Fred Jackson.
There may not be enough superlatives to capture what that name means to Western New York. The fan favorite officially retired today with the team that gave him his first NFL opportunity. All told, Jackson spent eight years with the Bills (2007 through 2014 and the 2015 offseason). He penned a long, heartfelt message to fans you can read here.
Thank you, @Fred22Jackson! pic.twitter.com/4pfNiVREF7
— Buffalo Rumblings (@BuffRumblings) April 18, 2018
Jackson had a heck of a career, particularly in consideration of his circuitous route to the NFL. Undrafted and unsigned after several tryouts, Jackson spent two years playing indoor football with the Sioux City Bandits. Jackson was picked up by the Rhein Fire of the now defunct NFL Europe before being invited to Bills training camp by general manager Marv Levy.
Jackson ends his tenure in the NFL with an excellent 4.4 yards per attempt. His 5,646 yards for Buffalo place him third all-time for the Bills, behind only Hall of Famers Thurman Thomas and O.J. Simpson. With 30 touchdowns, Freddy is fourth al- time for the Bills, with Cookie Gilchrist squeaking by at 31. More importantly than stats, Fred Jackson will always be remembered for his consistent leadership on and off the field. In a sport with no shortage of large personalities, Jackson represents a true role model.
#ThankYouFred pic.twitter.com/72PR8Z7qvo
— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) April 18, 2018