Adrian Peterson, Frank Gore, Maurice Jones-Drew…the list goes on and on, but these three talented running backs, along with every other active player in the NFL, can’t Rams running back Steven Jackson, one of the most underrated players of the past decade, in one category.
The 28 year old Jackson from Oregon State is first among active players in rushing yards, and is the only current player to top the 10,000 yard mark, a feat that is even more challenging in today’s NFL that is pass-heavy and frequently features running-back-by-committee.
Jackson accomplished this mark on December 16th at home against the Vikings, but just as throughout almost his entire career, Jackson got hardly any national publicity for the achievement as Adrian Peterson’s quest for the single season rushing record took center stage.
“I never forget that regardless if the praise comes, I’ve had great success,” Jackson said in his postgame comments. The self-less Jackson was also quick to credit others for helping him achieve the goal, which reveals even more about who he is as a person. “(The accomplishment) just means I’ve been blessed by God to be durable in this league and to go out there and just be effective when I had the chance,” he said.
The milestone is impressive, putting him in the top 27 all time with no signs of him slowing down yet. But despite his on field accomplishments, his off the field efforts are perhaps even more eye popping. The list of his work in the community is extensive and, just like his rushing stats, usually go unnoticed.
It starts with his own foundation, The Steven Jackson Foundation, which has been just as much a part of his game throughout his career as his stiff arm. The goal of the foundation is to promote strong educational values and healthy living among today’s youth. Initiatives to raise money have included donating $1,000 to the Foundation for every touchdown he scored in 2006, as well as hosting a three-day charity event to benefit his foundation and the Easter Seals of Southern Nevada. The event includes a youth football camp, a celebrity golf tournament, and a charity auction and fashion show.
While the foundation is Jackson’s main charitable focus, the list of organizations he has helped extends far from there. As the message of his foundation states, Jackson is striving for kids to eat healthy and exercise, which is why he is also a big advocate for the NFL Play 60 campaign, which encourages kids to eat right as well as go outside and participate in activities for at least 60 minutes a day.
In addition to that, Jackson has done a lot for promoting breast cancer awareness, which includes contributing and guest appearing at the 2006 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure held in St. Louis. The race consisted of over 64,000 participants, and after Jackson had a chance to meet some of the runners, he was very emotional when addressing the crowd. “The greatest day of my life was the day I was drafted by the St. Louis Rams,” Jackson told the survivors. “But, I think I’m going to have to replace that with today.”
One charity that hit home for Jackson was the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas, which is Steven’s hometown. The food bank supports the mission of Jackson’s foundation, which is helping kids to stay healthy, a big part of which is maintaining a healthy diet. Jackson explained his work back in 2008, when he started work with the charity, saying:
“As a father and a fellow Las Vegan, I think we can all agree that even one child going hungry in our community is one too many. I found a unique way that I can help, and I challenge everyone else to do the same. This season, for each touchdown I score, I will donate $2,000 to the Three Square BackPack for Kids Program.”
Jackson went on to score 8 total touchdowns in twelve games in 2008.
Even as Jackson hits his ninth year in the league, his focus remains on helping children. That is why on Monday December 17th, Jackson spent his only off day of the week flying to Las Vegas to spread the holiday cheer with kids. Steven, along with R&B star Ne-Yo, who is also from Las Vegas, signed autographs, posed for pictures and gave out toys, clothing, electronics and bicycles to underprivileged youth and foster care children.
While athletes sometimes get the reputation of not thinking beyond themselves, Jackson is just one example of successful NFL athletes focused on giving back to the communities they grew up in and live in. Just as he keeps quietly grinding out yards on the field week after week, he also keeps grinding away through his charitable foundation to make a difference in the lives of kids.
