Steven Jackson
Encyclopedia
Steven Rashad Jackson is an American football
running back
for the St. Louis Rams
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Oregon State University
.
and was a running back for Eldorado High School. He was named the Sunrise Regional MVP and rushed for 6,396 yards and 81 touchdowns for the Sundevils. Jackson's Eldorado squad lost in the state final his senior year to Chris Carr (currently of the Baltimore Ravens
) and his perennial powerhouse McQueen High School (Reno, Nevada
).
Jackson's subsequent success has been credited with prompting college football programs to take more interest in players in the Las Vegas area. This success also led to Jackson's induction into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
. Jackson wanted to rehabilitate his knee more before competing in other drills, which he completed at a slimmed down 231 pounds (104.8 kg) for his Pro Day. Jackson had surgery on the knee after the college season, but ended up requiring additional clean-up surgery after his rookie year to completely rehabilitate it. In an interview with cbssportsline.com's Pete Prisco, Jackson said, "It never felt right," Jackson said. "Now it does."
by the St. Louis Rams. The Rams swapped picks with the Denver Broncos
and Cincinnati Bengals
to get Jackson. Denver traded Deltha O'Neal
to Cincinnati for their first round pick. Then, St. Louis traded up to Cincinnati's selection to grab Jackson while the Bengals chose Chris Perry to replace the departed Corey Dillon
, who was traded to the New England Patriots
.
On July 30, 2004, Jackson signed a 5-year, $7 million deal with Rams, which included a $2.05 million signing bonus. In his 2004 rookie season, he was a backup under Marshall Faulk
. Despite the limited playing time, he rushed 134 times for 673 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and had 19 receptions for 189 yards.
With Faulk aging, Jackson was named the starter in 2005. Jackson had 1,046 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 254 attempts, and caught 43 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
After the dismissal of head coach Mike Martz
, 2006 became Jackson's breakout season. With Scott Linehan
as the new head coach, the Rams had a more balanced offensive attack. Jackson ran 346 times for 1,528 yards and 13 touchdowns and led all running backs when he caught 90 passes for 806 yards, and adding three touchdowns. He also led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,334. For his efforts, Jackson was named to his first Pro Bowl
and received one vote for the 2006 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He was also named the Rams MVP of 2006.
During the dismal 2007 season, Jackson lashed out at fans and commented that the music choice in the Edward Jones Dome
was poor. After the season, Jackson held out of camp because he believed he was underpaid, and there was only one year left on his rookie contract. He later ended his holdout and said that he would report to camp. On August 21, 2008, Jackson ended his holdout officially, after he signed a six-year contract worth a maximum of $49.3 million, including $21 million in guarantees ($11.4 million signing bonus). The final two years of the deal can be voided upon performance so it can be a three-year extension worth $29.3 million. This made him the highest paid running back
in the NFL. Jackson can be eligible for unrestricted free agency at age 28.
On October 24, 2010, Jackson surpassed Eric Dickerson
as the Rams' all-time leading rusher, with a 110-yard effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
. Then on November 21, 2010, he recorded his 10,000th career yard from scrimmage on a first quarter run against the Atlanta Falcons
.
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...
running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
of 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...
. He was drafted by the Rams 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft
2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
. 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 Oregon State University
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
.
Early years
Jackson was born in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
and was a running back for Eldorado High School. He was named the Sunrise Regional MVP and rushed for 6,396 yards and 81 touchdowns for the Sundevils. Jackson's Eldorado squad lost in the state final his senior year to Chris Carr (currently of the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
) and his perennial powerhouse McQueen High School (Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
).
Jackson's subsequent success has been credited with prompting college football programs to take more interest in players in the Las Vegas area. This success also led to Jackson's induction into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
College career
Jackson ended his Oregon State career after three seasons. In 36 games, he carried 743 times for 3,625 yards for a 4.9-yard average and 39 touchdowns while adding 680 yards and six touchdowns on 66 catches and 240 yards with a touchdown on seven kickoff returns. His 4,545 all-purpose yards rank second in school history, while he ranks third on the school’s all-time scoring list with 276 points. As a junior he ranked tenth in the nation in rushing, ninth in all-purpose yardage, and fourth in scoring; he carried the ball 350 times for 1,545 yards and 19 touchdowns, adding 44 receptions for 470 yards and three touchdowns. His 2,015 all-purpose yards set a school record. As a sophomore Jackson led the Pac-10 Conference in rushing and finished the season eighth nationally with 1,690 yards, an average of 130.0 yards a game.Pre-draft
Jackson was overlooked by several teams in the draft, most likely due to a knee injury suffered during his last year at Oregon State. According to NFLDraftScout.com, Jackson, on a weak knee at 241 pounds (109.3 kg), ran a 4.45s 40-yard dash at the 2004 NFL CombineNFL Combine
The National Invitational Camp or NFL Scouting Combine, as it is more widely known, is a week-long showcase, occurring every February in Indianapolis, Indiana's Lucas Oil Stadium , where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Football League coaches, general...
. Jackson wanted to rehabilitate his knee more before competing in other drills, which he completed at a slimmed down 231 pounds (104.8 kg) for his Pro Day. Jackson had surgery on the knee after the college season, but ended up requiring additional clean-up surgery after his rookie year to completely rehabilitate it. In an interview with cbssportsline.com's Pete Prisco, Jackson said, "It never felt right," Jackson said. "Now it does."
St. Louis Rams
Jackson was drafted 24th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft2004 NFL Draft
The 2004 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 24-25, 2004 at the theater at Madison Square Garden...
by the St. Louis Rams. The Rams swapped picks with the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...
to get Jackson. Denver traded Deltha O'Neal
Deltha O'Neal
Deltha Lee O'Neal, III is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the first round as the 15th pick overall in the 2000 NFL Draft, after playing college football at California.A two-time Pro Bowl selection, O'Neal has also been a member...
to Cincinnati for their first round pick. Then, St. Louis traded up to Cincinnati's selection to grab Jackson while the Bengals chose Chris Perry to replace the departed Corey Dillon
Corey Dillon
Corey James Dillon is a former American football running back. He played his ten-season career for the Cincinnati Bengals and the New England Patriots, wearing jersey number 28 for both teams. Dillon played college football the University of Washington where he wore the number 4.-High school...
, who was traded to the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
On July 30, 2004, Jackson signed a 5-year, $7 million deal with Rams, which included a $2.05 million signing bonus. In his 2004 rookie season, he was a backup under Marshall Faulk
Marshall Faulk
Marshall William Faulk is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League. He is currently an analyst for NFL Total Access, Thursday Night Football, and NFL GameDay Morning on the NFL Network...
. Despite the limited playing time, he rushed 134 times for 673 rushing yards and four touchdowns, and had 19 receptions for 189 yards.
With Faulk aging, Jackson was named the starter in 2005. Jackson had 1,046 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 254 attempts, and caught 43 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns.
After the dismissal of head coach Mike Martz
Mike Martz
Michael Martz is a former NFL head coach and currently the offensive coordinator for the National Football League's Chicago Bears....
, 2006 became Jackson's breakout season. With Scott Linehan
Scott Linehan
Scott Thomas Linehan is an American football coach, currently the offensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions of the NFL. He was previously the head coach of the St...
as the new head coach, the Rams had a more balanced offensive attack. Jackson ran 346 times for 1,528 yards and 13 touchdowns and led all running backs when he caught 90 passes for 806 yards, and adding three touchdowns. He also led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 2,334. For his efforts, Jackson was named to his first Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
and received one vote for the 2006 NFL Offensive Player of the Year award. He was also named the Rams MVP of 2006.
During the dismal 2007 season, Jackson lashed out at fans and commented that the music choice in the Edward Jones Dome
Edward Jones Dome
The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome The Edward Jones Dome (more formally known as the Edward Jones Dome at America's Center, and previously known as The Trans World Dome (from 1995–2001) is a multi-purpose stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, and home of the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. It was...
was poor. After the season, Jackson held out of camp because he believed he was underpaid, and there was only one year left on his rookie contract. He later ended his holdout and said that he would report to camp. On August 21, 2008, Jackson ended his holdout officially, after he signed a six-year contract worth a maximum of $49.3 million, including $21 million in guarantees ($11.4 million signing bonus). The final two years of the deal can be voided upon performance so it can be a three-year extension worth $29.3 million. This made him the highest paid running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
in the NFL. Jackson can be eligible for unrestricted free agency at age 28.
On October 24, 2010, Jackson surpassed Eric Dickerson
Eric Dickerson
Eric Demetric Dickerson is a former professional running back in the National Football League who in his career played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons.-College career:...
as the Rams' all-time leading rusher, with a 110-yard effort against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the club's 35th season as a franchise in the NFL. The Buccaneers entered the season attempting to improve on their 3–13 record and last place finish in the NFC South in 2009, a feat they accomplished after only six games...
. Then on November 21, 2010, he recorded his 10,000th career yard from scrimmage on a first quarter run against the Atlanta Falcons
2010 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2010 Atlanta Falcons season was the 45th season for the team in the National Football League. In 2009, the team posted consecutive winning seasons for the first time in franchise history, with a 9–7 record, but did not make the playoffs...
.
Professional statistics
| 2004 | St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... | 134 | 673 | 5.0 | 48 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 2005 | St. Louis Rams | 254 | 1046 | 4.1 | 51 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2006 | St. Louis Rams | 346 | 1528 | 4.4 | 59t | 13 | 9 | 1 |
| 2007 | St. Louis Rams | 237 | 1002 | 4.2 | 54 | 5 | 8 | 4 |
| 2008 | St. Louis Rams | 253 | 1042 | 4.1 | 56 | 7 | 6 | 1 |
| 2009 | St. Louis Rams | 324 | 1416 | 4.4 | 58 | 4 | 10 | 2 |
| 2010 | St. Louis Rams | 330 | 1241 | 3.8 | 42t | 6 | 7 | 1 | TOTAL | 1878 | 7948 | 4.2 | 59 | 47 | 51 | 13 | >
| 2004 | St. Louis Rams St. Louis Rams The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,... | 19 | 189 | 9.9 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 | St. Louis Rams | 43 | 320 | 7.4 | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | St. Louis Rams | 90 | 806 | 9.0 | 64t | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| 2007 | St. Louis Rams | 38 | 271 | 7.1 | 37 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2008 | St. Louis Rams | 40 | 379 | 9.5 | 53 | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| 2009 | St. Louis Rams | 51 | 322 | 6.3 | 38 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2010 | St. Louis Rams | 46 | 383 | 8.3 | 49 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
| TOTAL | 327 | 2670 | 8.2 | 64t | 7 | 27 | 4 | >