Bobby Jackson (American football coach)
| Position: | Quarterback, running back |
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| Personal information | |
| Date of birth: | February 16, 1940 |
| Place of birth: | Forsyth, Georgia |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Forsyth (GA) Persons |
| College: | South Georgia, Howard |
| Career history | |
| As coach: | |
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| Coaching stats at PFR | |
Robert Lanier Jackson (born February 16, 1940) is an American former football coach and college player who was a professional assistant coach in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons, including three as an offensive coordinator. In his NFL tenure, Jackson coached five Pro Bowl running backs, including at least one in three of his five stops where he has tutored the running backs. The list consists of Pro Football Hall of Fame player Marshall Faulk (St. Louis Rams 2000–02), Stephen Davis (Washington Redskins 1999), Terry Allen (Washington Redskins 1996), Brian Mitchell (Washington Redskins, 1995), and Marion Butts (San Diego Chargers, 1990–91).
Jackson was born and raised on a small rural farm in Forsyth, Georgia. He was raised by his parents Anice Rocquemore and Roy Henry Jackson, who was a veteran of World War I that was wounded in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive. Jackson's first experience with football would shape his life. In the 7th Grade he tried out for football and after the 3rd day, the football coach, in front of the team, stripped Jackson's uniform off him on the practice field and gave it to a bigger kid. Jackson was humiliated and worked on his running skills and tried out again in the 9th Grade and soon became the starting running back. Jackson attended and played high school football at Mary Persons High School. He played college football at South Georgia College in 1958, under legendary Florida State University head coach Bobby Bowden and assistant coach Vince Gibson. In 1959, Bowden was offered the head football coaching job at Samford and Jackson was one of 15 players that followed Bowden to Birmingham, Alabama. From 1959 to 1962, Jackson was starter on all sides of the Howard football team and was one of the last of the 60 Minute Men (football players who played the entire 60 minutes of the football game). On offense, he was the running back, on the defense as a defensive back, and was on the punt and kickoff return teams. While at Howard, Jackson was a two-time small college All-American running back. In numerous interviews, Bowden has said that Jackson was the best all around player that he ever coached. From 1959 to 1962, Jackson had 287 rushing attempts for 2,084 yards, 27 touchdowns and 7.3 yards per carry for his career (Stamford University record for highest yards per carry for a career) . During the 1960 season, Jackson had 73 rushing attempts for 703 yards for 9.6 yards per carry. In 1961, he had 78 rushing attempts for 653 yards for 8.4 yards per carry. Jackson still holds the record for the longest run from scrimmage, 90 yards against Troy State in 1961. From 1959 to 1962, the Howard football team went 31-6, and received bowl bids to Textile Bowl and the Golden Isle Bowl. While at Howard University, Jackson met his wife Nancy Eleanor Howard. Nancy Howard was the reigning Howard University Beauty Queen at the time and when Jackson decided he wanted a date with her, Jackson and 4 other football players kidnapped Nancy Howard as she was walking with her boyfriend on campus. Nancy Howard was held until she agreed to go on a date with Jackson and has been with him ever since. After graduating from Howard University with a bachelor's degree physical education, Jackson went on to earn his master's degree in physical education from Peabody College, now a part of Vanderbilt University, in Nashville, Tennessee. From 1963 to 1964, Jackson coached football and track at Shades Valley High School in Irondale, Alabama.
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