Several months before Darrell Jackson Jr. was born, his soon-to-be uncle made NFL history.
Dexter Jackson, was the fourth-round pick of Tampa Bay in 1999 and was one of the defensive forces guiding the Buccaneers to their 48-21 win over Oakland in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Bucs returned three Rich Gannon interceptions for touchdowns that day in San Diego. Dexter had none of those pick-6s. But he had the first 2 of 5 INTs for Tampa Bay, with his first pick setting up a field goal for a 6-3 lead that the Bucs never lost.
For his coverage and leadership, Dexter Jackson was named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. He and Jake Scott of the Dolphins n SBVII are the only safeties to earn that honor, making Jackson the only safety in the past 53 NFL championships to be so named.
“Just watching him growing up, I knew he played for Florida State, and I knew I wanted to play at Florida State and follow his footsteps,” Jackson, the massive FSU defensive tackle, said after also being a fourth-rounder, selected 103rd overall, by the Jets on the third day of the recently concluded NFL Draft. :”Our communication is great. He just gives me little details, just going into the league and what to expect.”
As legendary as Dexter is in NFL circles, he probably didn’t organize any offseason drills to prepare Darrell for the Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine and the draft. Dexter, after all, was a 6-1, 203-pound defensive back. Darrell is 6-5 and is listed at 315 pounds by the Jets and at the combine, but came in at 337 for Florida State last season. His arms measure 34¾ inches, his hands, 11 inches.