Eddie Jackson Talks NFL Future, Bears, Vic Fangio, Call of Duty and More

As an NFL free agent for the first time in his career, All-Pro safety Eddie Jackson has more downtime than usual right now.

The 31-year-old ex-Bears star fills some of it with video games, namely Call of Duty, NBA 2K and NCAA Football. 

Jackson recently sat down with VideoGamer for a wide-ranging Q&A, hitting on his NFL future, the Bears’ strong start, his ill-fated Ravens stint, the team Jackson would sign with “in a heartbeat,” if Madden ratings are widely-discussed in the locker room, plus much more.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

VideoGamer: What’s up, Eddie. What’s your day-to-day life like right now? How are things going?

Eddie Jackson: “Things have been going good, man. Still been training. I’ve started doing this podcast ‘Off The Clock’ with my former teammate Josh Bellamy from the Bears. And just enjoying my family. Being a dad.”

VG: How big of a gamer are you?

EJ: “I’ve actually just started to pick it up, for real. I’m in love with Call of Duty. I’m a Call of Duty head. I’m a C.O.D.-head. I just picked up the 2K. I play a little NCAA, too. And Madden. Those are the games of choice. I’m not a super-duper huge gamer, but I do like playing. It’s a good pastime for me. Especially right now. I’ve got time after my workout in the morning, so I’ll eat and then jump on a game for a couple hours. I’m definitely picking it up.”

VG: What’s it like being in the locker room when Madden ratings are released? Is there a lot of conversation about where guys land?

EJ: “Early on it was like, ‘They’ve got me rated a 70? What?’ As players we definitely do pay attention to it. But we don’t even know how they are rating some of us. So you don’t pay too much attention to is, but playing with yourself on a game is definitely cool. I wasn’t really playing the game too much, especially when I was in the league. With football, I was like, ‘My life is football all-around. When I go home, I’m already watching a bunch of film. I don’t want to sit up here and play football.’ I’d go play Call of Duty or something. But, yeah, the ratings definitely get talked about in the locker room. Especially the young guys.”

Q: Would you want to play this year if the right situation presents itself? 

EJ: “I’m staying ready and open to answering that call. There’s no real team, but it would need to make sense for both sides, of course, being this late in my career. I do miss football. It’s definitely different being on a schedule for so much of your life, and now there is so much time. It’s like, ‘What do I do today?’ Now I’ve been enjoying my kids, but I’m open to (a return). I love competing, love being out there. There is nothing like it. Being away shows you how much you miss the game. So, yeah, if the right situation presents itself, I’d take an interest in that, for sure.”

VG: At this point in your career do you feel like you could be a plug-and-play guy?

EJ: “Oh, 1,000 percent. That’s the thing about this league. Most of the systems are very similar. Me having a lot of different coordinators with the Bears, I experienced a lot of systems and schemes. The NFL is all under a tree. Everyone comes from this system, this coach. There’s a lot of similarities. So I would definitely not a lose a step and be able to get right into it.”

VG: What do you think of the job Ben Johnson has done thus far, and what do you think about the Bears’ trajectory?

EJ: “I love what they are doing right now. Four-game win streak, and the last time was 2018, when we were having that type of year on defense. Ben Johnson, I feel like what he brought from the Lions and the coach (Dan Campbell) he was under: he brought that mindset and that culture. That’s the biggest challenge the Bears were facing.

“I watch them every week. I spent seven years there and now I’m a huge fan. I love seeing my young guys coming up – (Jaquan) Brisker, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, Jaylon Johnson – and I love watching KB (Kevin Byard) getting the turnovers. I love the trajectory of where they’re headed and I definitely love what Ben Johnson is building over there. It’s exciting, and I understand Bears fans now. It’s like, ‘When you guys win, you don’t understand how it makes us feel.’ Now that I’m on the other side of it watching, I like it. I feel good. I’m a proud alumni.”

VG: They lead the league in takeaways, which was always a big part of your game. Do you appreciate that?

EJ: “Oh, I love that they’re doing that. I just wish they could score more touchdowns on defense. Get these balls and go score, man. The guys are cool with the interception. I thought (Nahson Wright) was going to return it for a touchdown last week. I wanted to see that. But man I love what they are doing defensively right now. A lot of people counted them out. I played with a lot of those guys. I’m the OG, so watching Brisk and them guys doing their thing, it’s definitely special.”

VG: Brisker has always been a talented guy but has had the concussion issues. Did you worry that it could end his career early, and how nice it is to see him staying healthy and playing well? 

EJ: “I used to call him Mega Shark, and I would explain to him, not to tone it down, but step back a little bit with the reckless hits. You want to be known for that play-style, which he is, but (it’s scary) when it’s the brain, and you have that many concussions. 

“He’s a baller and he’s a huge part of that defense. To see him go out there and do his thing, I’m loving it. I’m proud.”

VG: Have you noticed him trying to walk that line between being aggressive but not reckless?

EJ: “Most definitely. He’s been more cautious. But bro, it’s hard to make that thinking process within a millisecond. You’re literally making that decision in a millisecond. It’s hard. It can slow your play down, and I feel like that happened to him earlier this season. You could see now he’s like, ‘Forget that. I’m back to doing what I’m doing.’ But he’s just trying to keep his head out of those situations.’ He’s definitely been taking the initiative to switch it up but still play at a high level.”

VG: What are your thoughts on Caleb Williams and the way he’s playing right now?

EJ: “I’m enjoying Caleb Williams. I feel like he still has a lot of growing and building to do, but they are headed in the right direction. He’s very talented. I love that he can make any throw on the field, and I love that he doesn’t try to do too much. In Chicago, there is so much pressure put on the quarterbacks. I’m loving that he’s blocking it out. He hasn’t put up the crazy numbers, but as long as he wins.”

VG: How did you feel about your stint in Baltimore last year? Any saltiness because it didn’t work out?

EJ: “Nah, man. A lot of people really don’t know what I went through in Baltimore. I’m not saying it’s anyone’s fault, but it just wasn’t what I was used to as a player. I was in Chicago and I came in as a fourth-rounder, so I felt like I earned my spot. Going there, man, it was different. It’s the Ravens Way. That’s a real statement. I think Jaire Alexander can contest to this. When they say the Ravens Way, it’s the Ravens Way. With everything.

“Me coming from the Bears and being one of the leaders of the team, there were certain things that were different in the way you were treated. Things worked out that I didn’t really agree to. I’m a competitor, and I want to play. If a guy is not playing, as a competitor, I’m going to feel a certain way. I’m not going to act so jolly, so happy that I’m not playing. 

“But the feelings I have for Baltimore, I have a lot of respect for (John Harbaugh). Growing up watching him, and he coached one of my favorite players growing up in Ed Reed, and Ray Lewis. There was so much respect there, and then me being in the league for so much time, I know the business part of it. And with the GM, they very transparent and I loved that. And then the players – LJ (Lamar Jackson) is from my way. I’ve been watching him since he was little. Zay Flowers, that’s basically my cousin. Staying the night at his house and seeing him run around as X-Men as a 7- or 8-year-old. Derrick Henry I played with. Marlon Humphrey. It’s a love thing with Baltimore.”

VG: You probably had such high hopes going into it, too, like you were going to win a Super Bowl with those guys.

EJ: “Man, I’m like, ‘Yo, this is the dream team.’ Even this year I hit my agent like, ‘Let’s try to get a reunion in Baltimore.’ I said that early on in the season. They have all the talent to do what needs to be done, and this window is shrinking. 

“You’ve got to get it done, and I’m such a huge fan of LJ. All these things that have been said about LJ: Can he get over the hump? It’s been showing to be true, so the time to do it is right now. When I went down there, I was like. ‘Oh this is it. I want to spend my last few years here. Whatever I got left in the tank, I want it to be here.’ It just didn’t work out that way, but I still hope they get it done. I really want to see LJ do it. Derrick Henry. They are first-ballot Hall of Famers, and you’ve got to top it off with a Super Bowl.”

VG: Right now Baltimore is allowing the most points per game in the NFL. DId you see cracks in the foundation when you were there, or does it surprise you?

EJ: “I’m definitely surprised. I did not expect it to go like this for the back-end. Honestly, from my perspective, there are a lot of guys going in and out. Like with me and A’Darius (Washington) last year, I’d go in and play two series, he’d come in and play two or three series. In football, a lot of it is off feel. You have to get in a groove, so when you put guys in and snatch guys out, I feel like that takes away from the chemistry on the back end.

“It’s about trying to settle everyone down, and the guys that are going to be out there, getting them those repetitions. Let them build that chemistry with the guys on the back end, instead of so many rotating pieces. That’s the only thing I feel like is going on with Baltimore.

“I don’t think it’s Zach Orr. I think Zach Orr is a good defensive coordinator. He has some holes in his defense, but a lot of it is the chemistry on the back end, guys being comfortable with each other. It’s a feeling. Marlon (Humphrey) might want to play his zone from 5-10, while this guy might play his zone from 7-12 yards. An inch in a football game is a long way.”

VG: And if you’re passing off guys in the secondary, there is a lot of communication that needs to be had.

EJ: “Exactly. This guy might take it high and this guy might play it a little lower. Things like that, fans don’t really pay attention to, but it plays a huge role in the game. It’s called a game of inches, and that’s huge. That’s what I think is really going on. But I feel like when they get LJ back, Roquan back, Kyle Van Noy back to 100 percent healthy, things will start taking a good turn for them in that back end. 

“One thing about Harbs. He’s going to get to the bottom of it.”

VG: What stood out about John Harbaugh when you got there? Was he super attention to detail, or is it more about his track record?

EJ: “It’s both. What he’s done in his past, with however many Super Bowls. And from me being there last year, he’s a guy that’s very involved. He trusts his coaches, but he’s still involved and he loves the feedback from his players. That’s why I say that I know Harbs is going to do his best to get to the bottom of it. 

“And knowing Z.O., a former player, he’s feeling everything right now. He’s still living in that player feel, the competitiveness. I feel like they have a good group of coaches. They just need to get to the bottom of what’s going on.”

VG: This Harbaugh-Ravens group has been awesome, though they’ve never made a Super Bowl with Lamar. Andy Reid went through the same thing in Philly with Donovan McNabb and eventually got fired, but we see what he’s doing now with KC. It’s not like there’s a ton of chatter, but do you think it’s foolish to talk about potentially finding a fresh coach in Baltimore?

EJ: “Being on this side of it now, like when I’m watching Alabama, the frustration, the emotions flare up and run wild. So I can get why people feel that, but you’ve got one of the best coaches in the league. I feel like it’s so far-fetched to bring in a coach other than Harbaugh. That would be crazy for the organization to do. You don’t know what the next coach is bringing to the table. At least with Harbs, you know what you get, who you get, and what he’s built. It’s proof in the pudding. 

“It’s slimming down to get over the hump and win the Super Bowl, because these teams don’t stay together forever. It’s a revolving door. So I understand it as a fan and from an outside perspective, but as a player, it’s crazy to say you’d get rid of a coach like Harbaugh, who one day might be a Hall of Fame coach.”

VG: Vic Fangio was in Chicago when you were drafted. How instrumental was he in setting you up for success early on with the Bears?

EJ: “Oh, 1,000 percent. I was always tell people: Vic Fangio was the closest thing I’ve seen to Nick Saban as far as scouting a team. Hand-written notes, and really dissecting a team inside and out. The situation he put me in, it shows. He did it with me, Justin Simmons, Ceedy Deuce (Chauncey Gardner-Johnson). His system works, especially for safeties. There’s a lot of respect, and a lot of thank yous to Vic for what I was able to do early in my career. A lot of that stuff was a testament to his scheme, and the way he put me in position to make plays. He trusted me a lot.

“I appreciate Vic more than you know, and I actually tried to get over there. I sent Vic a text, like, ‘Yo, Coach, I’m free. Come on, let’s do it.‘ He said, ‘OK, I’ll let Howie (Roseman) know.’ It didn’t work out, but who knows what the future holds?”

VG: That was going to be my next question. You wanted to have the dream ending with the Ravens last year, but how about Philly now? You know Vic, they’re the defending champions, and it feels like you’d be on the short-list for in-season help since you know the defense so well.

EJ: “That would be a dream scenario. I wanted to actually go to Philly last year. That’s the crazy part that people don’t know. I really wanted to go to Philly, but we couldn’t come to the right terms. But, man, I would love to get a reunion with Vic. That system right there, I tell every defensive back I’ve ever played with, if you have a good front – like we had in Chicago in 2018 and what Philly has now – you’re back there just picking cherries off a tree. I’ve been around four or five defensive coordinators, and I’ve still never seen anyone do it like Vic does. I’d go there in a heartbeat.”

VG: Some guys that have gotten paid don’t want to get off the couch for less than $5 million or whatever. Is money a factor at this point, or would you play for the minimum?

EJ: “I love football, and I’ve made a lot of money. It’s really not a money thing. It’s more about the right situation where I can go out and actually play. That’s what it’s more about. I want an opportunity to actually go out on the field and play. Because I can cheerlead from home. I don’t have to stand on the sideline out of the uniform and cheer for the team when I can do that from my couch with my kids. That’s what it’s more about for me. Do I really get a chance to contribute to this team, and play? Money’s always good, but I’ve made some money. So it’s about the opportunity, for sure.”

VG: Did you go back to Alabama this weekend? I read that they were honoring the 2015 championship team.

EJ: “Yeah, they honored us before the game and they put our families in the suites. It was a full circle moment. Seeing guys I haven’t seen in years. We’re all like, ‘Yo, it’s been 10 years. That’s a long time.’ But just seeing all the guys and catching up with them, sharing memories, it was a full circle moment. I was able to take my fiancee and my daughter out there. We met at Alabama, so it was really fun. I’ve got to get back out there more, for sure.”

VG: Nick Saban had it rolling when you were there, and through his retirement. Last year was a little step back, and then they lost the opener, but now things look promising. How do you feel about Kalen DeBoer and the trajectory of the program post-Saban?

EJ: “He’s doing a pretty good job, for sure. At first I wanted him to be more tough on the guys to reach the standard. But man, it’s hard to fill the shoes of Nick Saban. We’re talking about a first-ballot Hall of Famer. The guy had a statue of himself in front of the stadium while he was still coaching. The field is named after him while he’s still alive. So it’s hard to come in and fill Nick Saban’s shoes, whoever that coach was. The thing that Nick Saban was so good at was creating a standard. So we know the system works. 

“But I love what they’ve been doing after that loss to Florida State. Ty Simpson. My boy is doing his thing, looking great. I’m glad Ryan Williams got back this week. He’s been putting some balls on the ground, but that’s a part of it. 

“So they are looking good, but I won’t say it’s to the standard of what I know they can be, just being a former player. Like, the runs they gave up against Tennessee. If we gave up them runs, Ryan Anderson, Reuben Foster, Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, A’Shawn Robinson, those boys would be over there having a fit. I’m talking about, it would be on fire on the sidelines giving up some of those runs. That’s where I need the defense to turn up a little bit. More physicality, stopping the run, getting to the quarterback. They need that sense of urgency. I’m loving what I’m seeing right now, but there’s some work to be done, for sure.”

VG: They’ve got a high standard to reach when you look at all the defensive players that have come through Alabama.

EJ: “Man, the standard is so high, that’s why they leave the posters up around the stadium, so you can see what came before you. When we came, it was Rolando (McClain), C.J. Mosley, Dee Milner, all of them guys. They leave them up so you can see, like, yo, this is what we produce. You’ve got to live up to it.”

VG: Did you know much about Ty Simpson heading into the season? Obviously he’s been fantastic.

EJ: “I didn’t know too much about him. I was talking to Ha Ha (Clinton-Dix), and Ha Ha was telling me good things about him. But seeing his poise, he’s acting like he’s been there before. To have a confident quarterback playing at that level right now, we know that’s very dangerous. Especially having the weapons he has around him. But him handling everything so calmly, he’s playing at a very high level. And I hear the Heisman talk is starting to come into play with him. He’s hooping right now.”

VG: Did you watch the Thursday Night Game with Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco playing?

EJ: ‘The Unc Bowl!’

VG: Haha, yes, the Unc Bowl. You had your battles against Rodgers when he was with Green Bay. It seems like we’ve all been ready to close the book on him, but does he have some magic left?

EJ: “Aaron Rodgers is one of those quarterbacks that you can never count out. You can never count A-Rod out. It’s definitely different from when he was with Green Bay. People talk about the age thing, but I really don’t think it’s the age thing. It was the chemistry he had. Him with Davante Adams and those guys, they’d be on the field, and they wouldn’t give any signals. When you can look at each other and nod, and it can be three different routes, that’s special. He doesn’t have that right now, but last week, him and Joe Flacco both surprised me.”

VG: Rodgers doesn’t have the same mobility as his peak, and some of the other physical attributes are down, but the mind is sharp, and how important is that at quarterback?

EJ: “That’s what he was always best at. Dissecting coverages so he could hurry up and take that 5-yard route. He will take those 5-, 6-yard routes all day if you give them to him. It’s 70-80% of the game, that mental part. We saw Tom Brady do it for years. Like we saw on Thursday, it’s hard to count out (Rodgers) because he has that veteran mindset and that knowledge of the game. He knows coverages and how to attack them.”

VG: I wanted to ask about Justin Fields, a guy who was with you in Chicago. He got benched this weekend, but we do have Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold as success-story reclamation projects. Is there any runway left for Fields to be a potential starter in the NFL?

EJ: “Realistically with this league, we know how these things happen. Went to Pittsburgh after Chicago and had a chance there. Went to the Jets, had a chance there this year. It’s definitely running slim. I don’t know if I’d totally put him on the back-burner just yet, but something must happen quick.

“I know him, and I know it’s frustrating. We can talk about bad teams, but it’s hard to say things like that when we’ve got Jaxson Dart coming to the New York Giants and doing what he’s doing. You have all these young quarterbacks stepping into these organizations and having success immediately. So the timeframe is not quite running out, but it’s running slim. 

“And I love Justin. I feel like has all the attributes to be something special in the league given the right system. We see Baker Mayfied get cut off the Carolina Panthers, who haven’t been to the playoffs since, what, Cam Newton? Going to Tampa Bay after Tom Brady and being productive like that, becoming one of the front-runners for MVP right now? So the system plays a big part in it, but the time is definitely winding down.”

VG: Looking at Super Bowl favorites, who would be your pick at this point?

EJ: “At this point, I’m going Kansas City in the AFC. I did my top-5 and I put Pat Mahomes in there. People said, ‘Oh, you’re just going by name.’ No, I’m going by what I see. Patrick Mahomes is still Patrick Mahomes. We can’t discredit him because he has a down game or two. So Chiefs. I like the Ravens, too. I don’t see Buffalo doing it. Kansas City is definitely the favorite right now.

“In the NFC, I don’t see Detroit getting it done against the top contending teams. So I would say Philly again, maybe. If I had my Super Bowl matchup today, I’d say the Kansas Chiefs or the Baltimore Ravens against the Philadelphia Eagles. And Detroit as the alternate.”