Buffalo Bills great Fred Jackson has returned home to officially retire in the city where he made his name during his excellent NFL career.
If you want a true American success story, look no further than the story of Fred Jackson.
From not being recruited, to going undrafted, to playing indoor football, Jackson returns home today to retire as a member of the Buffalo Bills.
“Having the chance to pour my heart out for the city was special to me."
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 18, 2018
Today, @Fred22Jackson is officially retiring as a Buffalo Bill.
This is his love letter to Buffalo: https://t.co/0v7eLqKcAG pic.twitter.com/pVhwUrOYdF
Jackson joined the Bills in 2006 and didn’t leave until after the 2014 season, when he spent one final year in the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks in 2015. But he will always be known for his time with the Bills.
The former undrafted running back finished his NFL career with 5,746 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns, 2,897 receiving yards and nine receiving touchdowns.
He was never a superstar in the NFL but he was a reliable member of the Bills and was always a hard worker for teams that weren’t among the most successful in franchise history. In a town like Buffalo, Jackson was someone to look to for inspiration.
Jackson also serves as an inspiration for players who may not be highly regarded in high school or college, showing that hard work can lead to great results.
It’s a shame the Bills never got to the playoffs with Jackson in town, but you won’t find him complaining after a 10-year NFL career. He even got to cap it off with a playoff win with the Seahawks.
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Fred Jackson is a player whose name will still be prevalent on the backs of jerseys in the stands at New Era Field for years to come, and older fans will tell their kids about the example he set.