There are a lot of instances where it takes coaches a long time to know for sure whether a football player has the capacity for greatness. Then there are others where it’s evident almost right away. Vic Fangio has been around the game long enough to recognize the difference almost immediately. The former Chicago Bears defensive coordinator proved that when he revealed how fast he knew Eddie Jackson would be special on defense.
Keep in mind Fangio had no reason to think this when the 2017 offseason began. Not only was the kid a 4th round pick. He was also returning from a broken leg. No one would’ve blamed Fangio for being skeptical about Jackson having any sort of impact as a rookie. Nevermind the idea of him actually becoming a starter and an eventual All-Pro. It appears the old coach had his misgivings erased in a hurry.
During an interview with Jim Trotter of NFL.com as part of a massive exploration of Jackson’s rise to the NFL, Fangio explained what happened when Jackson first saw the field during training camp. Suffice to say the impression made was immediate and profound.
It took only a few practices at training camp for Fangio to realize the Bears had gotten a steal. Jackson was held out of the offseason workouts as a rookie while rehabbing from his broken leg, but he kept attracting the gaze of Fangio once he got on the field.
“It wasn’t but two or three days into camp when I said to Ed Donatell, our secondary coach, that this guy is going to be really good,” Fangio says. “He asked how I could know that after only two or three days. You could just tell. When you have an instinctive player, a smart player who has a nose for the ball and understands football, you know he’s going to be a great player.”
Eddie Jackson did something Vic Fangio almost never allowed
Keep this in mind. Fangio was a defensive coordinator dating all the way back to 1995. In that span, he had started a rookie safety 10 or more games in a season just four times. It wasn’t something he did unless he was certain he could trust the player. He was often correct. Mike Minter became a solid starter in Carolina under his watch and was an enforcer on their 2003 Super Bowl team. Eric Reid became a Pro Bowler in San Francisco.
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It’s worth mentioning that Minter was a 2nd round pick and Reid a 1st. So for Jackson to accomplish this feat as a 4th rounder is a testament to Fangio’s faith in his own ability to judge talent. He was dead on of course. In two years together, Jackson delivered eight interceptions and scored five defensive touchdowns. He was a huge factor in helping Fangio become a head coach for the Denver Broncos this offseason.
It was sad to see the two of them part ways, but the old coach hasn’t lost faith in his former pupil. Fangio remains adamant that Jackson will be seen as one of the best to do it of this era.
