NFL RB Veteran Fred Jackson
“I was small, I mean tiny”
Underdogs come in all shapes and sizes. This week’s underdog started out as a size small but grew into one of the most impactful players in the NFL. Fred Jackson grew up in the Dallas-Fort Worth area but had to relocate to a slightly smaller metro area to get an opportunity in college football. Jackson’s underdog story is unique because he went from not even playing for his high school team to being one of the most productive players in the NFL. This podcast is all about the Iowa connections and Coe College played a central role in Fred Jackson’s football life.
Growing up as an undersized running back in the world of big time Texas high school football, Jackson had to sit and wait for a chance to play. Jackson’s graduating class out of Lamar High school included 14 D1 football players, Jackson was not one of them. It was actually his middle school coach who was a Coe graduate and former Kohawk coach who set Fred and his twin brother Patrick on their way to Cedar Rapids.
The 5’6 145 lbs high schooler turned into a 5’11 200 lbs running back while in the City of 5 Seasons. Not only did Jackson fill out his pads, but he packed the stat sheet, especially his senior year. Jackson ran for over 2700 yards and 29 touchdowns during his senior campaign. He was a two time conference player of the year and finished as Coe’s 3rd all-time leading rusher. Jackson and his brother were also standouts on the track team. They were two-time All Americans in the 4x100 and hold Coe records in the 4x1 and 4x2. Though his time in Cedar Rapids was full of accomplishments and awards, his D3 success was not enough to convince NFL scouts to take a chance on him.
Following his stellar career in Cedar Rapids, Jackson headed across the state to play for the Sioux City Bandits of the Indoor Football League for the 2004 and 2005 seasons. During his time in the IFL, Jackson was making $200 a week and working as counselor for troubled youths. Jackson credits his wife for helping him stay focused and driven towards his ultimate goals. Jackson dominated the IFL, racking up almost 1800 yards and 53 touchdowns for the Bandits. He was named the league’s co-MVP in 2005.
His performances in college and the IFL were enough to get a more formal audition for the NFL. After spending the last 6 seasons playing in Iowa, Jackson travelled to Europe to play for the Rhein Fire. The success continued and after leading another team in rushing, Jackson was invited to the Buffalo Bills’ 2006 training camp. And though he was thousands of miles east of Cedar Rapids at the time, it was a Coe College connection that helped bring Jackson back to the states. The general manager of the Bills at that time was their former head coach, and Coe College alum, Marv Levy. Levy had met Jackson at a homecoming event at Coe a few years earlier. By the time Jackson got to Buffalo he didn’t look anything like that second string high school kid from Texas. In addition to building his resume in pro football, he kept building his frame and showed up at 6’1 and weighed about 215 lbs.
“The scout who said was too small said I carried his fantasy team”
Though Jackson shared the backfield in Buffalo with Marshawn Lynch, Jackson continued to be one of the most impactful players in football. Jackson led the NFL in all purpose yards in 2009 and was the first player in NFL history to tally over 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 return yards in a single season. His 2,516 yards that season were good enough for 5th all time. Jackson continued having success as a Bill through the next 5 seasons and ended up finishing 3rd all time on the Buffalo Bills list of rushing leaders, behind Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and OJ Simpson. Jackson spent his final NFL season backing up former teammate Marshawn Lynch with the Seattle Seahawks before signing a 1-day contract with the Bills and retiring in 2018.
After scrapping for an opportunity just to play college football and then grinding for another 3 years in the IFL and NFL Europe to get his NFL opportunity, Jackson spent 10 years in the league and amassed over 5600 yards and 30 touchdowns. Jackson’s road wasn’t smooth or direct, but it's paved with his hard work and dedication. He credits his wife with helping him pursue his goal and tries to raise his son the same way. Fred Jackson’s story is the perfect example that it isn’t about the size of the underdog in the story.
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Jon Wisnieski’s name may be hard to spell, but it is even harder to forget for Des Moines metro Hawkeye fans. He was a star from Dowling Catholic High School and a highly touted recruit heading east to Iowa City. Jon played alongside some of the top names coming out of Tight End U during his five years in black and gold. Injuries sidetracked his college career but haven’t slowed him down since. Just in time for Cy-Hawk week, Jon Wiznieski gives the inside look at his time for both Dowling and the Hawkeyes and life beyond football.