for touchdowns, earning second-team all-conference honors.

In the 2017 NFL Draft, Jackson was selected by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (112th overall). He quickly made an impact, recording his first career interception, recovering a fumble, and scoring two touchdowns in a single game against the Carolina Panthers in October 2017, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. His performance continued to grow, leading to a First-team All-Pro selection in 2018 and two Pro Bowl selections (2018, 2019). He signed a four-year, $58.4 million contract extension with the Bears in 2020, making him the highest-paid safety in the NFL at that time. After years with the Bears, Jackson joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2024 and later the Los Angeles Chargers.