Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 39 Days with Eddie Jackson

Eddie Jackson's career with the Chicago Bears so far

As a rookie, Jackson competed for a starting safety spot alongside Adrian Amos, and was eventually awarded the position, where he started all 16 regular season games. As a rookie, when Jackson began to don the number 39, the Alabama product logged two interceptions, six pass deflections, three fumble recoveries, and 73 total tackles. Jackson's best game during the year came against the Carolina Panthers, where he was able to record not one but two 75+ yard defensive touchdowns. Jackson was awarded the NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.

Despite Jackson's early success, the team struggled in their first year, and the ensuing offseason brought several changes to the roster. After three seasons in Chicago, head coach John Fox was replaced by Matt Nagy, who made a number of changes to the team in general. Specifically on defense, the Bears improved the unit overall by drafting Roquan Smith at the top of the class and by trading for star pass rusher Khalil Mack just before the start of the season.

With a completely revamped defense heading into the 2018 season, Jackson was a leader and playmaker on the back end of a talented unit. In his just second season, Jackson helped the Bears finish with a top-five defense across the league. Jackson himself was named to both the Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro after logging six interceptions, 15 pass deflections, and a sack. Jackson also led the NFL in interceptions returned for touchdowns with two on the season.

Jackson's success mirrored that of the team, who finished with the best record in the NFC North. Unfortunately, the Bears would go on to lose early in the playoffs, but Jackson's red zone interception against the Green Bay Packers and Aaron Rodgers during Week 15 was a major catalyst in the team clinching the division. Jackson was dinged up on the ensuing return and missed the final two regular season games of the year as well as the team's Wildcard loss against the Eagles.

Following the team's postseason loss, the Bears were never quite able to match their production or record from 2018. Despite the team finishing with a .500 record, Jackson returned from injury to start in all 16 of the team's games, logging two interceptions, five pass deflections, a sack, and 60 total tackles en route to being named to his second consecutive Pro Bowl. Jackson was also nominated on the NFL's Top 100 list, coming in as the 30th highest-ranked player in the league.

In his fourth and final season of his rookie contract, Jackson logged over 80 total tackles and five pass deflections while helping the team qualify for the playoffs with a 8-8 record. Once again, the Bears were unable to do much of anything in the postseason, but Jackson had a solid season despite seeing his turnover total dip from previous seasons.

Following the team's playoff loss to the Saints, Jackson chose to change his number in accordance to then-new league rules. Allowing skill position players to wear single-digit jerseys, the safety changed his number to 4, the jersey number that he wore while at Alabama. In his first season in his new number, Jackson had a down year statistically, logging just two pass deflections and 76 total tackles across 14 games as a starter.

After continued team struggles, the Bears made a coaching change ahead of the 2022 season, bringing in former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus as the new head coach. In his first season in a new system, Jackson started 12 games and logged four picks, the second-highest total of his career. Last year was also Jackson's first season playing alongside fellow safety Jaquan Brisker, who was in his rookie campaign.