When Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales discussed extending a competitive practice period this week, he referenced the drive of several players on the roster, including Mike Jackson.
“It just felt like football,” Canales said. “And I was like, there’s no way I’m not going to be able to look at Mike Jack, and Jaycee and Derrick. I’m not going to be able to look them in the face if I call this move-the-ball scrimmage period right now. They want to play football.”
Jaycee Horn and Derrick Brown are established names for the Panthers, both having been top-10 draft picks who received major contract extensions. Including Jackson among these foundational players is notable since he joined the team less than a year ago.
Jackson arrived in Charlotte after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks near the end of last preseason. The Panthers sent linebacker Michael Barrett to Seattle in exchange for Jackson, initially as short-term cover for an injured starter. However, Jackson quickly became a regular in the lineup and signed a new contract with Carolina during the offseason.
“I feel like a lot has changed; It just showed me to just always believe in me,” Jackson said about his journey over the past year. “Like when I got traded here, I knew I was just coming in as a filler guy because the starter got hurt. But for my thing, it was like you handed me the playbook and said, ‘Be ready with ones’ like I’m starting.
“So my whole goal was to go start the whole year, and for now it’s like, yeah, I got the contract, but to be honest, that really doesn’t mean anything because it’s all about what I did today.”
Jackson reflected on how he uses mistakes from practice as motivation: “So now it’s kind of like all right, tomorrow no passes, maybe get a pick, and then no PI,” he said with a laugh. “It’s just keep grinding, don’t worry about what happened yesterday or next week.
“Just focus on getting better today and just have fun. Because I’m getting to the point of my career where a lot of guys I came into football with aren’t playing no more. I’m closer to the end than the beginning.”
Although not considering retirement yet—he hopes for another six or seven years—Jackson recognizes he’s further along in his career: “But I’ve been playing football since I was 7,” he said. “So it’s like I know I’m getting closer to the end so just enjoying every moment.”
Last season marked significant progress for Jackson as he became a consistent starter for Carolina after stints with several NFL teams including Dallas Cowboys (who drafted him), Detroit Lions, New England Patriots (mainly on their practice squad), and Seattle Seahawks.
The Seahawks decided to trade him after drafting younger players despite Jackson starting all 17 games for them in 2022 but only four games in 2023.
With Carolina last season, Jackson started every game alongside Horn; together they broke up 30 passes—the most by any cornerback duo in the league—with Jackson responsible for 17 breakups himself.
Horn spoke highly of his teammate: “When he first came in, I thought he was in like Year 9,” Horn said. “He spent time in New England with (Bill) Belichick one of the smartest minds ever and just getting little tips and stuff from him has helped my game tremendously.
“And just the mindset that we attack every day with…we feed off each other and try to help each other get better every day so I’m definitely appreciative of him being here.”
Jackson recalled his whirlwind arrival after being traded: flying overnight from Seattle before immediately joining team activities ahead of their first preseason game against Buffalo.
“It was crazy,” he recalled. “Because I flew in got here at like 11 that night…they had flight to Buffalo…when I got there guys were working out…”
To adapt quickly between defensive systems across teams throughout his career—including differences such as color-coded plays—Jackson made flash cards using Quizlet while adjusting off-field life as well; his wife welcomed leaving Seattle’s weather behind as they relocated their family.
On field acclimation came fast too: early last season against Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams provided an example where after giving up one completion late Jackson responded immediately by intercepting Adams on next play—a moment emblematic of his approach moving forward rather than dwelling on setbacks:
“I was talking trash…gave up pass…he was talking trash back…” Jackson recounted before describing how experience taught him resilience: “…just relax and go play make it fun.”
This attitude has helped establish stability—and respect—for Mike Jackson within Carolina’s defense after years spent searching for such footing elsewhere.
