Tom Jackson (American football, born 1951)

Last updated

Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson 2010.jpg
Jackson at the 2010 NFL draft
No. 56, 57
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1951-04-04) April 4, 1951 (age 73)
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school: John Adams (Cleveland)
College: Louisville
NFL draft: 1973  / round: 4 / pick: 88
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Sacks:40.0
Interceptions:20
Touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Thomas Louie Jackson, also referred to as "TJ" or "Tommy", (born April 4, 1951) is an American sports commentator and former professional football player. He played as a linebacker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1973 to 1986. He was a member of Denver's "Orange Crush Defense" and helped lead the Broncos to the AFC Championship in 1977 and 1986 . After his playing career ended, he enjoyed a successful 29-year run as an NFL analyst for ESPN. He was given the Pete Rozelle Award for excellence in broadcasting by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Contents

Playing career

Early life

Jackson attended John Adams High School, where he played football, baseball, and also was a wrestler. He was a fan of the Cleveland Browns and he and his father attended many games. [1] Jackson credited his wrestling coach with developing his mental toughness and character. "He was a 140-pound guy named John Bianchi, the toughest little Italian man I ever knew. He drove us unbelievably and probably drove me more than he drove the rest of my teammates. I look back very fondly on his help building of my character." [1] Jackson's mother died when he was a teenager.[ citation needed ]

College

Jackson dreamed of attending Ohio State, but the Buckeyes had little interest in the undersized Jackson. He was recruited by University of Louisville head coach, and current college football analyst, Lee Corso. He attended Louisville and played football for three seasons from 1970 to 1972. [2]

During his college career, he was a two-time Missouri Valley Conference player of the year selection in 1970 and 1972. [3] Playing linebacker, he led the Cardinals in tackles all three years and led the team to an overall record of 23–7–2. [4]

His jersey number 50 was honored by Louisville in 1999. [3]

Professional (1973–1986)

Jackson was selected by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 1973 NFL draft. [5] He enjoyed a 14-year career in Denver where he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, a four-time All-Pro selection, and was voted Denver's Most Inspirational Player six times by his teammates.[ citation needed ] He also helped lead the team to championship appearances in Super Bowl XII and Super Bowl XXI.

Jackson was one of only four players to play for the Broncos in both of the aforementioned Super Bowls, played nine years apart. He retired with 20 career interceptions returned for 340 total yards and three touchdowns, and eight fumble recoveries returned for 104 yards. He also recorded 13 sacks (with a season high 5-1/2) as a weak-side blitzer in Denver's 3-4 defense according to Broncos records.[ citation needed ] Jackson ranks third only to Jason Elam and John Elway on the team's all-time list of games played with 191. [1] He retired tied for the franchise lead for interceptions by a linebacker with 20. [4]

Jackson became the 14th person inducted in the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1992. [6]

Jackson published Blitz: An Autobiography in 1987 which focused on his career with the Broncos. The book was written with long-time Denver Post sports columnist Woody Paige. [7]

Broadcasting career (1987–2016; 2019-present)

Jackson joined ESPN studios in 1987 where he was teamed with Chris Berman on the network's signature NFL shows, NFL Countdown and NFL Primetime . Sunday NFL Countdown, the weekly Sunday morning pre-game show and has won seven Sports Emmy awards for Outstanding Studio Show—Weekly (1988, 1991, 1994, 1995, 2001, 2003 and 2007 seasons). [2] On Monday Night Countdown, Jackson hosted the segment "Jacked Up!," which featured five hits from the previous day's games. The show's hosts recited the title phrase as they watched some of the most punishing hits inflicted by players on the field.

Jackson's pre-ESPN broadcasting experience included co-host positions for both "Broncos Beat," a weekly show on KCNC-TV in Denver, Colorado and a post-game show on KUSA-TV. He had also hosted a daily syndicated sports commentary radio show, "Behind the Line." [2]

In 1995 Jackson appeared in the "Eggheads" episode of the American science fiction television series Sliders , playing a color commentator during the Mindgame scenes. [8] In week 2 of the 2003 regular season, Jackson declared that the New England Patriot players "hate their coach" Bill Belichick, who wound up winning the next two Super Bowls with the team.

During his career as a broadcaster, he was known for his outspoken commentary on social issues in addition to his football knowledge. [9]

Tom Jackson retired from ESPN after the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on August 6, 2016. [10]

On January 20, 2019, Tom Jackson reunited with Chris Berman on a special playoff edition of NFL Primetime after the AFC and NFC Championship Games. [11]

On September 13, 2019, ESPN announced that Berman and Jackson would return for a new digital-only edition of NFL Primetime, streaming weekly throughout the NFL season on ESPN+ beginning on September 15, 2019. The program will stream live at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sundays and be updated with highlights for the Sunday and Monday night games upon their completion. [12]

Jackson opted out of his Primetime hosting duties for the 2020 season over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. [13]

Awards

In July 2015 Jackson was named the 2015 recipient of the prestigious Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. [14]

Personal

Jackson resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife, Jennifer, a former flight attendant whom he met in Hawaii at the 1990 Pro Bowl. They have two daughters, Taylor and Morgan. He also had a daughter, Andrea Jackson, who died on August 7, 1997, at the age of nine in a car accident. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl</span> National Football League championship game

The Super Bowl is the annual league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States. It has served as the final game of every NFL season since 1966, replacing the NFL Championship Game. Since 2022, the game has been played on the second Sunday in February. Prior Super Bowls were played on Sundays in early to mid-January from 1967 to 1978, late January from 1979 to 2003, and the first Sunday of February from 2004 to 2021. Winning teams are awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the eponymous coach who won the first two Super Bowls. Because the NFL restricts the use of its "Super Bowl" trademark, it is frequently referred to as the "big game" or other generic terms by non-sponsoring corporations. The day the game is held is commonly referred to as "Super Bowl Sunday" or simply "Super Sunday".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Elway</span> American football player and executive (born 1960)

John Albert Elway Jr. is an American former professional football quarterback who spent his entire 16-year career with the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). Following his playing career, he then spent 11 years with the Broncos in various front office positions, eventually being promoted to general manager. Elway, along with former backup quarterback and head coach Gary Kubiak, are the only individuals to be associated with all three of the Broncos' Super Bowl wins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Dorsett</span> American football player (born 1954)

Anthony Drew Dorsett Sr. is an American former professional football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton Manning</span> American football player (born 1976)

Peyton Williams Manning is an American former professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons. Nicknamed "the Sheriff", he spent 14 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and four with the Denver Broncos. Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. A member of the Manning football dynasty, he is the second son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning, older brother of former NFL quarterback Eli Manning, and uncle of Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, winning the Maxwell, Davey O'Brien, and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards as a senior en route to victory in the 1997 SEC Championship Game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Berman</span> American sportscaster

Christopher James Berman, nicknamed "Boomer", is an American sportscaster. He has been an anchor for SportsCenter on ESPN since 1979, joining a month after its initial launch, and hosted the network's Sunday NFL Countdown program from 1985 to 2016 and NFL Primetime from 1987 to 2005 and since 2019. He has also anchored Monday Night Countdown, U.S. Open golf, the Stanley Cup Finals, and other programming on ESPN and ABC Sports. Berman calls play-by-play of select Major League Baseball games for ESPN, which included the Home Run Derby until 2016.

<i>NFL Primetime</i> Sports television program

NFL Primetime is a sports television program that has aired on ESPN since 1987. The show is presented similarly to ESPN's own SportsCenter, featuring scores, highlights, and analysis of every game of the week in the NFL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keyshawn Johnson</span> American football player (born 1972)

Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champ Bailey</span> American football player (born 1978)

Roland "Champ" Bailey Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs, where he earned consensus All-American honors, and was selected by the Washington Redskins in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shannon Sharpe</span> American football player and sports analyst (born 1968)

Shannon Sharpe is an American former professional football tight end who played 14 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Denver Broncos. Regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time, he ranks third in tight end receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He was also the first NFL tight end to amass over 10,000 receiving yards. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy Gradishar</span> American football player (born 1952)

Randolph Charles Gradishar is a Hall of Fame American former professional football player who played 10 seasons as a linebacker during the 1970s and 1980s for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). A native of Ohio, Gradishar was a one-time consensus and one-time unanimous All-American for the Ohio State Buckeyes, before playing ten seasons for Denver, where he was the centerpiece of their "Orange Crush Defense". In 2024, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Nick A. Greisen is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Wisconsin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booger McFarland</span> American football player and analyst (born 1977)

Anthony Darelle "Booger" McFarland is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Louisiana State University and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 1999 NFL draft. McFarland also played for the Indianapolis Colts, and won two Super Bowl rings in his career: one with the Buccaneers and another with the Colts. He was an analyst for Monday Night Football in 2018 and 2019, before joining as a pregame analyst on Monday Night Countdown in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Schlereth</span> American football player and sportscaster (born 1966)

Mark Fremont Schlereth is an American former professional football player who is a television and radio sportscaster. Schlereth played guard in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons (1989–2000) with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. He is currently a football analyst for Fox Sports, appearing on FS1, and other programs. He also co-hosted Sedano & Stink with Jorge Sedano from 7–10 p.m. ET on ESPN Radio until late March 2015 when he left the program to pursue other broadcast opportunities. He also appeared on the soap opera Guiding Light, and 2012's Red Dawn remake.

<i>Monday Night Countdown</i> 1993 American TV series or program

Monday Night Countdown is an American pregame television program that is broadcast on ESPN, preceding its coverage of Monday Night Football. For the network's non-Monday broadcasts, the pregame show is simply titled NFL Countdown. When it debuted in 1993 as NFL Prime Monday, and Monday Night Football was airing on ABC, the pregame show was one of the first cross-pollinations between ESPN and ABC Sports, each of which operated largely under separate management at the time. The show was renamed Monday Night Countdown in 1998 to match its sister show Sunday NFL Countdown, and Monday Night Football moved from ABC to ESPN in 2006. When ABC began airing selected Monday Night Football games in 2016, the network's broadcasts were preceded by simulcasts of Monday Night Countdown. The current sponsor is ESPN Bet, starting with the 2024 season. Previous sponsors of the show include UPS, Applebee's, Call of Duty, Courtyard by Marriott, Subway and Panera.

<i>Sunday NFL Countdown</i> 1985 American TV series or program

Sunday NFL Countdown is an American pre-game show broadcast by ESPN as part of the network's coverage of the National Football League. The program is broadcast on Sunday mornings throughout the regular season, featuring segments highlighting news from around the league, as well as previews and analysis of the day's games. The program debuted as NFL GameDay in 1985, then was renamed as NFL Countdown in 1996, and Sunday NFL Countdown in 1998 to disambiguate it from its Monday night counterpart Monday Night Countdown. During the NFL playoffs, editions of the show are titled as Postseason NFL Countdown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kermit Alexander</span> American football player (born 1941)

Kermit Joseph Alexander is an American former professional football player who was a defensive back and return specialist in the National Football League (NFL). He was on the board of directors for the Lott IMPACT Trophy, which is named after Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott, and is awarded annually to college football's defensive IMPACT Player of the Year.

Richard Samuel Jackson, nicknamed "Tombstone", is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end and a linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Jaguars. Jackson played for the AFL's Oakland Raiders in 1966 and Denver Broncos from 1967 through 1969, remaining with the Broncos in 1970 through 1971 after their post-merger transition to the NFL, and the Cleveland Browns in 1972. Jackson was named an All-Pro in 1969 and 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Von Miller</span> American football player (born 1989)

Vonnie B'VSean Miller is an American professional football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Miller played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies, where he earned consensus All-American honors and the Butkus Award. He was selected by the Denver Broncos second overall in the 2011 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malik Jackson (defensive lineman)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Malik Barron Jackson is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 10 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. Jackson was selected in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos, with whom he won Super Bowl 50 in 2016, in which he scored the game's first touchdown on a fumble recovery. He also played for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, and Cleveland Browns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl 50</span> 2016 National Football League championship game

Super Bowl 50 was an American football game to determine the champion of the National Football League (NFL) for the 2015 season. The American Football Conference (AFC) champion Denver Broncos defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Carolina Panthers, 24–10. The game was played on February 7, 2016, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, in the San Francisco Bay Area. As this was the 50th Super Bowl game, the league emphasized the "golden anniversary" with various gold-themed initiatives during the 2015 season, as well as suspending the tradition of naming each Super Bowl game with Roman numerals, so the logo could prominently feature the number 50 in more familiar Arabic numerals.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Tom Jackson: Former Denver Broncos All-Pro". jockbio.com. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "Tom Jackson (bio)". ESPN. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  3. 1 2 "U of L Honors Jersey Of Former Standout LB Tom Jackson". gocards.com. October 30, 1999. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  4. 1 2 "Tom Jackson". Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  5. ↑ "1973 NFL Draft". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ Swanson, Ben (August 26, 2020). "Broncos Legends: A look back through Tom Jackson's Broncos career". Denver Broncos . Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  7. ↑ Blitz:An Autobiography. ISBN   0809246627.
  8. ↑ "Sliders Episode 7: Eggheads". Brillig.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  9. ↑ "ESPN's Tom Jackson to Retire After 29 Years". August 3, 2016.
  10. ↑ "NFL analyst Tom Jackson retiring after 29 years with ESPN". ESPN.com. August 3, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2016.
  11. ↑ "ESPN reunites Chris Berman and Tom Jackson on 'NFL Primetime'". bostonglobe.com. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  12. ↑ "NFL PrimeTime with Chris Berman and Tom Jackson Returns for the 2019-20 NFL Season on ESPN+". espnpressroom.com. September 13, 2019.
  13. ↑ Casselberry, Ian. "Booger McFarland will co-host NFL PrimeTime with Chris Berman for 2020 season". awfulannouncing.com. AwfulAnnouncing.com. Retrieved September 21, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Tom Jackson Named Winner of Prestigious Pete Rozelle Radio-TV Award". Pro Football Hall of Fame. July 7, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  15. ↑ "Former Bronco's daughter killed in accident". AP. August 7, 1997. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved December 7, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.