Darrell Jackson
A sure-handed wide receiver who became the Seattle Seahawks' all-time receptions leader and a central figure in their first Super Bowl run.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American football player·Birthday: December 6·Generation X
Biography
Darrell Jackson entered the NFL as a third-round pick in 2000 and immediately established a chemistry with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck that would define the Seattle Seahawks' passing attack for the better part of a decade. Not a flashy deep threat, Jackson was instead a model of reliable route-running and clutch hands, consistently moving the chains for a franchise on the rise. His peak season came in 2004, hauling in 87 catches for over 1,200 yards. He was the leading receiver on the 2005 Seahawks team that bulldozed through the NFC to reach Super Bowl XL. Though injuries began to curtail his productivity later in his career, his name remains etched in the Seahawks record books, a testament to his steady, prolific output during the team's formative successful era.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Darrell was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Darrell Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Darrell's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the Seattle Seahawks franchise record for career receptions (441).
- Was the leading receiver for the Seahawks in their Super Bowl XL season of 2005.
- Recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons from 2003 to 2005.
- Caught 62 career touchdown passes across nine NFL seasons.
Did You Know?
He played college football at the University of Florida, catching passes from quarterback Doug Johnson.
He caught two touchdown passes in the NFC Championship Game victory that sent the Seahawks to Super Bowl XL.
His final NFL game was with the Denver Broncos in 2008.
“Just get open and the ball will find you.”
