Randy Jackson (offensive lineman)
Encyclopedia
Randall Belford "Randy" Jackson (born March 6, 1944) is a former American college and professional football
player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League
(NFL) for eight years in the 1960s and 1970s. Jackson played college football
for the University of Florida
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears
of the NFL.
in 1944, and he attended Lake City High School.
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
, where he was a tackle
for coach Ray Graves
' Florida Gators football
team from 1963 to 1965. As a senior in 1965, he was a member of the first Gators squad to ever receive an invitation from a "major" bowl, the 1966 Sugar Bowl
. Jackson graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
in business administration in 1968, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
, and he played in 105 games at offensive tackle for the Bears from to .
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who was an offensive lineman in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL) for eight years in the 1960s and 1970s. Jackson played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, and thereafter, he played professionally for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Early years
Randy Jackson was born in Lake City, FloridaLake City, Florida
Lake City is the county seat of Columbia County, Florida, in the United States. In 2009, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 12,614. In addition, it is the Principal City of the Lake City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is composed of Columbia County, and had an...
in 1944, and he attended Lake City High School.
College career
Jackson received an athletic scholarshipAthletic scholarship
An athletic scholarship is a form of scholarship to attend a college or university awarded to an individual based predominantly on his or her ability to play in a sport...
to attend the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Gainesville is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Alachua County, Florida, United States as well as the principal city of the Gainesville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area . The preliminary 2010 Census population count for Gainesville is 124,354. Gainesville is home to the sixth...
, where he was a tackle
Tackle
Tackle may refer to:* In football:** Tackle , a play in various forms of football** Tackle , a position in American football and Canadian football...
for coach Ray Graves
Ray Graves
Samuel Ray Graves is a former American college and professional football player and former college football coach. He is a native of Tennessee and an alumnus of the University of Tennessee, where he played college football...
' Florida Gators football
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
team from 1963 to 1965. As a senior in 1965, he was a member of the first Gators squad to ever receive an invitation from a "major" bowl, the 1966 Sugar Bowl
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
. Jackson graduated from Florida with a bachelor's degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in business administration in 1968, and was later inducted into the University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame as a "Gator Great."
Professional career
The Chicago Bears selected Jackson in the fourth round (fifty-first pick overall) of the 1966 NFL Draft1966 NFL Draft
The 1966 National Football League Draft was held on November 27, 1965. It was the last draft in which the NFL and the AFL drafted their players separate of one another. As a result, many players selected by teams from both leagues would choose to play for the more established NFL, or in a rarer...
, and he played in 105 games at offensive tackle for the Bears from to .
See also
- Florida GatorsFlorida GatorsThe Florida Gators are the intercollegiate sports teams that represent the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida. The "Lady Gators" is an alternative nickname sometimes used by the Gators women's teams...
- Florida Gators football, 1960–1969
- List of Chicago Bears players
- List of Florida Gators football players
- List of University of Florida alumni