Tombstone’s Path to the Hall of Fame

Rich “Tombstone” Jackson was inducted into the 2019 Black College Football Hall of Fame on February 16 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Rich Jackson, a native of New Orleans, Louisiana, arrived at Southern University as a freshman in 1962. The outside linebacker didn’t miss his opportunity, as he started for the Jaguars his freshmen year.
Jackson also split time on offense, playing split end, tight end, and even flanker throughout his college career. Jackson was a lot more than just a football player however, as he was one of the SWAC’s most dominant track and field athletes, winning three SWAC titles in shot put and four more in discus. To this day, Jackson carries the Louisiana collegiate record for shot put.
The beginning of Rich Jackson’s time at Southern University was just at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement, and as most know, the movement took a toll on the southern part of Louisiana, and its black universities were no exception.
Being black and going to an HBCU during the Civil Rights Movement in South Louisiana was tough for young college students. “It taught us how to navigate through society, making decisions, how to prepare yourself for the long haul,” Jackson said.
“Rich Jackson’s induction is important to Southern University and the Athletic Department because out of 25 finalists, he was among the seven that were chosen to be inducted. There are many who may look down on Southern, and other HBCU programs. But, this undrafted superstar has become one of the greatest defensive ends that the game has ever seen, and he’s a product of Southern University,” said Southern University Sports Information Assistant, Tiana Cephers.
Jackson started his professional career with the Oakland Raiders, where after one year, he was moved to the Denver Broncos, where he really took off in the game of football. As a Bronco, Jackson was a two-time AFL All-Star and an NFL Pro Bowler in 1970.
Jackson wrapped up his football career with seven seasons in the NFL; one with the Raiders, five with the Broncos, and one with the Browns. Jackson was also selected to the Pro Bowl three times, First Team All-Pro three times, and is still the Broncos all-time leader in sacks.
After retirement, Jackson became a charter member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame. That honor signified just how dominant of a player Jackson was to the organization and the game of football.
It is said that if his career wasn’t cut short by injury, he would be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame by now. According to Al Davis, former Oakland Raiders owner and general manager, Rich “Tombstone” Jackson is “the best player they ever had” and he “belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.”
“I didn’t really think that I deserved to be there. If you matched some of the names of the players who are in the HBCU Hall of Fame [to other sporting Halls of Fame], they would rival any other hall of fame in existence,” said Jackson on his induction.
If the praise of his peers and coaches were any indication however, Jackson would be the only person who doesn’t think he deserves to be honored in the Black College Football Hall of Fame.