Patriots once rostered one of NFL's most unappreciated wide receivers
The year is 1979, Sony just released the Walkman, McDonald's announces a new food item called "The Happy Meal" and the New England Patriots have their first 1,000-yard receiver. The Patriots haven't always been viewed as one of the juggernauts in the NFL. Before the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots' record was 275-312 and their […]
The year is 1979, Sony just released the Walkman, McDonald's announces a new food item called "The Happy Meal" and the New England Patriots have their first 1,000-yard receiver.
The Patriots haven't always been viewed as one of the juggernauts in the NFL. Before the Bill Belichick era, the Patriots' record was 275-312 and their franchise highlights were two blowout losses in two championship games (1963 and 1985) and a closer Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers in 1996.
Despite the 1970s and 1980s being filled with disappointing endings for New England Patriots fans, they got to witness one of the best field-stretching duos in the NFL: Stanley Morgan and Harold Jackson. During their four-season run together, the duo accumulated 7,004 receiving yards and 47 touchdowns.
Almost every Patriots fan knows about Stanley Morgan, a legend in New England and still the franchise leader in receiving yards many decades later, but Harold Jackson's time in New England isn't talked about enough.
Jackson was drafted in the 12th round of the 1968 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams, a historic draft for the Jackson State Tigers with 11 players being drafted — the most in school history. Jackson wasn't drafted for his overwhelming physicality — he had a slender frame at 5-foot-10, 155 pounds as a rookie — he was drafted for his speed. Jackson was fast, he ran the 100-yard dash in 9.3 seconds at Jackson State, a school record.
Jackson didn't let his slender frame hold him back from aspiring to be an NFL player.
"I didn't have that dream until I got to college, because being 149 pounds, you know I had no idea that I would go to the next level until I started getting letters, questioners, and all that stuff when I was at Jackson State," Jackson said via MyFOX23.com. "And, I had my wall plastered with every team in the NFL. And, I said, 'Wow, there might be a chance.' So, then I started putting a little bit more time into it, and I said, 'size don't mean anything, it depends on the heart."
After getting drafted by the Rams, Jackson only played two games in his rookie season and didn't catch a pass.
"I was so excited because I got the opportunity," Jackson said via TheRams.com. "Coming from a small institution like Jackson State, and then I wasn't the biggest guy in the world, I was very lucky to get that chance to come and play for the Rams."
Jackson quickly earned the respect of veteran players on the Los Angeles Rams, and his big break was on the horizon. Former teammate Irv Cross, who was traded to the Eagles earlier in the off-season, advocated on Jackson's behalf to Eagles general manager Pete Retzlaff, and ultimately the Eagles would end up trading for Jackson. In 1969, Jackson's first season with the Eagles, he would lead the league in receiving yards and finish fourth in receiving touchdowns.
In 1978, Jackson was traded to the Patriots and would spend four seasons in New England from 1978 to 1981. Jackson caught 156 passes for 3,162 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns and an astounding 20.3 yards per reception during his time as a Patriot. What makes it more impressive is Jackson's age. He got traded to the Patriots at age 32 and played in New England until he was 35 years old. Not only did Jackson manage to be one of the league's best deep threats into his mid-30s, but he was Mr. Reliable with just one fumble in four seasons: The consummate Patriot.
Jackson's best season came in 1979 at 33 years old. Jackson reeled in 45 passes for 1,013 yards, 7 touchdowns, and 22.5 yards per catch. Jackson was key in the early years of Stanley Morgan's career functioning as the No. 2 option for the Patriots.
Many people don't realize, but Jackson's production with the Patriots was on par with Stanley Morgan when they shared the field during those four years.
| Player | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
Harold Jackson | 3,162 | 18 |
Stanley Morgan | 3,842 | 29 |
Remarkably, Jackson returned to the Patriots in 1987 at 41 years old for two games as a fill-in option because of the player strike. Jackson was the Patriots' wide receiver coach at the time and did not play a snap.
Jackson played 16 seasons in the NFL and is currently 31st all-time in yards per reception (17.9), 46th all-time in receiving yards (10,372) and 36th all-time in receiving touchdowns (76) among wide receivers and tight ends.
Jackson has an argument as one of the most underappreciated wide receivers ever. When Jackson retired, he was second all-time in receiving yards and no wide receiver had more receiving yards in the 1970s than Jackson. Despite this, he was not voted onto the 1970s all-decade team and has not been elected to the Hall of Fame.
Featured image via Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports
