The Veteran Leadership of Fred Jackson
Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson is one of the most popular players in team history, and for good reason. Jackson has been a pillar of strength during some of the roughest years in franchise history. He is without question the team leader, and if all goes according to plan, he just might find himself in the playoffs for the first time in his career this winter.
Fred Jackson is not only an extremely talented football player who has played with an enormous chip on his shoulder for his entire career, he is also one of the best leaders in the NFL. Jackson, who was undrafted out of Division III Coe College, was given his NFL break when Marv Levy invited Jackson to Bills training camp in 2006. Jackson seized the opportunity and has never looked back. During some of the roughest years the Bills franchise has ever seen Fred Jackson has always been a rock that the Bills players and fans can lean on.
Many so called NFL “experts” predicted a year in which Jackson would show diminished skills in 2014. So far Fred Jackson has made that talk look utterly foolish averaging 4.7 yards per carry and 8.8 yards per reception. Jackson, at 33 years of age, knows that his NFL career is not going to last forever. He knows that this year might be the best opportunity of his career to play in the NFL playoffs, and he is doing everything within his power to make that happen.
This past week at Detroit Fred Jackson was at his finest. The Bills were down 14-0 after a Kyle Orton pick 6 and the offense was once again struggling. Fred Jackson knew that this was a pivotal moment, one where he needed to grab the bull by the horns and inspire his team to stay positive and turn things around and win the game. The Bills immediately responded to Jackson’s leadership en-route to a thrilling 17-14 comeback victory. Jackson not only lead with his words, he also lead by example, amassing over 100 total yards in the game.
If this is indeed the year that the Bills break the playoff drought and return to postseason football, Fred Jackson is going to play a huge roll in that happening. Jackson will not only be contributing with his on field play, but his veteran leadership will prove invaluable while rallying young players like Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins, and Mike Williams. The Bills have a roster as talented as any in the league, and with Fred Jackson’s leadership, they have one of the best leaders in the NFL to help bring them to the promised land.