Two suspensions in 2023 might have kept safety Kareem Jackson from becoming the sixth player from an Alabama high school or college to start 200 NFL regular-season games.
Jackson missed six games last season while serving NFL-imposed penalties.
On Oct. 23, the NFL suspended Jackson for four games for a hit in the Denver Broncos’ 19-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers the previous day. On the third snap of the fourth quarter, Jackson brought down Packers tight end Luke Musgrave with what was judged a helmet-to-helmet hit at the end of an 18-yard reception. Jackson was penalized for unnecessary roughness and disqualified from further participation.
Jackson appealed the suspension to the hearing officers jointly appointed and compensated by the NFL and NFL Players Association to decide appeals of on-field player discipline, and Derrick Brooks reduced the suspension to two games.
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On Nov. 20, the NFL suspended Jackson for four games for unnecessary roughness for his hit on Minnesota Vikings quarterback Josh Dobbs on the third snap of the Broncos’ 21-20 victory the previous day. Denver recovered Dobbs’ fumble on the Vikings 30-yard line and got to keep it since no penalty was called.
Jackson appealed the suspension, but the NFL’s decision was upheld this time.
Before and between the suspensions, Jackson started his eight games with Denver. But when he returned from his second suspension, Jackson sat for a game before being waived. The Houston Texans claimed the defensive back, but Jackson played a reserve role with his new team.
Jackson missed seven games in 2023, and he was seven starts short of 200 when the season ended. With training camps open throughout the NFL over the next week, Jackson remains a free agent for the 2024 season.
While 18 players from Alabama high schools and colleges have played in at least 200 NFL regular-season games, only five have started at least 200.
The player from an Alabama high school or college with the most NFL regular-season starts is quarterback Philip Rivers. Rivers started 240 NFL regular-season games, and he did so consecutively.
Currently the football coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Rivers started every game for 15 consecutive seasons from 2006 through 2020 – the first 14 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and the final campaign with the Indianapolis Colts.
Tied for 19th in NFL history for regular-season starts, Rivers is tied with Mick Tingelhoff for the third-longest starting streak, trailing Brett Favre’s 297 starts and Jim Marshall’s 270.
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The 10 players with Alabama football roots who have started the most NFL regular-season games include:
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers passes during an NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 20, 2009, in San Diego.(AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
1. Philip Rivers, Athens High School: 240 starts
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers 2004-2019, Indianapolis Colts 2020: The quarterback played in relief in two games in each of his first two NFL seasons as Drew Brees’ backup, then moved into the lineup to open 2006, the first of his eight Pro Bowl campaigns.
2. Takeo Spikes, Auburn: 215 starts
Cincinnati Bengals 1998-2002, Buffalo Bills 2003-2006, Philadelphia Eagles 2007, San Francisco 49ers 2008-2010, San Diego Chargers 2011-2012: The inside linebacker started in all but four of his 219 games. Spikes was an All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler twice.
3. Wayne Gandy, Auburn: 205 starts
Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams 1994-1998, Pittsburgh Steelers 1999-2002, New Orleans Saints 2003-2005, Atlanta Falcons 2006-2008: The offensive tackle didn’t start in seven games in his rookie season and seven games in his final season, but he started every game he played in the 13 seasons in between.
4. Cornelius Bennett, Ensley High School in Birmingham, Alabama: 204 starts
Buffalo Bills 1987-1995, Atlanta Falcons 1996-1998, Indianapolis Colts 1999-2000: The outside linebacker played in only two games in which he was not a starter – one in his first season and one in his last. Bennett was a first-team All-Pro once and a Pro Bowler five times.
5. Terrell Owens, Benjamin Russell High School in Alexander City: 201 starts
San Francisco 49ers 1996-2003, Philadelphia Eagles 2004-2005, Dallas Cowboys 2006-2008, Buffalo Bills 2009, Cincinnati Bengals 2010: The wide receiver ranks third in receiving yards, third in touchdown receptions and eighth in receptions in NFL history. He was a five-time All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Karlos Dansby, Woodlawn High School in Birmingham, Auburn: 193 starts
Arizona Cardinals 2004-2009, 2013, 2017, Miami Dolphins 2010-2012, Cleveland Browns 2014-2015, Cincinnati Bengals 2016: The linebacker started at least 10 games in 13 of his 14 seasons, with the exception coming in his lone year with the Bengals, when he started seven times in 16 games.
6. Kareem Jackson, Alabama: 193 starts
Houston Texans 2010-2018, 2023, Denver Broncos 2019-2023: A cornerback for the first nine seasons of his career with the Texans, Jackson made the switch to strong safety when he joined the Broncos in 2019.
8. Ozzie Newsome, Colbert County High School, Alabama: 191 starts
Cleveland Browns 1978-1990: The tight end started every game but one in his first 10 NFL seasons and wound up starting all but seven in his career. Newsome was a three-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
9. Willie Anderson, Vigor High School in Prichard, Auburn: 184 starts
Cincinnati Bengals 1996-2007, Baltimore Ravens 2008: In a 10-season stretch from 1997 through 2006, the Bengals played only two games without Anderson in the lineup at right offensive tackle (when he was injured in 1999). Anderson was an All-Pro three times and Pro Bowler four times.
10. John Hannah, Albertville High School, Alabama: 183 starts
New England Patriots 1973-1985: Hannah started every game of his NFL career at left guard. He missed five games because of injury and three due to a contract impasse during his 13 seasons. Hannah was a first-team All-Pro seven times and a Pro Bowler nine times and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @AMarkG1.