Leroy Jackson (born December 8, 1939) is a former
American football halfback in the
National Football League for the
Washington Redskins. He played
college football
College football (french: Football universitaire) refers to gridiron football played by teams of student athletes. It was through college football play that American football rules first gained popularity in the United States.
Unlike most ...
at
Western Illinois University and is a member of the school's athletic Hall of Fame.
On December 8, 1962, his 23rd birthday, Jackson caught an 85-yard touchdown pass for the Redskins from quarterback
Norm Snead
Norman Bailey Snead (born July 31, 1939) is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers. He played coll ...
in a 34–21 loss to the
Baltimore Colts
The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team that played in Baltimore from its founding in 1953 to 1984. The team now plays in Indianapolis, as the Indianapolis Colts. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breed ...
. He had been a first-round NFL draft pick of the Cleveland Browns, the 11th player selected in the 1962 draft. Jackson, along with Bobby Mitchell, was traded by the Browns to the Washington Redskins in exchange for Ernie Davis in 1962.
Jackson was the Illinois state champion in the 100-yard dash three years in a row for
Bloom High School from 1956–58.
1939 births
Living people
American football running backs
People from Chicago Heights, Illinois
Players of American football from Illinois
Sportspeople from Cook County, Illinois
Washington Redskins players
Western Illinois Leathernecks football players
Irons family (American football)
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