Let’s shine a light on one of the best underdog stories from the Lions’ 2025 draft class: Georgia safety Dan Jackson. Detroit grabbed Jackson in the seventh round, but his journey makes him anything but an afterthought.
Jackson’s story is pure grit. He arrived at powerhouse Georgia as a zero-star, unrecruited walk-on — just a kid who walked up to the program and said, “Coach, I want to play.” Fast forward, and Jackson became a starter, blocked kicks, and was known for doing the dirty work. It’s why his teammates nicknamed him “Dirty Dan” (with love, not criticism).
The Lions already see him as a four-core special teams contributor — meaning he’ll likely suit up on all the main units right away. At Georgia, Jackson logged nearly 600 special teams snaps, even while starting at safety, and posted one of the best national grades on special teams last season. He’s got a blocked punt, a blocked field goal, and even forced a season-saving fumble against Georgia Tech that helped keep the Bulldogs’ playoff hopes alive.
But Jackson’s smarts might be his greatest asset. Coaches say he ran the show at Georgia’s back end, making calls and adjustments on defense. Lions GM Brad Holmes even hinted Jackson has the leadership qualities to eventually take over as Detroit’s special teams captain — a big endorsement for a seventh-round pick.
Bottom line: Jackson may be a late-round selection, but his heart, brains, and toughness give him a very real shot to stick on the Lions’ roster and make an impact right away.
Lions Rookie Dan Jackson: From Walk-On to Detroit’s Next Special Teams Star
