Former Jaguars DL Malik Jackson retires on live TV
The 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars took the NFL by storm in 2017. Following a 3-3 start, the team won 7 of its next 8 games, claiming the AFC South title and likely coming within a blown call in the AFC Championship Game of reaching the team's first ever Super Bowl. During said run, the Jags' talented […]
The 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars took the NFL by storm in 2017. Following a 3-3 start, the team won 7 of its next 8 games, claiming the AFC South title and likely coming within a blown call in the AFC Championship Game of reaching the team's first ever Super Bowl.
During said run, the Jags' talented defensive front earned the nickname "Sacksonville" due to the play of its extremely talented defensive line. DE Calais Campbell earned first-team All-Pro honors with 14.5 sacks, DE Yannick Ngakoue added 12 more, DE Dante Fowler added 8 from a reserve role, and starting DT Malik Jackson added 8 more up the middle. With 55 total sacks, they were second in the league (Steelers – 56).
And now, one of those stars just made a very public announcement regarding the next phase of his life.
Jackson joined the Good Morning Football crew on Friday and announced he was retiring from the NFL.
Before coming to Jacksonville, Jackson was a huge part of Denver's championship defense. A fifth-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Tennessee, Jackson started eight games in his first three seasons, but he made them count, totaling 9 sacks from 2013-2014.
In 2015, he earned the starting defensive end job and started all 16 games and 3 playoff games, as the Broncos defeated Carolina 24-10 to claim Super Bowl L. Jackson was a part of one of the biggest plays of that game, one that the NFL has included on its list of 100 top plays in league history.
Jackson signed a 6-year, $85.5 million contract with the Jaguars in March 2016. In his first year, he totaled 6.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, which set and tied his career bests, respectively.
The following season, Jackson had a career-best 8 sacks in what was a special season for the Jaguars, who advanced to their third-ever AFC Championship Game. The Jaguars led by 10 in the fourth quarter against the Patriots and appeared to have effectively put the game away, but Myles Jack was inexplicably called down on a fumble recovery where he could have skipped for a touchdown from near midfield. If that whistle wasn't blown, Jackson very likely would have ended up playing in his third Super Bowl.
The 2017 Jacksonville defense was statistically dominant. They were second in the league in sacks (55), first in fewest passing first downs allowed (143) and lowest first down percentage allowed (28.1%), first in completion percentage allowed (56.8%), tied for sixth in fewest rushing touchdowns (9), third in fumbles forced (17), tied for fourth in fumbles recovered (12), first in fumbles returned for a touchdown (5), and second in interceptions (21).
And a big part of that dominating defense was from #97 straight up the middle. Now, he can deservedly focus on the next phase of his life.
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Featured image via Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
