Malik Jackson

At 34 years old, Malik Jackson has this physical status:

Malik Barron Jackson (born January 11, 1990) is an American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Tennessee.

Jackson was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft and has also played with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Early years

Jackson attended Birmingham High School, where he played high school football. In 2007, Jackson was named to Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, and Cal-Hi Sports All-State first-team. Jackson was named Los Angeles Daily News All-Area Co-Defensive MVP in high school.

Personal life

His twin brother, Marquis, was a defensive end at Texas Southern University and currently plays for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.

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College career

Jackson attended the University of Southern California in 2008 and 2009. In 2010, he matriculated to the University of Tennessee to play under head coach Derek Dooley. He had his first collegiate interception, which he recovered 44 yards, against the Memphis Tigers on November 6, 2010, and finished with two sacks. He had 48 tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, five sacks, five passes defense, one force fumble, and one interception. In recognition of his success in the 2010 season, Jackson was named to the AP All-SEC Second Team. He made 56 total tackles, 11 tackles-for-loss, 2.5 sacks, two passes defense, and one forced fumble in the 2011 season.

Professional career

Jackson will play in the 2012 Senior Bowl as a late addition on January 23, 2012. Jackson played for Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan's South team, which lost 23-13 on January 28, 2012. Jackson played all of the combine drills at the Indianapolis, Indiana, USA Scouting Combine as a defensive tackle and also did all of the combine drills. His overall results were well-received, and he surprised scouts with a 4.91 in the 40-yard dash. He and Austin Johnson, Tauren Poole, and seven others competed at Tennessee's pro day on March 26, 2012. For the 21 scouts and team representatives who attended, Jackson decided to limit the roleal drills. He shed 20 pounds since the end of the season and weighed in at 290 lbs at Tennessee's pro day to get ready for the NFL. Jackson was supposed to be a sixth or seventh round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts at the conclusion of the pre-draft process. NFLDraftScout.com ranked him as the 18th best defensive end prospect in the draft.

In the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Denver Broncos selected Jackson. He was the second defensive lineman drafted by the Denver Broncos in 2012 and the second defensive linemen drafted by the Denver Broncos after Derek Wolfe (second round, 36th overall).

The Denver Broncos signed Jackson to a four-year, $2.31 million deal with a signing bonus of $213,612.

Jackson competed against Robert Ayers, Derek Wolfe, Jeremy Beal, Ben Garland, Jamie Blatnick, and Jason Hunter for the starting defensive end role in his first training camp. Head coach John Fox named him the back-up right defensive end behind fellow rookie Derek Wolfe.

During a 27-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on September 17, 2012, Jackson made his NFL debut on September 17, 2012. During the third quarter of a 31–25 loss, he made his first career tackle on running back Arian Foster and stopped him for no gain.

In 14 games and no starts, Jackson had five combined tackles (three solo) in his rookie year. He was inactive, as a healthy scratch, and missed the season-opener and a match against the San Diego Chargers in Week 6. In 2012, the Broncos debuted at 13-13-3, earned a playoff berth, and a first-round bye. During the AFC Divisional round, Jackson appeared in his first NFL playoff game for the Broncos.

Since Elvis Dumervil left for the Baltimore Ravens in a free agency, Jackson entered training camp in hopes of filling the starting left defensive end position left vacant. Jackson was named as the backup defensive end behind starters Derek Wolfe and Robert Ayers in the regular season by head coach John Fox.

During the 37–21 victory, Jackson had one tackle assist and was credited with half a sack on Oakland's quarterback Terrelle Pryor. The Broncos won 51–48 in their first matchup of Week 5 at the Dallas Cowboys, he two combined and earned his first solo sack on quarterback Tony Romo. During a 35-19 victory over quarterback Chad Henne, Jackson recorded a season-high seven combined tackles and made a season-high two sacks on quarterback Chad Henne. Jackson made his first NFL appearance on December 1, 2013, forced a fumble, and forced a fumble. Since Derek Wolfe was unable to return after dealing with seizure-like symptoms all season, he remained the starting defensive end for the remainder of the season.

Jackson's second season in office was a combined tackles (30 solo), six sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 16 games and five starts. With a 13–3 record, the Broncos finished the season undefeated in the AFC West. In Denver's 24–17 victory over AFC Divisional round on January 12, 2014, Jackson got off to a good start in his career as a quarterback and collected three solo tackles and a sack on San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. In Super Bowl XLVIII, the Denver Broncos defeated the New England Patriots and took on the Seattle Seahawks. Jackson started the game at defensive end and made five combined tackles and a pass deflection as the Broncos were defeated by Seattle 43-8.

After the Denver Broncos signed free agent DeMarcus Ware, who was named the starting left defensive end, Jackson continued to play left defensive end behind Derek Wolfe on the season. During a 24–17 win over the Buffalo Bills on December 7, 2014, Jackson had a season-high six solo tackles and fired Kyle Orton.

Jackson finished his third season with 42 combined tackles (33 solo), three sacks, four pass deflections, and a forced fumble in 16 games and three starts. The Broncos advanced to the AFC Divisional Playoffs after finishing the season 12-4 and at the top of the AFC West. The Broncos lost by the Indianapolis Colts 24-13. Jackson got to the game and made four total tackles. After the game, John Fox and General Manager John Elway mutually agreed that the company and Fox should split up.

Jackson played against Antonio Smith and Vance Walker for the starting left defensive end position during his first training camp under new head coach Gary Kubiak. Wade Phillips, the offensive coordinator, used a 3-4 defensive strategy, putting DeMarcus Ware and the linebacker out of the linebacker, vacating his defensive end position. He was named the starting defensive end of the season, alongside Vance Walker, who was swapping Derek Wolfe after he served a four-game suspension.

During a 16-10 road win over the Oakland Raiders, Jackson scored six combined tackles and suspended quarterback Derek Carr during Week 5. In a 29–10 victory over the Green Bay Packers, he collected two combined tackles, deflected a pass, and posted his first safety of his career. After confronting tight end Richard Rodgers II in the end zone in the fourth quarter, he ensured his safety. He finished the season with a career-best 45 combined tackles (34 solo), seven pass deflections, five suspensions, and five arrests, as well as a safety in 16 games and starts.

The Broncos finished the season with a 12–4 record. The Broncos went on to play in Super Bowl 50 after defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New England Patriots. Jackson recovered a fumble in the end zone by Cam Newton that had been coerced by linebacker Von Miller in the first quarter. In the Broncos' 24–10 win over the Carolina Panthers, the touchdown gave the Broncos a ten-0 lead and Jackson went on to record five combined tackles.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Jackson to a six-year, $85.5 million deal with no guarantee and a signing bonus of $10 million.

Jackson returned to a 4-3 defensive scheme and was named the starting defensive end to start the season under head coach Gus Bradley. Jackson opted to wear No. 10 instead. After being unable to obtain No. 90, he was unable to get No. Since it was already issued to Roy Miller, it was 97.

Jackson had two combined tackles and was fired as a quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 as a Jaguar on quarterback Joe Flacco in a 19-17 loss. During a 30–27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts over the Indianapolis Colts, he recorded a season-high five combined tackles and deflected a pass. In a 28–21 loss, Jackson made five combined tackles and sacked Tyrod Taylor twice in a Week 12 matchup at the Buffalo Bills. Colts quarterback Andrew Luck had two solo tackles and made two sacks on January 1, 2017 as the Jaguars defeated Indianapolis 24-20.

Jackson played in 16 games and starts in his first season with the Jaguars, with 33 total tackles (28 solo), 6.5 sacks, and four pass deflections.

Doug Marrone, the offensive line coach, was hired as the new head coach but the team retained defensive coordinator Todd Wash and their 4-3 defense. To start the 2017 season, Marrone switched Jackson from defensive end to defensive tackle. Yannick Ngakoue, Dante Fowler, Marcell Dareus, and Calais Campbell commanded a stout defensive line. They adopted the word "Sacksonville" and became one of the top defensive lines in the league.

During a 29-7 road win, Jackson got to start with three solo tackles, deflected a pass, and fired a pass. Jackson was named to his first Pro Bowl on December 19, 2017.

Jackson had three passes defensed, four forced fumbles, eight sacks, and 40 total tackles as the Jaguars finished with a 10–6 record and finished in third place in the AFC South. Jackson started the game against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card Round and scored a sack and tackle. Jackson was given an overall rating of 86.4, which ranked 17th among all qualifying interior defensive linemen, according to Pro Football Focus.

When asked about his Jaguars' prediction in 2018, Jackson said, "I'm callin' it, 16-0." As long as we stay healthy and do what we're supposed to do, we shouldn't think we'll beat us.

Jackson fired rookie quarterback Sam Darnold in the 31–12 victory over Week 4 against the New York Jets, his first firing of the season. He was suspended due to his poor quality of play prior to his Week 11 match against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Without Jackson's presence, the Jaguars lost by a margin of 20–16 to the Steelers. Jackson fired Ryan Tannehill after winning by 17-7 on week 16 against the Miami Dolphins for his first sack in nearly three months. In the 20-3 road loss, he made a season-high 1.5 sacks in the regular-season finale against the Houston Texans the following week.

In the end, Jackson's optimistic expectations for the 2018 Jaguars to have a 16–0 record fell short when they lost to the Tennessee Titans by a score of 9–6 on Week 3. The Jaguars then finished the season with a 5–11 record and far off Jackson's goal.

Jackson was fired by the Jaguars on March 8, 2019 due to salary cap issues.

Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles announced on March 13, 2019, a three-year deal. Jackson sustained a foot injury during the season-opener against the Washington Redskins. On September 10, 2019, he was put on injured reserve and was released. The Eagles cut Jackson on March 17, 2021, the 2021 version.

On March 23, 2021, Jackson signed with the Cleveland Browns.

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