Is this Jackson State's next head football coach?
Harold Jackson, a five-time All-Pro wide receiver and 10-year National Football League coaching veteran, is in his third season as Baylor's wide receivers coach.
In his first year on the BU sideline, Jackson coached All-Big 12 performer Robert Quiroga, who snagged a team-high 42 receptions for 490 yards and four scores, and averaged 31.4 yards on 14 kickoff returns. A year later, Dominique Zeigler led the Bears in receptions (55) en route to honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition by the league's coaches.
Jackson came to Baylor after spending two seasons as Guy Morriss' receivers coach at Kentucky. In his first year at UK, wideout Derek Abney became a first-team All-Southeastern Conference performer, a feat he repeated in 2002 when he also earned first-team All-America honors. Jackson also oversaw the development of Aaron Boone and Tommy Cook, who blossomed as reliable contributors during the 2001 campaign.
He coached receivers for 10 years in the NFL with New England (1985-89), Tampa Bay (1992-93) and New Orleans (1997-99). In his first NFL season as a coach, the Patriots won the AFC championship and played in the 1986 Super Bowl. It was at New England where Jackson became acquainted with Morriss, who played for the Patriots from 1984-87 and was an assistant coach with the organization in 1988-89.
From New England, Jackson served as an assistant coach at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N.C., during the 1990 season. In 1991, he was the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Night of the Arena Football League before returning to the NFL at Tampa Bay.
Following his two-year coaching stint with Tampa Bay, Jackson spent the 1994 season as the head coach at Virginia Union College in Richmond, Va. He then served as head coach for two seasons (1995-96) at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., where he helped revive a football program that had been defunct for 29 years, before joining the Saints' staff.
Jackson enjoyed a sterling 16-year NFL playing career with the Los Angeles Rams (1968, 1973-77), Philadelphia Eagles (1969-72), New England Patriots (1978-81), Minnesota Vikings (1982) and Seattle Seahawks (1983). While with the Eagles, one of his teammates was Baylor defensive coordinator Bill Bradley. All-told, Jackson played on eight playoff teams as a pro. His career totals include 579 receptions for 10,372 yards and 76 touchdowns. Jackson had 29 career 100-yard games and three 1,000-yard seasons. He ranks 16th in league history in receiving yardage. Jackson led the NFL in receptions in 1972 and in receiving yardage in both 1969 and 1972.
A native of Hattiesburg, Miss., Jackson played his collegiate football at Jackson State University and is a member of both the Mississippi and JSU Sports Hall of Fames. A 1968 JSU graduate, his hometown of Hattiesburg held Harold Jackson Day and presented him with a key to the city. Over the years, he has been active as a speaker for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Hattiesburg Department of Recreation.
Harold and his wife, Carolyn, have one son, Brandon.
THE JACKSON FILE
Personal
Born: Jan. 6, 1947
Birthplace: Hattiesburg, Miss.
Wife: Carolyn
Children: Brandon
Playing Experience
1962-1964: Rowan H.S. (Hattiesburg, Miss.), WR
1964-1967: Jackson State, WR (JSU Sports Hall of Fame)
1968: Los Angeles Rams, WR
1969-72: Philadelphia Eagles, WR (All-Pro 1969 & 1972)
1973-77: Los Angeles Rams, WR (All-Pro 1973, 1975 & 1977)
1978-81: New England Patriots, WR
1982: Minnesota Vikings, WR
1983: Seattle Seahawks, WR
Coaching Experience
1985-89: New England (NFL), wide receivers
1990: North Carolina Central, offensive assistant
1991: New Orleans (Arena), offensive assistant
1992-93: Tampa Bay (NFL), wide receivers
1994: Virginia Union, head coach
1995-96: Benedict College, head coach
1997-99: New Orleans (NFL), wide recievers
2001-02: Kentucky, wide receivers
2003-05: Baylor, wide receivers
Postseason Experience
1973 NFL Playoffs (player)
1974 NFL Playoffs (player), NFC Championship Game
1975 NFL Playoffs (player)
1976 NFL Playoffs (player), NFC Championship Game
1977 NFL Playoffs (player)
1978 NFL Playoffs (player)
1982 NFL Playoffs (player)
1983 NFL Playoffs (player)
1985 NFL Playoffs (coach), Super Bowl XX
1986 NFL Playoffs (coach)