After a decade spent in the NFL, followed by a one-year absence, Malik Jackson has decided to hang up his cleats. The former Pro Bowl defensive tackle announced on NFL Network’s Good Morning Football that he is retiring (video link). 
Jackson spent the first four years of his career with the Broncos. He was a rotational player in his rookie season, but grew into a full-time starter by the 2015 campaign, one in which he played an instrumental role in the team’s Super Bowl title. His success set him up well for free agency that offseason, and he secured a six-year, $85.5MM contract from the Jaguars.
The former fifth-rounder only wound up spending three years in Duval County, though that stretch included his most productive season in 2017, where he recorded eight sacks in the regular season and another in the playoffs. That helped power Jacksonville’s run to the AFC title game, and earned Jackson his lone Pro Bowl nod. After failing to find a trade partner, however, the Jaguars ultimately released him in 2019.
That led Jackson to the Eagles in free agency, where he spent two seasons. After being limited to only one game in 2020, the Tennessee alum rebounded to an extent the following campaign, which earned him interest on the open market. After another release, Jackson signed with the Browns in 2021, where he once again operated as a full-time starter. He was not retained following the season, however.
No team signed Jackson during the 2022 campaign, making today’s retirement announcement an unsurprising one. The 33-year-old will leave the NFL with 153 combined regular and postseason games played, 37.5 sacks, a Super Bowl ring and just over $72MM in career earnings. Rather than looking to latch onto a new team for training camp, he will turn his attention to family life.
“That was the goal. 10 to 12 years was my goal,” Jackson said when reflecting on his career. “I was able to get to a point where I was doing OK. I was doing pretty well for myself. I did enough. I have a daughter, and I need to go home and be with her and start living life.”
Thank you malik your contributions to SB50 enjoy retirement
Good career for a good player who did a lot of dirty work for some successful defenses. I thought, at the time, that Jackson’s departure would hit Denver hardest after the Super Bowl (Demarcus Ware being up there as well). He parlayed that success into a good run in Jacksonville. Jackson was effective in both the pass and run, and freed up a lot of pass rushers over the years. Hats off to him for a good career.
But I’m not wearing a hat.
Fine. Pants off, then.
Sometimes stats don’t tell you enough about a player’s contributions, particularly on the line of scrimmage.