Deon Jackson (American football)

Last updated

Deon Jackson
HoustonRoughnecksvsDCDefendersUFL52525-138 (54547885885).jpg
Jackson with the DC Defenders in 2025
No. 36 – Detroit Lions
Position: Running back
Personal information
Born: (1999-02-18) February 18, 1999 (age 26)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:218 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school: Pace Academy (Atlanta, Georgia)
College: Duke (2017–2020)
NFL draft: 2021: undrafted
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Rushing yards:283
Rushing average:3.0
Rushing touchdowns:2
Receptions:35
Receiving yards:223
Receiving touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Deon Jackson (born February 18, 1999) is an American professional football running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Duke. He also played for the Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants.

Contents

Early life

Jackson attended Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia where he played football. [1]

College career

Jackson committed to Duke in 2016. [2] He played for Duke from 2017–2020, amassing 2,267 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns in his collegiate career. [3]

Statistics

Duke Blue Devils
SeasonRushingReceiving
GamesAttYardsAvgYds/GTDAttYardsTD
20171232973.08.10440
2018131618475.365.27262532
2019121726413.753.46211922
2020111616824.262.0510850
Career 485262,2674.347.218615344

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 11 in
(1.80 m)
218 lb
(99 kg)
30+14 in
(0.77 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
4.42 s1.51 s2.57 s4.40 s7.14 s36.0 in
(0.91 m)
10 ft 3 in
(3.12 m)
18 reps
All values from Pro Day [4]

Indianapolis Colts

Jackson signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 6, 2021. [5] He was waived on August 31, 2021, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. [6] [7] He was promoted to the active roster on November 1. [8] In week 6 of the 2022 season, Jackson drew his first career start against the Jacksonville Jaguars after starting running back Jonathan Taylor and backup running back Nyheim Hines were both ruled out because of injuries. [9] He had 121 scrimmage yards and a rushing touchdown in his first start. [10] He started in two games and appeared in 16 as a rookie. He finished with 68 carries for 236 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown to go along with 30 receptions for 209 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. [11]

On September 23, 2023, Jackson was released by the Colts. [12]

Cleveland Browns

On September 26, 2023, Jackson signed with the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns. [13] He was promoted to the active roster on October 21. [14] He was waived on October 23.

New York Giants

On October 24, 2023, the New York Giants claimed Jackson off waivers after he was released by the Browns the previous day. [15] He was waived on November 20 and re-signed to the practice squad. [16] Following the end of the 2023 regular season, the Giants signed him to a reserve/future contract on January 8, 2024. [17] On May 10, 2024, he was waived. [18]

New York Jets

On August 7, 2024, Jackson signed with the New York Jets. [19] He was waived on August 27. [20]

DC Defenders

On December 2, 2024, Jackson signed with the DC Defenders of the United Football League (UFL). [21] His contract was terminated on August 9, 2025, to sign with an NFL team. [22]

Detroit Lions

On August 10, 2025, Jackson signed with the Detroit Lions. [23]

References

  1. Leonard, Pat (December 31, 2022). "Giants' Andrew Thomas, Colts' Deon Jackson, Chargers' Jamaree Salyer living shared and 'surreal' NFL dream". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  2. "Devils add commitment, stocking up on RB talent". ACCSports.com. July 29, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  3. "Deon Jackson College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  4. "2021 Draft Scout Deon Jackson, Duke NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  5. "Colts Sign 5 Undrafted Free Agents". Colts.com. May 6, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  6. "Colts Announce Final 2021 Roster Cuts". Colts.com. August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  7. "Colts Sign 15 Players To Practice Squad". Colts.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  8. "Colts Elevate S Josh Jones, RB Deon Jackson To 53-Man Roster From Practice Squad, Place DE Tyquan Lewis On Injured Reserve, Release QB Brett Hundley". Colts.com. November 1, 2021. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  9. Stankevitz, JJ (October 16, 2022). "Colts RB Deon Jackson Shines As Next Man Up With Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines Out". Colts.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  10. "Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts - October 16th, 2022". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  11. "Deon Jackson 2022 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  12. "Colts Waive Week 1 Starting RB deon Jackson, Elevate Trey Sherman". espn.com. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  13. "Browns sign TE Devin Asiasi and RB Deon Jackson to practice squad". ClevelandBrowns.com. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  14. "Browns sign RB Deon Jackson to the active roster". ClevelandBrowns.com. October 21, 2023.
  15. "Giants add 2 RBs; Eric Gray, Matt Peart to IR". Giants.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  16. "Giants waive RB Deon Jackson, OL Joshua Miles". Giants.com. Retrieved November 21, 2023.
  17. "Giants sign 10 players to reserve/future contracts". Giants.com. January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  18. Salomone, Dan (May 10, 2024). "Giants sign 8 undrafted rookies, including 1 international player". Giants.com. Retrieved March 22, 2025.
  19. "Jets Sign RB Deon Jackson". NewYorkJets.com. August 7, 2024.
  20. Greenberg, Ethan (August 27, 2024). "Final Cuts | Jets Move 37 to Get Their Roster to 53 Players". NewYorkJets.com.
  21. "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
  22. @UFL_PR (August 11, 2025). ".@TheUFL announced the following transactions over the weekend" (Tweet). Retrieved August 11, 2025 via Twitter.
  23. Larsen, James. "Detroit Lions Sign DC Defenders RB Deon Jackson". PFNewsroom. Retrieved August 10, 2025.