Coming back from a two-game suspension, Denver Broncos safety Kareem Jackson vowed to change the way he plays, but that promise proved empty after he delivered a dirty hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs.
Jackson launched himself into Dobbs on Sunday Night Football on November 19 and was not penalized on the play despite clear helmet-to-helmet contact. To make matters worse, NBC rules analyst, and former official, Terry McAulay, openly disagreed with the non-call on-air.
“He lowers his head and makes forcible contact to the opponent,” McAulay said on the broadcast as the replay was shown, per Yahoo Sports. “You see, his head is down. This should have been a 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness.”
The play resulted in a fumble the Broncos recovered. Dobbs went to the medical tent after the hit but was cleared to play the rest of the game.
The league has fined Jackson four times for unnecessary roughness this season to the tune of $90,000 — and he’s likely to receive another FedEx envelope to arrive at his doorstep this week following the Broncos’ 21-20 victory over the Vikings.
“I guess so,’’ Jackson said of whether he would change the way he plays, per the Denver Gazette. “I mean, for me as a player, as an instinctive player, I’m going to always be in those (bang-bang tackling) situations because my preparation and my instincts are going to put me in those situations.
NFL fans took to social media to express their grievances with Jackson’s hit, many of whom have called for his suspension.
NFL Fans React to Kareem Jackson’s Dirty Hit on Vikings QB Josh Dobbs
Pro Football Focus senior analyst Sam Monson led the charge on X (formerly Twitter), resharing the video and arguing that, despite Jackson’s words, the Broncos safety has not changed.
“Kareem Jackson has been fined, ejected and suspended this season for lowering his head and launching,” Monson wrote. “Guy’s learned nothing. This is dangerous to both himself and who he’s targeting.”
A Broncos fan shared his feelings on having Jackson on the team.
“Can Kareem Jackson be somebody else’s problem? I hate dirty players,” the fan wrote. “If he wasn’t in blue and orange you’d hate him.”
Altitude Sports radio host Darren “D-Mac” McKee openly admitted Jackson was lucky for not being flagged on the hit.
“Jackson is VERY lucky he wasn’t flagged on that fumble hit. Absolutely led with his helmet,” Mckee wrote.
Former Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert even called out Jackson for his consistently dirty play.
“Where is the unsportsmanlike / unnecessary roughness on Kareem Jackson,” Benkert wrote. “I’m tired of watching his a** do that to people every single week.”
Jackson, 36, is a veteran player who did get his start in the NFL before player health and safety became a forefront issue. One fan signaled Jackson is one of the last relics of that era.
Another fan pulled out the infamous Nick Saban “I’m not going to, so quit asking” quote and applied it to the NFL asking Jackson to stop lowering his head.
Time will tell what repercussions Jackson will face for his latest misstep that occurred on national television — but, certainly, it did not go unmissed.
