T. J. Jackson (wide receiver)
Encyclopedia
Trenton James Jackson (February 28, 1943 – March 25, 2007) was an American football
wide receiver
in the National Football League
for the Philadelphia Eagles
and the Washington Redskins
. He played college football
at the University of Illinois.
to James and Evelyn Jackson and is the eldest of seven children. The family later moved to Rochester, New York
, where he attended Benjamin Franklin High School, where he set the National High School Record in the 100 yard dash (9.4).
at University of Illinois
, where he was voted an All-America
n. While there, he was a Big Ten
and Rose Bowl champion, and lettered
in track
, football, basketball
, and baseball
. In 1964, he won the Big Ten 100 yard Dash in 9.5, the 220 yard dash in 21.3, and anchored the championship 440 yard relay. He also won the NCAA 4x110 yard relay championship, set the National Collegiate Record in the 100 meter dash (10.1), won the AAU 100 meter championship and then participated in the US Olympic Trials 100 meter dash. After, he represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics
in Tokyo, Japan and became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
. In 1965, he finished third at the NCAA 60 yard dash. Then, he led Illinois to the 4x440 yard relay championship at the outdoor Big Ten championship. Jackson's record for the 100 meters held at Illinois for 40 years.
baseball team. However, he chose to play football in the National Football League
for the Philadelphia Eagles
and then the Washington Redskins
.
for over 30 years. Also a sports coach, Jackson was inducted into the Section V Track and Field, Football, and Basketball Hall of Fames as a player and coach. Jackson died on March 25, 2007.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Illinois.
Early life
Jackson was born in Cordele, GeorgiaCordele, Georgia
Cordele, also known as The Watermelon Capital of the World, is a city in Crisp County, Georgia, United States. The population was 11,608 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Crisp County...
to James and Evelyn Jackson and is the eldest of seven children. The family later moved to Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, where he attended Benjamin Franklin High School, where he set the National High School Record in the 100 yard dash (9.4).
College career
Jackson then attended and played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
, where he was voted an All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n. While there, he was a Big Ten
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
and Rose Bowl champion, and lettered
Varsity letter
A varsity letter is an award earned in the United States for excellence in school activities. A varsity letter signifies that its winner was a qualified varsity team member, awarded after a certain standard was met.- Description :...
in track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, football, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. In 1964, he won the Big Ten 100 yard Dash in 9.5, the 220 yard dash in 21.3, and anchored the championship 440 yard relay. He also won the NCAA 4x110 yard relay championship, set the National Collegiate Record in the 100 meter dash (10.1), won the AAU 100 meter championship and then participated in the US Olympic Trials 100 meter dash. After, he represented the United States at the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
in Tokyo, Japan and became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
. In 1965, he finished third at the NCAA 60 yard dash. Then, he led Illinois to the 4x440 yard relay championship at the outdoor Big Ten championship. Jackson's record for the 100 meters held at Illinois for 40 years.
Professional sports career
In 1966, Jackson was drafted by the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
baseball team. However, he chose to play football in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and then the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.
Personal
Jackson married Pamela Kittelberger and had four children. After retiring from football, Jacskon taught in the Rochester City School DistrictRochester City School District
The Rochester City School District is a public school district that serves approximately 32,000 children and 10,000 adults in the city of Rochester, New York, with over 6,000 employees and a 2010–2011 operating budget of $693.7 million .The average class size ranges from 18 to 25 students...
for over 30 years. Also a sports coach, Jackson was inducted into the Section V Track and Field, Football, and Basketball Hall of Fames as a player and coach. Jackson died on March 25, 2007.