Former Pro Bowler Malik Jackson, Broncos Super Bowl Hero, Announces Retirement

After sitting out the entire 2022 season, defensive tackle Malik Jackson has decided its time to move on from the NFL.

Jackson, 33, announced his retirement after 10 seasons during a Friday appearance on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football. The former Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler confirmed his decision after also appearing on Thursday’s GMFB where he was introduced by host Sara Walsh as a free agent.

“Yeah, I’m done, I’m retired” Jackson said with a smile after Walsh teed up the breaking news. “I appreciated the free agency tag, it made me feel good but I was like, ’Nah, I’m not leaving the couch right now.’ I’m happy at home.”

A 2012 fifth-round pick out of Tennessee, Jackson, who began his collegiate career at USC, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Broncos. While in Denver, Jackson blossomed into a full-time starter in Year 4, where he started all 19 games in the team’s run to defeating the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.

Jackson would play a pivotal role in Denver’s win over Carolina, as he tallied five tackles and scored his first defensive touchdown after recovering a Cam Newton fumble in the end zone. The Broncos took a 10–0 lead following Jackson’s score, and went on to earn a 24–10 victory.

In 2016, Jackson inked a six-year, $85.5 million contract with the Jaguars, where he played for three seasons. His best campaign came in 2017, as Jackson accumulated 40 tackles (10 for loss), eight sacks, 11 QB hits, three pass deflections and four forced fumbles in 16 starts en route to earning his only Pro Bowl nod.

Jackson would finish his career with a two-year stint with the Eagles, and a season on the Browns in 2021. In his 142 career games, Jackson tallied 35.5 sacks, 292 tackles, 29 pass deflections and six forced fumbles.