Eddie Jackson Has Memorized Stats From Other All-Time Safeties

Eddie Jackson has made it crystal clear what his goals are. After his rookie season, he was pushed by Clyde Emrich, the former Chicago Bears strength coach, to get serious about the work he's putting in. Why? He has a chance to reach the Hall of Fame and call himself one of the best to ever play his position. There is a long way to go but at 25-years old he's off to a great start with eight interceptions and five defensive touchdowns in two years.

This 2019 season may be the most important of his career. Not just because the Bears are in a position to compete for a championship. He also knows that his contract extension talks are likely to begin next spring. Another great year would put him in a position of strength during negotiations. Suffice to say he has plenty of motivation. However, it's not the money that is driving him. It is the measuring sticks.

According to Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times, Jackson has set about a pre-practice ritual to help keep his eyes on the prize. This consists of keeping a sheet of paper in his locker posting the stats of other all-time great safeties and what they accomplished in their third seasons.

There’s a sheet in Bears safety Eddie Jackson’s locker that reminds him what greatness looks like every day. It details what the best safeties in history did in their third year, and that’s his target going into this season.

One name on the page stands out to Jackson and most safeties of his generation: Hall of Famer Ed Reed. After a nearly three-hour practice Tuesday, when probably the only thing on his mind was getting some water, he recited the statistics from Reed’s 2004 all-pro season with no hesitation.

“I’m working on that to see what I need to do — What’s the goal?” Jackson said. “I think Ed Reed had nine interceptions, a touchdown and 70-something tackles. That’s something I want to shoot for.”

Eddie Jackson has ever advantage to deliver a great year

It's no secret that Jackson models his game after Reed. The two are remarkably similar in terms of both instinct and ballhawk skills. Reed has even said that Jackson is that next great one who will fill the shoes he left behind. The Bears safety knows that in order to accomplish this, he must prove it on the field. Reed's stats in his third year were incredible.

• 9 interceptions
• 2 TDs
• 3 forced fumbles
• 2 sacks
• 76 tackles

The best part for Jackson is his situation is ideally set up. He's got a star-studded front seven to rush the passer led by Khalil Mack and Akiem Hicks. Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara will safeguard the outside passing lanes, forcing quarterbacks to search for options between the hashes. This will present him many opportunities to get his hands on the ball. Combine that with having Chuck Pagano as his defensive coordinator, the same man who molded Reed into the star he became, and it's hard to envision him not topping his 2018 season.