New York Giants cornerback Adoree’ Jackson had a less than amicable split with the Tennessee Titans and then spent one year under former head coach Joe Judge.
Those experiences zapped his enthusiasm a bit but that has all changed under first-year general manager Joe Schoen and first-year head coach Brian Daboll.
Not only is Jackson fresh off his best NFL training camp — one in which he locked down the CB1 role — but he’s fallen back in love with the game of football. He “feels like a kid again.”
“I feel like I had the most fun that I’ve had in a while. Just going back and playing football like I was playing Pop Warner,” Jackson told reporters. “I will say it made me feel like a kid again being out there playing, running around with the guys. Just doing what I love to do.”
On Sunday, Jackson will have the opportunity to play his former team for the first time. And despite his unexpected release in 2021, the 26-year-old says there are no hard feelings.
“That’s the organization that drafted me, so I’m forever thankful and grateful for the opportunity that they gave me. At the end of the day, it just didn’t pan out the way they wanted, and I wanted. That’s how life goes,” he said. “God gives you second chances to open another door when one closes and I’m here and I’m appreciative.”
Jackson also doesn’t view the Week 1 matchup as any sort of revenge game. In fact, he’s excited to see some of his former teammates and maybe swap a jersey after the game.
“It’s going to be cool. I get to see a couple of my guys,” Jackson said. “Kevin Byard, Amani Hooker, Derrick Henry, and Robert Woods. That’s what I’m most excited about, seeing some familiar faces. A couple of the coaches that I know, built some relationships with. It’s just going to be fun seeing them, chopping it up with them. Probably get a jersey after the game or two so that’s going to be nice.”
Although he may not be looking for revenge, Jackson is certainly looking for a win.
