Jordan Jackson, a defensive lineman who graduated from the United States Air Force Academy, is heading into his fifth season in the National Football League with the Denver Broncos — a milestone the 28-year-old said he never takes lightly.
"I'll just look around like, 'Dang, I'm still playing football,'" Jackson said. "I'm 28 years old now. I'm still playing football. I haven't had to go put on a suit or do a job yet — like a real job. I have been able to play football as a job, and it's just such a blessing that I can just never take for granted."
At the academy, Jackson said, he never knew if he would make it to even one year in the league. As a high school player from Jacksonville, Fla., he was a defensive lineman with no stars attached to his recruiting profile, whose best offers consisted of the three service academies and a smattering of Sun Belt programs.
After two seasons on practice squads — first with the New Orleans Saints, then with the Broncos — Jackson appeared to break through in 2024, appearing in all 17 games, forcing a fumble, and making 17 tackles. Last season, however, he played in just five games, and his defensive snap count dropped from 310 in 2024 to 85 in 2025.
Jackson said he spent the offseason addressing those numbers directly. He worked in Dallas under pass-rush trainer Brandon "BT" Jordan and focused on film study while searching for mental advantages. The Broncos' roster now lists him at 6-foot-4 and 294 pounds, nine pounds heavier than he was during his 2021 season at Air Force. He will also be entering his fourth season in the same system under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and defensive line coach Jamar Cain.
"It allows you to have a little bit more fun with it, not having to worry about getting into the playbook every night as much," Jackson said. "I can just watch film, be like, 'OK, I can work on this tomorrow.' I think it just allows you to play a little bit more fast, have a little more confidence while you're playing."
This summer also brought unexpected attention Jackson's way. An ESPN reporter embedded with the Broncos during the playoffs produced a story posted on July 6 noting that head coach Sean Payton was irate entering the AFC Championship Game because Jackson had not seen the field in the divisional-round victory over the Buffalo Bills. "Zero snaps," Payton said, according to the ESPN story. "(Expletive) criminal. This kid sits on the sideline. … Did we stop the run? We didn't do that. We got our (butt) kicked in the first half." Jackson said the report affirmed his belief that his head coach had his back.
Jackson continues to serve in the Air Force ready reserves, communicating monthly with superiors, and is occasionally called in for recruiting efforts within the military branch to share his story. He says his time as a cadet manifests in daily habits — he makes his bed every morning, keeps a regimented schedule, and frequently tells Broncos teammates about cadet experiences such as jumping off a 10-meter diving platform and taking boxing class.
"I think there's definitely room for me to step up, but I think right now it's just trying to find ways to get better every day until I step into a new role," Jackson said. "And whenever that comes, just take the time and actually step into that role and do whatever is needed."
How much playing time Jackson secures heading into the regular season will be the key figure to watch as Denver's training camp progresses.