Nate Jackson

A graduate of Pioneer High School in San Jose, California, Jackson played at Menlo College from 1999 to 2001 (when it was a member of NCAA Division III) and was a key factor in helping the school get attention for its athletics programs. During those seasons he set many records as a wide receiver. He was named first-team All-American during every season he was enrolled, and won the NCAA D-III Offensive Player of the Year after his senior year in 2001.{{Cite web |url=http://www.menloathletics.com/allConference.php |title=Menlo College Oaks - All-Conference |access-date=May 12, 2010 |archive-date=July 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710083021/http://www.menloathletics.com/allConference.php |url-status=dead }} Jackson was inducted into the Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.{{Cite web |url=http://www.menloathletics.com/hallOfFame/433.php |title=Menlo Hall of Fame - Nate Jackson |access-date=May 12, 2010 |archive-date=August 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810065220/http://www.menloathletics.com/hallOfFame/433.php |url-status=dead }}

After going unselected in the 2002 NFL draft, Jackson was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers on the recommendation of former 49ers coach Bill Walsh, whose son was the athletic director at Menlo College. After suffering a shoulder injury during training camp he was cut by the 49ers, but was re-signed when the 2002 season ended.{{cite news|last1=Collins|first1=Doug|title=Nate Jackson: Freestylin' Through Life|url=http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Nate-Jackson-Freestylin-Through-Life/fd3dee7d-7892-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9|date=October 29, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160606203042/http://www.denverbroncos.com/news-and-blogs/article-1/Nate-Jackson-Freestylin-Through-Life/fd3dee7d-7892-11df-ba56-acc8e62813e9|archive-date=June 6, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=June 6, 2016}}

Jackson was traded to the Denver Broncos prior to the 2003 NFL season. He spent most of 2003 on the practice squad before appearing in his first NFL game on December 28, 2003.[https://web.archive.org/web/20070608071850/http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=775 Nate Jackson bio on Denver Broncos official website (as archived on June 8, 2007)]

Jackson was allocated to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe for the spring of 2004. During Jackson's 2004 season with the Broncos he emerged as an option at receiver, catching 8 passes for 73 yards, and also recorded 7 special teams tackles.

Jackson was converted from wide receiver to tight end prior to the start of the 2005 season.

Jackson made his first career start during the 2007 season but later tore a groin muscle.{{cite book |last=Fatsis |first=Stephen |author-link=Stephen Fatsis |title=A Few Seconds of Panic |year=2008 |publisher=The Penguin Group |isbn=978-1-59420-178-3 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fewsecondsofpani00fats/page/330 330] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/fewsecondsofpani00fats/page/330 }}

Jackson's last season with the Broncos was in 2008, during which he set career highs with 11 receptions for 84 yards, while also scoring a touchdown.[http://www.nfl.com/player/natejackson/2504808/careerstats Nate Jackson career stats on nfl.com] He was released by the Broncos in February 2009, following the hiring of new head coach Josh McDaniels one month earlier.{{cite news|title=Broncos release six players, including DT Robertson, LB Winborn|url=http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d80ec5f16/article/broncos-release-six-players-including-dt-robertson-lb-winborn|agency=Associated Press|date=February 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610182846/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d80ec5f16/article/broncos-release-six-players-including-dt-robertson-lb-winborn|archive-date=June 10, 2016|url-status=dead}}

Jackson signed with the Cleveland Browns prior to the 2009 season but was released before the season began.{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Nate|title=My Injury File: How I Shot, Smoked, And Screwed My Way Through The NFL|url=http://deadspin.com/my-injury-file-how-i-shot-smoked-and-screwed-my-way-1482106392|access-date=June 6, 2016|work=Deadspin|date=December 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604123654/http://deadspin.com/my-injury-file-how-i-shot-smoked-and-screwed-my-way-1482106392|archive-date=June 4, 2016|url-status=live}}

Jackson signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL but never played in any games. His football career came to an end after he suffered a hamstring injury in training camp.

Beginning in 2010, Jackson contributed articles to various popular websites and newspapers on a freelance basis. His writing about the NFL has appeared in Slate,{{cite web | url=http://www.slate.com/authors.nate_jackson.html | title=Authors: Nate Jackson | publisher=The Slate Group, LLC | work=Slate.com | year=2013 | access-date=August 22, 2013}} Deadspin,{{cite web | url=https://kinja.com/slowgettingup | title=Search results for "Nate Jackson" | publisher=Gawker Media | work=Deadspin.com | year=2013 | access-date=August 22, 2013}} The Daily Beast,{{cite web | url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/04/murder-doesn-t-shake-nfl-s-dream-world-of-consequence-free-violence.html | title=Murder Doesn't Shake NFL's Dream World of Consequence-Free Violence | publisher=Newsweek/The Daily Beast Company, LLC | work=The Daily Beast | date=December 4, 2012 | access-date=August 22, 2013 | author=Jackson, Nate}} The New York Times{{cite web | url=https://query.nytimes.com/search/sitesearch/#/*/since1851/allresults/1/bynate+jackson/ | title=NYTimes.com Search | work=The New York Times | year=2013 | access-date=August 22, 2013}} The Wall Street Journal,{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704005404576176792241983886 | title=Why a Lockout Would Be Good for Football | publisher=Dow Jones & Company, Inc. | work=The Wall Street Journal | date=March 5, 2011 | access-date=August 22, 2013 | author=Jackson, Nate}} BuzzFeed,[https://www.buzzfeed.com/natejackson?language=en Nate Jackson on BuzzFeed] and Defector.{{cite web |author=Jackson |first=Nate |date=September 28, 2023 |year= |title=Not All Ass-Beatings Are Created Equal |url=https://defector.com/not-all-ass-beatings-are-created-equal |access-date=September 28, 2023 |work=Defector Media}} His memoir Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile was released by HarperCollins on September 17, 2013.{{cite book | title=Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile: Nate Jackson: 9780062108029 | date=1996–2013 | isbn=0062108026 | last1=Jackson | first1=Nate }} It received favorable reviews including from the New York Times which said of Jackson, "He's that unicornlike rarity among former football players: He can write."{{cite news|last1=Emmons|first1=Mark|title=Former 49ers and Broncos player Nate Jackson from San Jose writes memoir about life in the NFL|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_25015738/former-49ers-and-broncos-player-nate-jackson-from|access-date=June 5, 2016|work=The Mercury News|date=January 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022195249/http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_25015738/former-49ers-and-broncos-player-nate-jackson-from|archive-date=October 22, 2014|url-status=live}} Jackson published his second book, Fantasy Man: A Former NFL Player's Descent into the Brutality of Fantasy Football, in September 2016.{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Nate|title=Fantasy Man: A Former NFL Player's Descent into the Brutality of Fantasy Football|date=September 20, 2016|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=978-0062470072}}

On August 7, 2013, an excerpt from Jackson's memoir was published in the alternative weekly newspaper Cleveland Scene. Focusing on his brief stint on the Browns practice squad just prior to the 2009 season, Jackson describes the Browns players as having been "deep in despair" with "no fight left in them." He attributed the poor state of affairs to Browns then-head coach Eric Mangini, of whom he was highly critical. According to Jackson, the Browns' players were already beaten down because Mangini didn't treat them with respect, unlike Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.{{cite web | url=http://www.clevescene.com/cleveland/manginis-mess-sent-to-save-the-cleveland-browns-eric-mangini-instead-put-on-a-clinic-on-how-to-drive-a-teams-morale-into-the-ground/Content?oid=3625467&showFullText=true | title=Mangini's Mess: Sent to Save the Cleveland Browns, Eric Mangini Instead Put on a Clinic on How to Drive a Team's Morale Into the Ground | publisher=Cleveland Scene | work=Cleveland Scene | date=August 7, 2013 | access-date=August 22, 2013 | author=Jackson, Nate}}

In a piece written for Defector published on February 21, 2024, Jackson admitted to using human growth hormone to recover from an injury after leaving the Broncos.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-21 |title=My NFL Career Ended With A Needle And A Scam {{!}} Defector |url=https://defector.com/my-nfl-career-ended-with-a-needle-and-a-scam |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=defector.com |language=en}}

{{See also|Cannabis and sports}}

Jackson has called on the NFL to remove cannabis from its list of banned substances,{{cite news|title=Ex-player: Marijuana should be OK|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12423177/former-player-nate-jackson-calls-nfl-allow-marijuana|access-date=June 4, 2016|work=ESPN|agency=Associated Press|date=March 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602085440/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12423177/former-player-nate-jackson-calls-nfl-allow-marijuana|archive-date=June 2, 2016|url-status=live}} citing the pain-relieving capabilities of the drug as well as its neuroprotective properties.{{cite news|last1=O'Connor|first1=Rod|title=Kings of Pain: Watching a Broncos Game with Ex-NFL Player Nate Jackson Will Lay You Out|url=https://www.leafly.com/news/headlines/kings-of-pain-watching-the-broncos-with-cannabis-advocate-nate-ja|access-date=June 4, 2016|work=Leafly|date=February 2, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414214255/https://www.leafly.com/news/headlines/kings-of-pain-watching-the-broncos-with-cannabis-advocate-nate-ja|archive-date=April 14, 2016|url-status=live}} During his NFL career Jackson used cannabis as a preferred alternative to opioid painkillers which he sought to avoid as much as possible.{{cite news|last1=Rykoff|first1=Amanda|title=HBO'S REAL SPORTS EXAMINES POT USE IN THE NFL|url=http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/hbo-s-real-sports-examines-pot-use-in-the-nfl.html|access-date=June 4, 2016|work=Awful Announcing|date=January 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140322131846/http://awfulannouncing.com/2014/hbo-s-real-sports-examines-pot-use-in-the-nfl.html|archive-date=March 22, 2014|url-status=live}} Jackson has spoken out on the NFL's policy towards cannabis in various media, including the New York Times opinion page,{{cite news|last1=Jackson|first1=Nate|title=The N.F.L.'s Absurd Marijuana Policy|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/opinion/the-nfls-absurd-marijuana-policy.html|access-date=June 4, 2016|work=The New York Times|date=September 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204064355/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/09/opinion/the-nfls-absurd-marijuana-policy.html|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=live}} CBS This Morning,{{cite news|title=NFL policy stirs debate on players using pot for pain|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/nfl-marijuana-policy-stirs-debate-about-players-who-use-drug-as-medicine/|access-date=June 5, 2016|work=CBS This Morning|date=October 23, 2014}} and an episode of HBO's Real Sports examining cannabis use in the NFL.

Jackson is a board member of Athletes for Care,{{cite web|title=Board of Directors|url=https://athletesforcare.org/board-of-directors/|website=Athletes for Care|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407233114/https://athletesforcare.org/board-of-directors/|archive-date=April 7, 2018|url-status=dead}} a group that advocates for athletes on various issues of health and safety including the use of cannabis as medicine.{{cite web |title=Cannabis |url=https://www.athletesforcare.org/cannabis |website=Athletes for Care |access-date=April 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501032547/https://www.athletesforcare.org/cannabis |archive-date=May 1, 2019 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Advocate|url=https://athletesforcare.org/advocate/|website=Athletes for Care|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420195631/https://athletesforcare.org/advocate/|archive-date=April 20, 2018|url-status=dead}} Through Athletes for Care, Jackson co-hosts the Caveman Poet Society podcast along with Eben Britton.{{cite web|title=Athletes For Care Honored at 7th Annual Cannabis Business Awards|url=https://athletesforcare.org/awards/|website=Athletes for Care|access-date=April 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409105945/https://athletesforcare.org/awards/|archive-date=April 9, 2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |title=About |url=http://cavemanpoetsociety.com/?page_id=8 |website=Caveman Poet Society Podcast |access-date=February 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222152044/http://cavemanpoetsociety.com/?page_id=8 |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |url-status=dead}} Jackson is also a member of the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition, which advocates for the NFL to change its cannabis policy.

Jackson was hired as a talk-show host at Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan in Denver on July 10, 2020.{{cite web |title=Sports Radio 104.3 The Fan adds Nate Jackson as on-air host |url=https://1043thefan.com/2088283/sports-radio-1043-the-fan-nate-jackson|website=1043TheFan.com|date=July 10, 2020 |access-date=July 10, 2020}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20070608071850/http://www.denverbroncos.com/page.php?id=498&contentID=775 Denver Broncos bio (as archived on June 8, 2007)]
• [http://www.menloathletics.com/halloffame/ID/433 Menlo College Hall of Fame bio]
• {{Twitter|nathanserious}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Nate}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football wide receivers

Category:American football tight ends

Category:Cleveland Browns players

Category:Denver Broncos players

Category:Menlo Oaks football players

Category:Players of American football from San Jose, California

Category:San Francisco 49ers players

Category:American cannabis activists