The Buffalo Bills have had a spattering of all-time NFL running backs like Thurman Thomas, LeSean McCoy and O.J. Simpson, but one Mount Rushmore candidate is apparently being forgotten.
His name? Fred Jackson.
"It seemed like every year Buffalo was trying to maybe go and get somebody else, but it was always Fred Jackson," NFL vet Jason McCourty said while ranking his top-five forgotten running backs during his playing days.
Jackson spent eight seasons in Buffalo, tallying 5,646 rushing yards, 2,640 receiving yards and 37 all-purpose touchdowns in that span. He also shared a backfield with Marshawn Lynch for nearly four of those years.
"One of the best running backs to play in Buffalo, Fred Jackson toted the rock, ran over people and was just a tough guy in between the tackles," McCourty continued. "And then as you look at undrafted players in the Super Bowl Era, Fred Jackson ranks right up there with the best of them."
And that's true. Jackson's career yardage is fourth, only trailing Priest Holmes, Arian Foster and LeGarrette Blount, in rush yardage amongst players who never heard their names called.
All that said, is Jackson really a forgotten legend? Well, he was good enough to warrant a one-day contract in 2018 to formally retire as a Buffalo Bill. Your average Fred is not usually afforded that honor.
The only conceivable roadblocks between Jackson and legend status are the stardom of Lynch and the dismal nature of the Bills from 2007-2014. Buffalo never won more than nine games in that span.
Jackson's commitment to the organization during such dark times makes him even more worthy of remembrance. But that's just not how these things usually work.
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