Jamaal Jackson
{{Short description|American football player (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jamaal Jackson
| image = Jamaal Jackson in 2009.jpg
| caption = Jackson in 2009
| number = 67
| position = Center
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|5|8}}
| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lbs = 325
| high_school = Miami (FL)
| college = Delaware State
| undraftedyear = 2003
| pastteams =
- Philadelphia Eagles ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2011}})
| highlights =
- Sports Illustrated All-Pro honors (2006)
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 = 88
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 = 72
| pfr = JackJa21
}}
Jamaal J. Jackson (born May 8, 1980) is a former American football center who played for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Delaware State, he was signed by the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He was the Eagles' starting center from 2005 to 2010.
College career
After graduating from Miami High School of Miami, Florida in 1998, Jackson played college football at Delaware State.{{cite web|title=Jamaal Jackson|url=http://www.dsc.edu/athletics/football/2002/jackson_j.htm|publisher=Delaware State University|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311005645/http://www.dsc.edu/athletics/football/2002/jackson_j.htm|archivedate=March 11, 2005}}
Professional career
After going undrafted in the 2003 NFL draft, Jackson was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent. He spent the 2003 season on the team's practice squad and the 2004 season on the team's injured reserve list after suffering a torn triceps.{{cite news |author=Bowen, Les |title=Eagles release Jamaal Jackson |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-15/sports/31197446_1_desean-jackson-jamaal-jackson-eagles |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150915075006/http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-15/sports/31197446_1_desean-jackson-jamaal-jackson-eagles |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 15, 2015 |work=The Philadelphia Daily News |date=March 15, 2012 |accessdate=2012-05-12}}
In the 2005 season he earned the starting job at center after Hank Fraley went down with an injury. He started all eight remaining games that season. He signed a seven-year extension with the Eagles on July 20, 2006. Jackson and Fraley appeared on the cover of the August 14, 2006 issue of Sports Illustrated, as they were in a battle for the starting center job—a rare feat for an offensive lineman. Jackson eventually beat out Fraley for the job when Fraley was traded to the Cleveland Browns.
Jackson started in every game for the Eagles from 2006–2008 after winning the starting job from Fraley.
After starting in the first 15 games in 2009, Jackson suffered a knee injury during a week 16 game against the Denver Broncos, which prevented him from playing in most of the game. Nick Cole replaced him at center.{{cite web |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Cole Steps Up After Jackson's Injury |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=19865 |publisher=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=December 27, 2009 |accessdate=2009-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100405071030/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=19865 |archive-date=April 5, 2010 |url-status=dead }} The knee injury turned out to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which kept Jackson from playing the rest of the year.{{cite web |author=Wulf, Bo |title=C Jackson Out For Year With Torn ACL |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=19885 |publisher=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=December 28, 2009 |accessdate=2009-12-28 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was placed on injured reserve on December 29.{{cite web |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Jackson Placed On Injured Reserve |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=19901 |publisher=PhiladelphiaEagles.com |date=December 29, 2009 |accessdate=2009-12-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107020435/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=19901 |archive-date=January 7, 2010 |url-status=dead }} Jackson was placed on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list at the beginning of training camp on July 26, 2010.{{cite news |author=McPherson, Chris |title=Reid: Three To Start On PUP List |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=21383 |work=philadelphiaeagles.com |date=July 26, 2010 |accessdate=2010-07-26 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He was activated on August 15.{{cite news |author=Wulf, Bo |title=Herremans, Jackson Activated From PUP |url=http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=21590 |work=philadelphiaeagles.com |date=August 15, 2010 |accessdate=2010-08-15 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
Jackson was injured in the Eagles' season opener on September 12, 2010, against the Green Bay Packers and left the game. It was later revealed that he suffered a torn triceps, and would be out the remainder of the 2010 season.{{cite news |title=Reid updates Eagles' injury woes; Weaver, Jackson done for season|url=http://www.seattlepi.com/scorecard/nflnews.asp?articleID=287358|work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=September 13, 2010 |accessdate=2010-09-13 }} {{Dead link|date=December 2011|bot=RjwilmsiBot}} He was placed on injured reserve on September 13.
Jackson competed with rookie Jason Kelce during training camp in 2011 for the starting center job, but lost out as the Eagles changed offensive line schemes.{{Cite news |last=McLane |first=Jeff |date=March 15, 2012 |title=Eagles Notes: Eagles bid goodbye to Justice, Jamaal Jackson |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer |url=http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-15/sports/31197520_1_eagles-notes-training-camp-trent-cole |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217071201/http://articles.philly.com/2012-03-15/sports/31197520_1_eagles-notes-training-camp-trent-cole |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2014 |access-date=2012-05-12}} He appeared in all 16 games in 2011 as a backup.
Jackson was released following the 2011 season on March 14, 2012. Jackson attended rookie mini-camp with the New York Giants in May 2012, but left the team after one day.{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Reuben |date=May 14, 2012 |title=Despite reports, former Bird Jackson hasn't retired |work=CSNPhilly.com |url=http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-talk/Despite-reports-former-Bird-Jackson-hasn?blockID=707702&feedID=704 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-05-14 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723111532/http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/eagles-talk/Despite-reports-former-Bird-Jackson-hasn?blockID=707702&feedID=704 |archive-date=July 23, 2012}}
Personal life
Jackson is married to Daira who is the owner of 7Zen HairArtistry in South Jersey where they reside. His daughters are Donaira, Ava, Amya, Jayaana and Daelania. His sons are Harry & Rah. His dog's name is Lucas.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Jamaal Jackson}}
- {{Twitter}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110406051903/http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/team/roster/jamaal-jackson/2a52bdfd-c5ba-44e6-a238-3afdd0ec584c/ Philadelphia Eagles bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Jamaal}}
Category:Miami Senior High School alumni
Category:Players of American football from Miami
Category:American football centers
Category:American football offensive guards