Nate Jackson

Nate Jackson

No. 81
Position:	Tight end
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1979-06-04) June 4, 1979
Place of birth:	San Jose, California
Height:
Weight:
Career information
College:	Menlo
Undrafted:	2002
Career history
San Francisco 49ers (2002–2003)* Denver Broncos (2003–2008) Cleveland Browns (2009)* Las Vegas Locomotives (2010)*
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
NCAA Division III All-American 1999, 2000, 2001 Division III West-Region Offensive Player of the Year, 2001 Menlo College Hall of Fame, 2009
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 27 Receiving yards: 240 Receiving TDs: 2 Player stats at NFL.com

Nathan Ross "Nate" Jackson (born June 4, 1979) is a writer and former American football tight end. He was signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2002 and went on to play six seasons for the Denver Broncos. He played college football at Menlo College. His writing about the NFL has appeared in Slate, Deadspin, The Daily Beast, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. His memoir Slow Getting Up: A Story of NFL Survival from the Bottom of the Pile was released by HarperCollins on September 17, 2013.

College career

A graduate of Pioneer High School in San Jose, California, Jackson played at NAIA school Menlo College from 1999–2001, and was a key factor in helping the school get attention for its athletics programs. During those seasons he set many records as a wide receiver. He was named first-team All-American during every season he was enrolled, and won the NCAA D-III Offensive Player of the Year after his senior year in 2001.[1] Jackson was inducted into the Menlo College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.[2]

Professional career

San Francisco 49ers

Jackson went undrafted in 2002 NFL Draft, and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the San Francisco 49ers on the recommendation of former 49ers coach Bill Walsh, whose son was the athletic director at Menlo. He spent the entire 2002 NFL season on the practice squad, and was then waived after the season.

Denver Broncos

Jackson was traded to the Denver Broncos prior to the 2003 NFL season. He spent the 2003-2008 seasons with the Broncos. In 2004 the Broncos allocated him to Rhein Fire (NFL Europe). Head coach Mike Shanahan converted Jackson from a wide receiver to a tight end before the 2005 NFL season. In the 2007 season, Jackson made his first career start, but later tore a groin muscle.

Cleveland Browns

Jackson was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad before the 2009 NFL season, but was released before the season began.

Las Vegas Locomotives

Jackson then signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL but never played for the team.

Writing career

Beginning in 2010, Jackson contributed articles to various popular websites and newspapers on a freelance basis.

Memoir

On August 7, 2013 an excerpt from Jackson's memoir was published in the alternative weekly newspaper Cleveland Scene. Focusing on his brief stint on the Browns practice squad just prior to the 2009 season, Jackson describes the Browns players as having been "deep in despair" with "no fight left in them." He attributed the poor state of affairs to Browns then-head coach Eric Mangini, of whom he was highly critical. According to Jackson, the Browns' players were already beaten down because Mangini didn't treat them with respect, unlike Broncos coach Mike Shanahan.

External links

• Denver Broncos bio
• Menlo College Hall of Fame bio
• Video - Nate Jackson interviewed on the hiring of Josh McDaniels
• Slate Magazine: Articles by Nate Jackson