Eddie Jackson Just Called His Shot For 2023 Season

The Chicago Bears defense didn't have many bright spots last season. It shouldn't be a huge surprise, what with GM Ryan Poles gutting most of the roster via trades and releases. His goal was obvious. He wanted to unload expensive older veterans to clear cap space and allow head coach Matt Eberflus to build his own depth chart. One of the few holdovers was Eddie Jackson. Most felt the only reason he didn't go too was because his contract was at such a point where trading or cutting him was impossible.

Whatever the reason, it's a good thing it worked out that way. Jackson had a big bounceback year. Remember, he went all of 2020 and 2021 without recording an interception. The drought baffled everybody, including the safety himself. Finally, he broke through with four in 2022 despite missing the final five games with a foot injury. That premature end killed his hopes of a third Pro Bowl nod, and many in the national media seemed to forget he exists when discussing the NFL's top safeties.

Jackson seems to have taken that personally, which would explain his recent declaration on Twitter.

Eddie Jackson sounds like he's on a mission.

One can hardly blame him. There was a point in time when many considered him one of the best safeties in the NFL. That changed over the past three years. He feels he never stopped being a great player, yet his respect was taken away from him. Such things can do one of two things. It either breaks a man's spirit or fuels him to play his best. Jackson makes it sound like the latter. The only question left is what this "greatest season" by a safety would look like.

If we're talking stats, then the mark he's looking at is 12 interceptions. That is the single-season record for safeties held by former Houston Oilers All-Pro Mike Reinfeldt. If we're talking about the Bears? That mantle belongs to Mark Carrier, who had 10 interceptions as a rookie in 1990. We know Eddie Jackson is capable of racking up turnovers at a fast clip. He had six in 2018 and four in only 12 games last year. The capability is there. It comes down to staying healthy and getting the opportunities.

History says not to bet against him.