Tarvaris Jackson was an American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He was born on April 21, 1983, in Montgomery, Alabama, and attended Sidney Lanier High School, where he played football and basketball.
Jackson played college football at Arkansas and Alabama State before being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the Vikings, serving as a backup quarterback for most of his tenure. In 2008, he started 12 games for the Vikings and led them to the playoffs, but they lost in the first round to the Philadelphia Eagles.
After leaving the Vikings, Jackson signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 2011 and became their starting quarterback. He led the Seahawks to the playoffs in his first season as a starter, but they lost in the first round to the Atlanta Falcons. Jackson played two seasons with the Seahawks before being traded to the Buffalo Bills in 2012. He was released by the Bills before the start of the regular season and signed with the Seahawks again as a backup quarterback.
Jackson played his final season in the NFL with the Seahawks in 2015, serving as a backup to Russell Wilson. He retired from football in 2016 with a career record of 17-17 as a starter and 39 touchdown passes.
Off the field, Jackson was known for his charitable work and community involvement. He founded the Tarvaris Jackson Foundation, which provided scholarships and other resources to underprivileged youth in his hometown of Montgomery, Alabama.
Tragically, Jackson died in a car accident on April 12, 2020, at the age of 36. He was survived by his wife and three children. His death was mourned by the NFL community, with many former teammates and coaches expressing their condolences and memories of Jackson as a kind and talented player.
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