A former Georgia walk-on who turned into a two-time national champion starting safety.
Dan Jackson never even landed a preferred walk-on offer out of high school. Instead he enrolled at Georgia, earned a roster spot by trying out, and worked his way into the Bulldogs' starting lineup, a journey that eventually led Detroit to draft him in 2025.
Path to the league
Jackson walked on at Georgia, redshirted his first two years, and gradually earned playing time before becoming a full-time starter in his sixth and final season in 2024. Detroit selected him in the seventh round, 230th overall, in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Career highlights
Jackson was part of Georgia's back-to-back CFP national championship teams following the 2021 and 2022 seasons. As a senior starter in 2024, he started 13 of 14 games and recorded 64 tackles, two interceptions and three passes defended, earning third-team All-SEC recognition while lining up all over Kirby Smart's defense.
2025 season recap
Jackson entered his rookie season competing for the Lions' fourth safety job, but Detroit placed him on injured reserve on August 4, 2025, after he suffered a leg injury in practice, ending his rookie campaign before it began.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dan Jackson (defensive back)
- Detroit Lions: Draft safety Dan Jackson
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Safety
- Group
- defense
- College
- Georgia
- Hometown
- Gainesville, GA, USA
- Age
- 25
- Status
- active
