After redshirting his first year at Buffalo in 2015,[4] Jackson played in 10 games and made nine starts in 2016. He finished the season completing 165 of 311 passes for 1,772 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.[2] As a sophomore in 2017, he started eight games and missed four due to an injury.[5] He completed 143 of 237 passes for 2,096 yards, 12 touchdowns and three interceptions.[6] Jackson returned as the starter in 2018, where he was named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and lead the Bulls to a 10–4 season, a MAC East division title and a bowl game appearance in the Dollar General Bowl.[7][8] On January 6, 2019, Jackson announced that he would forgo his senior season to pursue a career in the NFL. He was invited to the 2019 Senior Bowl, playing for the South team and being named team MVP.[9]
Following the conclusion of the 2019 NFL Draft, Jackson signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019.[13] Jackson started the fourth game of the preseason at quarterback and led a comeback to erase a 23-6 deficit with under four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.[14] He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[15]
In October 2019, Jackson was drafted in the ninth round in the 2020 XFL Draft by the DC Defenders.[16] During the first two games, both Defenders victories under starter Cardale Jones, Jackson's only statistic was one rush for 5 yards. Jackson saw increased but limited snaps during the next two games which were both blowout losses for the Defenders, including a shutout to the previously winless Tampa Bay Vipers in week 4. Jackson entered in relief of Jones in week 5, kick-starting a Defenders' victory by going 9–14 for 39 yards and a touchdown, caught by Khari Lee.[17] Within the next few days, the rest of the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jackson finished the shortened 5-game XFL season by going 11–18 for 46 yards and a touchdown, and 9 rushes for 28 yards.[18] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[19]
On January 7, 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles signed Jackson to a reserve/futures contract as a tight end.[20] During his transition from quarterback to tight end, Jackson was having a very promising training camp, with some believing that he could earn a roster spot. However, he suffered a fractured bone in his back on August 17.[21] He was placed on injured reserve on September 2, 2021.[22]
He was activated on November 6[23] and made his NFL debut on November 7, appearing in 14 plays on offense and 4 plays on special teams.[24][25] On November 21, he was targeted with a pass for the first time in his career, but the throw from Jalen Hurts was incomplete.[26] Two weeks later, he started a game for the first time in his career.[27] In the final game of the regular season on January 8, 2022, Jackson caught the first pass of his NFL career, a three-yard shovel pass from Gardner Minshew, for his first career touchdown.[28] Later in that game, he tore his ACL, ending his season.[29] He was officially placed on the injured reserve list two days later.[30] He was placed on the Active/PUP list on July 27.[31]
He was placed on the reserve list on August 23, to start the 2022 season.[32] He was activated from the PUP list on November 16.[33] On December 23, Jackson was placed on season–ending injured reserve.[34] Without Jackson, the Eagles reached Super Bowl LVII but lost 38–35 to the Kansas City Chiefs.[35] On April 24, 2023, the Jackson signed his exclusive rights tender with the Eagles for the 2023 season.[36] On August 29, Jackson was released.[37]
