Malik Jackson (defensive lineman)
A disruptive defensive force who rose from a fifth-round draft pick to a Super Bowl hero, scoring a pivotal touchdown in the championship game.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: January 11·Millennials
Biography
Malik Jackson's NFL narrative is a classic tale of a player outperforming expectations. Drafted in the fifth round by the Denver Broncos, he wasn't heralded as a star, but his explosive first step and relentless motor quickly made him indispensable on a historically great defense. His career-defining moment came in Super Bowl 50, when he pounced on a fumble in the end zone, scoring the game's first points and setting the tone for Denver's victory. That play earned him a major contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he made a Pro Bowl and anchored a defense that nearly reached the Super Bowl. Jackson's decade-long career, which included stops in Philadelphia and Cleveland, was built on consistent interior pressure and a knack for being in the right place for game-changing plays.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Malik was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Malik Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Malik's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
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
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recovered a fumble for a touchdown in Super Bowl 50, helping the Denver Broncos defeat the Carolina Panthers.
- Earned Pro Bowl honors in 2017 as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Recorded a career-high 8.0 sacks during the 2017 season with the Jaguars.
Did You Know?
He played college football at the University of Tennessee after transferring from the University of Southern California.
His brother, Gabe Jackson, also played in the NFL as an offensive guard.
He appeared in an episode of the HBO series 'Ballers' playing himself.
“I just put my head down and worked, and it turned out pretty good for me.”
