When Denver takes the field for its game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, safety Kareem Jackson will take the field with a “C” on his jersey for the first time with the Broncos.
When Denver traded outside linebacker Bradley Chubb to the Miami Dolphins two days after its previous game, it created a vacancy in the Broncos’ lineup of permanent team captains.
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Denver coach Nathaniel Hackett tabbed Jackson to fill the position.
“He’s a guy that’s played a lot of games, been around this league for a long time,” Hackett said. “I personally have so much respect for him. Our team does. He’s one of the leaders of our team, so he’ll be our full-time captain for the defense moving forward. …
“Kareem was somebody who was highly voted on earlier in the season. I talked with a couple of the guys and a couple of the coaches and talked with him. It was something that we felt was right, and he was honored. And I’m very happy for him to be a captain of this football team.”
Jackson is the second former Alabama defensive back to step into a captain’s spot because of an NFL trade this season. Eddie Jackson has served as a captain for Chicago for the past two games after the Bears traded defensive end Robert Quinn to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Kareem Jackson became the 10th Crimson Tide alumnus serving as a permanent team captain in the NFL this season. In addition to Eddie Jackson, he joined Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones, New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney, New York Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
In his 13th NFL season, Jackson has played all but one of Denver’s 552 defensive snaps and ranks second on the team with 47 tackles this season.
Jackson in his fourth season as a strong safety for the Broncos after spending his first nine seasons as a cornerback for the Houston Texas.
Among Alabama alumni, Jackson is tied for eighth with Jarret Johnson and Ken Stabler with 184 regular-season games, fourth in games started with 176, eighth with 20 interceptions and sixth with 384 interception-return yards.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1
