Throughout the 2020 and 2021 seasons, something felt off about Eddie Jackson. The playmaking safety Chicago Bears had come to know and love during his first three seasons in the league wasn’t there anymore. His instincts weren’t as sharp, and he didn’t carry himself with the same swagger. Some felt the former All-Pro lost his edge after getting his massive new contract in early 2020. He got his money, so he didn’t feel the need to try hard anymore.
Two entire seasons passed. In that time, he failed to record a single interception. This was after he had ten in his first three years. Fans grew impatient with him. If he wasn’t forcing turnovers, he wasn’t much good to the Bears defense. As it turns out, the 29-year-old was hiding some deep emotional scars. Jeff Joniak found that out during a Player Profile interview with him. Over the past two years, Jackson had lost not only his best friend to an unexpected death but two of his unborn children as well.
It took Eddie Jackson a long time to overcome those losses.
People can say athletes need to be mentally tough. Ask them if they could play NFL football at a high level after losing three people you love in a span of two years. Romario Olivier, Jackson’s best friend, died on April 12th, 2020. He was only 26 years old. The loss was so traumatic that Jackson started the Romario Olivier Scholarship Fund to help at-risk youths with their education. He couldn’t have known at the time what he and his wife would have to go through with two lost children after that.
One can only imagine what Eddie Jackson felt when he finally broke the drought, intercepting Trey Lance in the Bears’ opening day win over San Francisco. It was the first time he genuinely felt like himself again. He is back to being the player he was three years ago. If that holds true for the rest of 2022, then the Bears defense is even more dangerous than people thought it would be.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Eddie is not married nor did those losses contribute to him failing to do good the other seasons . It’s a cover up and he forgot to mention his 2month old son that he now has.
After last night, it looks like he’s still dealing with those struggles…
He still could’ve caught some balls
*tackle
@rico Dsanders made it a business decision to takes he turned out great Eddie is hawk he will sore