Football
- Title:
- Secondary Coach
Greg Jackson enters his second season as U-M's secondary coach after spending four seasons working with defensive backs for head coach Jim Harbaugh with the San Francisco 49ers. Jackson works primarily with the safeties.
Following a 12-year NFL career, Jackson has built extensive experience in both college and professional coaching.
Jabrill Peppers earned second-team All-America honors by Sports Illustrated, Sporting News and CBS Sports and was also named the Big Ten Thompson-Randle El Freshman of the Year in 2015. The 2015 Wolverines led the Big Ten in three defensive categories -- passing defense, pass efficiency defense and third downs allowed. In total, the defense batted down 65 passes this season, including a season-high 10 passes against Michigan State and six in road games at Maryland and Penn State. The Wolverines' secondary recorded 10 interceptions on the season, and the defense pitched a shutout in three consecutive games for the first time since the 1980 season (BYU, Maryland and Northwestern). Michigan became the first FBS school to accomplish the feat since Kansas State shut out three straight opponents in 1995.
From 2011-14, Jackson guided San Francisco's defensive backs as the assistant secondary coach. Statistically he helped lead one of the best units in the NFL. In 2013, the 49ers allowed just 221.0 passing yards per game, which ranked fourth in the NFC and seventh in the NFL. The 49ers boasted the NFC's best pass defense in 2012, allowing just 200.2 passing yards per game. San Francisco's defensive backs picked off 22 pass in 2011, the second-most in the NFL.
Throughout his tenure in the Bay Area, Jackson mentored some of the league's elite defensive backs. During his four seasons, members of the 49ers secondary earned two All-Pro honors and five Pro Bowl selections. Safety Eric Reid was selected to the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2013, the first 49ers rookie safety to earn that honor in franchise history. In 2012, safeties Donte Whitner and Dashon Goldson were both chosen for the Pro Bowl, with Goldson voted a First Team All-Pro. Goldson earned his first spot in the Pro Bowl in 2011 and went with cornerback Carlos Rogers, who also earned Second Team All-Pro accolades.
Jackson spent one year with the University of Wisconsin in 2010. While in Madison he served as the nickelback/assistant linebackers coach. The Badgers finished that season ranked No. 7 with an 11-2 record.
Prior to joining Wisconsin, Jackson coached at Tulane University for three seasons in multiple roles. He began with the Green Wave as the defensive backs coach in 2007. He also coached safeties (2008) and linebackers (2009) during his time in New Orleans, and oversaw the kickoff team during his final two seasons.
Jackson spent three seasons as the defensive backs coach at Louisiana-Monroe (2004-06), where he coached All-Sun Belt Conference defensive back Chris Hass, who led the country with seven interceptions in 2004. Jackson's coaching career began at the University of Idaho where he led the defensive backs (2003).
Jackson played safety in the NFL for 12 years. His career began with the New York Giants after being selected in the third round of the draft in 1989. He played for the Giants until 1993, and then went on to play for the Philadelphia Eagles (1994-95), the New Orleans Saints (1996) and the San Diego Chargers (1997-2000). He was a teammate of head coach Jim Harbaugh during his final two years with the Chargers. During his career, Jackson played in 168 games -- starting 129 -- and registered 32 interceptions.
Jackson had a standout collegiate career for the LSU Tigers as a safety (1985-88), culminating with a first-team All-America selection in 1988. He helped the Tigers to a 36-10-2 record, including a pair of SEC championships (1986, 1988). Jackson played in a bowl game during all four seasons.
During his All-America season of 1988, Jackson led the nation with seven interceptions.
A native of Miami, Florida, Jackson earned a bachelor's degree in communications broadcasting from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 2004. He and his wife Dina have two children, Greg Jr. and Jayden, while his oldest son Jamal played football at Appalachian State University (2009-13).
COACHING EXPERIENCE
| Year | Team | Position |
| 2003 | University of Idaho | Defensive Backs |
| 2004-06 | Louisiana-Monroe | Defensive Backs |
| 2007 | Tulane | Defensive Backs |
| 2008 | Tulane | Safeties/Kickoff Team |
| 2009 | Tulane | Linebackers/Kickoff Team |
| 2010 | University of Wisconsin | Nickelback/Assistant Linebackers |
| 2011-14 | San Francisco 49ers | Assistant Secondary |
| 2015-present | University of Michigan | Secondary |
THE JACKSON FILE
Full Name: Gregory Allen Jackson
Birthdate: August 20, 1966
Wife: Shannon
Children: Jamal, Greg Jr., Jayden
Hometown: Miami, Fla.
High School: Miami-Dade
College: Fairleigh Dickinson, 2004 (B.A. Communications Broadcasting)
