J.C. Jackson’s journey to success
Former New England Patriots cornerback J.C. Jackson’s path from rags to riches and life story. Jackson easily could have had his god-gifted talent wasted, due to some trouble he encountered within his earlier life. Jackson was highly recruited coming out of high school. In fact, he performed in the Under Armour All-American game. However, in 2015, Jackson was charged with a connection of armed robbery that consisted of several first-degree felonies, reported Enterprise News. Jackson faced charges for three home invasions with a deadly weapon and one burglary of an occupied dwelling. The charges could lead to a sentence of 10 years to life imprisonment.
This obviously affected his recruiting and his whole life turned upside down. While he was fortunate to come out of this proportion of his life unscathed, many other athletes aren’t as lucky. Thankfully, it became just an unfortunate chapter in his life and a major setback. However, this wicked journey has led him to play in this year’s Pro Bowl and make exceptional money this offseason.
“I’m really happy that his life has come around full circle,” said Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, Jackson’s position coach at the University of Maryland. “It was a time where a lot of things looked bleak.”
J.C. Jackson tenure at Riverside City College
For all intents and purposes, while Jackson was never featured on the famous show, Last Chance U. This was his moment to redeem his football career after losing all his offers due to legal issues. Many teams were frightened to commit to him and his future because of his past careless actions. However, he traveled to California for a second chance at his hopes and dreams.
J.C. Jackson only played one season at Riverside. In that one season, he recorded two forced fumbles and 25 tackles, His play stood out just enough that Division I schools reached back out immediately and he was gifted an opportunity. Many believed he would struggle because junior college isn’t about the glitz and glamour. Tons of athletes play JUCO sports to get to the bigger destination they want to achieve; Jackson was able to complete his mission.
“At the end of the day, junior college is a rough deal, man,” Abdul-Rahim said. “You have to sit down and make it on your own. You don’t have a lot of people to depend on. That’s why a lot of guys are not playing football anymore after junior college because of the resources and what have you.”
Jackson transfers Maryland University
J.C. Jackson’s defensive back coach Abdul-Rahim spoke highly of Jackson’s production. Many don’t know but Jalen Tabor, who Rahim coached in high school, advocated for Jackson to get an offer from Maryland University. Apparently, Rahim kept the pitch sweet and simple with Jackson when trying to convince him to come to Maryland. Naturally, Jackson followed suit and gravitated towards the coach who was the most upfront and real with him from the beginning.
“I thought that he could go anywhere and be a successful corner,” Abdul-Rahim said. “Just from a mentoring standpoint of someone that could help him on and off the field I think was more the sell. I just wanted to wrap myself around him and allow other people to see the true him.”
“It be like that, man,” said Jackson of going undrafted. “Every year somebody who didn’t get drafted and next thing you know he’s one of the top players. I tell people all the time, it doesn’t matter if you get drafted, you go undrafted, you go first to pick. None of that matters. It’s about what you do when you get there and that’s what I did.”
Jackson’s humble beginnings in Foxboro
Jackson is the definition of the underdog and signed with a team known for getting the most out of their unheard-of or unestablished players. In 2018, Jackson became a New England Patriot, coached by Bill Belichick. It arguably may have been the best place for him to land due to their culture and reputation as an organization. The Patriots don’t care about players’ draft position or team origin., they seek out talent.
Belichick has had a history of turning guys like Jackson into household names like Malcolm Butler. Unfortunately, there is nothing fancy or spectacular Jackson did to earn playing time. Like everyone else on the Patriot’s roster, he put in the work and earned playing time throughout the season.
“He earned his way onto the field through the scout team,” said Patriots cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino. “This guy was out there just making plays on the scout team. Frustrating for the offense how well he was doing there and then he earned his way onto the active roster. … He started small, five snaps here, 10 snaps there, five there, and then just slowly started making plays and kept that train going.”
In his rookie year, he won a Super Bowl with the Patriots and contributed in certain packages. He later earned the opportunity to play the number one corner spot alongside Stephen Gilmore. He’s since then become a ballhawk, no corner in league history has more interceptions than J.C. Jackson within their first four seasons.
However, New England has refused to pay J.C. Jackson or franchise tag him. Jackson’s first day as a free agent he signs a five-year $82.5 million dollar deal with the Los Angeles Chargers. Not to mention, he’s guaranteed $40 million from the Chargers.
Chargers are giving former Patriots’ CB JC Jackson a five-year, $82.5 million deal that invoices $40 million guaranteed, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 14, 2022
