Dexter Jackson (safety) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Dexter Jackson

Jackson with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
No. 34, 28
Position:	Safety
Personal information
Born:	(1977-07-28) July 28, 1977 (age 48) Quincy, Florida, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:	Shanks (Quincy, Florida)
College:	Florida State (1995–1998)
NFL Draft:	1999 / Round: 4 / Pick: 113
Career history
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999–2002) Arizona Cardinals (2003) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004–2005) Cincinnati Bengals (2006–2008) Florida Tuskers (2009)
Career highlights and awards
Super Bowl champion (XXXVII) Super Bowl MVP (XXXVII) 2× Second-team All-ACC (1997, 1998)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles: 457 Sacks: 5.0 Forced fumbles: 5 Fumble recoveries: 5 Interceptions: 17
Player stats at PFR

Dexter Lamar Jackson (born July 28, 1977) is a former American football star who played a position called safety. A safety is a defensive player who acts as the last line of defense, trying to stop the other team from scoring.

Jackson is most famous for being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Super Bowl XXXVII. He helped his team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, win the championship in a big game against the Oakland Raiders. During his career in the National Football League (NFL), he also played for the Arizona Cardinals and the Cincinnati Bengals.

College Football Career

Before he became a professional, Jackson played college football for Florida State University from 1995 to 1998. He was a key player for the team, known for his strong defensive skills.

During his time at Florida State, he was named to the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team twice. This award is given to the best players in the conference. He finished his college career with 194 tackles, 7 interceptions (catching a pass thrown by the other team), and even blocked four field goals.

Professional Football Career

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

In the 1999 NFL draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Dexter Jackson to join their team. He started his NFL journey playing against the Denver Broncos.

His most famous moment came during the 2002 season. The Buccaneers made it all the way to Super Bowl XXXVII. In the championship game, Jackson played amazingly well. He intercepted the other team's quarterback twice. His great performance helped the Buccaneers win the game 48–21. For his efforts, he was named the Super Bowl MVP. He was the first safety to win this award in almost 30 years.

Arizona Cardinals

After winning the Super Bowl, Jackson became a free agent, which meant he could sign with any team. He decided to join the Arizona Cardinals for the 2003 season. He played for the Cardinals for two years.

Return to the Buccaneers

In 2004, Jackson returned to the team where he had his biggest success, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played with them for two more seasons, through the end of the 2005 season.

Cincinnati Bengals and Florida Tuskers

For the 2006 season, Jackson signed with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played as a safety for the Bengals for three seasons. The team released him in March 2009.

Jackson played one final season of professional football with the Florida Tuskers in the United Football League before retiring.

Life After Football

After his playing career ended, Dexter Jackson stayed involved with sports and his community.

• Coaching: He has worked as a private coach in the Atlanta area, helping young athletes improve their skills through a service called CoachUp.
• Broadcasting: In 2011, Jackson started a radio show called "All Sports" in Florida. He co-hosted the show, talking about different sports with other experts.
• Community Work: Jackson worked as the Youth & Recreation Manager for the Tampa Housing Authority, helping to organize activities for young people in Tampa, Florida.

Jackson is married to Tina Jackson and they have four daughters.

Career Statistics

This table shows Dexter Jackson's performance during his NFL career.