The high-stakes gamble that turned a broken leg into an NFL star
In short: In 2017, the Chicago Bears feared losing a top prospect. To secure Eddie Jackson, they traded away extra draft capital, betting on a player who had recently suffered a broken leg. That gamble resulted in a historic rookie season and a record-breaking defensive performance.
Eddie Jackson’s path to the NFL was defined by resilience and positional shifts. A standout at the University of Alabama under coach Nick Saban, Jackson initially played cornerback. However, a series of significant injuries—including an ACL tear in April 2014 and a broken leg during the 2016 season—marked his collegiate career. Before his junior year in 2015, he transitioned from cornerback to safety, a move that preceded his Defensive MVP performance at the 2016 College Football Playoff National Championship.
His professional entry was equally dramatic. Despite a broken leg that prevented him from performing physical drills at the NFL Combine, the Chicago Bears used the 112th overall pick in the 2017 draft to select him. The team was so concerned about losing him that they traded their 117th and 197th picks to the Los Angeles Rams just to finalize the acquisition. Jackson's rookie campaign was nothing short of historic; on October 22, 2017, he became the first player in NFL history to record multiple 75-plus-yard defensive touchdowns in a single game, returning both a fumble and an interception for scores against the Carolina Panthers.
Jackson's peak years saw him become the highest-paid safety in the league following a $58.4 million extension in 2020. He earned First-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection in 2018, notably snapping Aaron Rodgers' record-breaking streak of 402 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. However, the latter stages of his career have been more turbulent. After being released by the Bears in February 2024, a stint with the Baltimore Ravens ended in benchings and his eventual waiver in November 2024, leading to a brief period on the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Eddie Jackson (safety)
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