Kenny Jackson facts for kids
| No. 81, 84, 86, 83 | |||||||
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| Position: | Wide receiver | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | February 15, 1962 Neptune, New Jersey, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | South River (NJ) | ||||||
| College: | Penn State | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 4 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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| Player stats at PFR | |||||||
Kenny Jackson, born on February 15, 1962, is a former American professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver who played for eight seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played for teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Houston Oilers. Before joining the NFL, Kenny was a two-time college All-American at Penn State University in 1982 and 1983, which means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.
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Early Life and High School Sports
Kenny Jackson grew up in South River, New Jersey. He was an amazing athlete in high school. At South River High School, he was great at many sports. These included football, basketball, baseball, and track.
His football jersey, number 21, was retired by the school in October 1994. This is a special honor given to very important players. In 1996, Kenny was also inducted into the New Jersey Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame.
College Football Career
Kenny Jackson became Penn State's first-ever All-American wide receiver. By the time he was a senior in 1983, he had set 27 school records! He is still second in career receiving yards for the Nittany Lions with 2,006 yards.
His best season was in 1982. That year, he caught 41 passes for 697 yards and scored seven touchdowns. This helped Penn State win their first National Championship.
Here's a quick look at his college stats:
- 1980: 21 catches for 386 yards and 5 touchdowns.
- 1981: 19 catches for 440 yards and 6 touchdowns.
- 1982: 41 catches for 697 yards and 7 touchdowns.
- 1983: 28 catches for 483 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Professional Football Career
In the 1984 NFL draft, Kenny Jackson was a top pick. The Philadelphia Eagles chose him as the fourth overall pick in the first round. He played for eight years in the NFL. He played for the Eagles and the Houston Oilers.
During his professional career, he caught 126 passes. He gained 2,170 receiving yards and scored 11 touchdowns. After the 1987 season, Kenny announced he was retiring. He planned to run a deli called Kenny's Korner in Camden, New Jersey. However, he later rejoined the Eagles during the 1988 season.
Coaching and Broadcasting
After his playing career, Kenny Jackson became a coach. He coached at his old college, Penn State, for eight seasons. From 1993 to 2000, he coached the wide receivers. He helped train future NFL players like Bobby Engram and Joe Jurevicius.
He also worked as an assistant coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was with them from 2001 to 2003. Today, Kenny is a sideline reporter for the Big Ten Network. He reports on games from the side of the field.
Personal Life and Community Work
Kenny Jackson is a business partner with former NFL running back Blair Thomas. They own a chain of sports bars called KoKoMos in the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania area.
In April 2008, Kenny took part in a special trip. He and seven other former NFL players traveled to the Middle East. They visited with troops serving overseas. They also coached them in a flag football tournament. This event was part of the USO's Operation Gridiron: Huddle with the Troops.
